Description

Adult

Wingspan of 19-21 mm. Forewings grey-brown with two yellowish-white transverse lines. Outermost line has a pronounced “finger” that points towards back edge of wing. Head, antennae and body are olive-brown. Abdomen with cream coloured rings. Male’s abdomen curves upwards at rest and in flight. Hindwings are pale olive-brown with a cream coloured wavy line crossing medially.

Nymphs

Following eclosion larvae are 1.5 mm in length with a shiny dark head and a light pink body with lines of separated brown to grey spots. Later instars become creamy white to pale brown. Head and prothoracic plate dark brown.

Eggs

Whitish-green to straw coloured when laid, turning pink then red with age. Laid singly or in small masses, usually on the underside of leaves but also on the top of leaves, stalks and even soil.

Distribution

Whitish-green to straw coloured when laid, turning pink then red with age. Laid singly or in small masses, usually on the underside of leaves but also on the top of leaves, stalks and even soil.

Economic Host(s)

Vegetables such as celery, pepper and lettuce and cultivated flowers.

Symptoms/Signs

The larvae feed on leaves, flowers, buds and fruit. Signs of infestation include spun leaves and webbing, holes within leaves and stems and collapsed plants.

Generations:

Up to 9 (within greenhouses).