Description

Adult

Wingspan of ca. 35 mm. Forewings are typically pale brown with darker markings. The male is paler than the female. Hindwings are pale straw colour with a broad dark brown border. There is no pale patch in the dark border.

Larvae

Newly hatched larvae are pale with small dark spots and dark heads. A number of dark and pale lines that run along the entire body are present in older larvae. Thoracic legs are pale. Black hairs are present around the dark brown to black head

Eggs

Semi-spherical and ca. 0.5 mm in width, initially white and becoming reddish-brown with age. Typically laid on the upper third of the plant on growing points

Distribution

Australia and New Zealand

Economic Host(s)

A range of crops including cotton, chickpea, tomato, soybean, tobacco, and groundnut.

Symptoms/Signs

Larvae feed on young plant tissue in growing points, leaves, developing flower buds, flowers and fruits.

Generations:

4-5