Description

Adult

Wingspan of 17-23 mm. Forewings creamy white to peach with a central green wedge running near to the distal edge.

Larvae

Length of final instar reaches 13-18 mm. Body pale brown tinged with grey to green, pale along the mid dorsal line and suffused yellow ventrally.

Eggs

Spherical, sky blue, 0.5 mm in diameter and sculptured. Typically laid on young bolls, shoot tips and buds.

Distribution

Sudan, southern Asia and Australasia.

Economic Host(s)

Cotton (Gossypium), okra (Abelmoschus) and tomato (Lycopersicum)

Symptoms/Signs

Larvae bore into terminal buds to feed on soft growing stages. Extensive tunnelling results in wilting of the top leaves and collapse of the top of main stems. Stem apexes turn black and die. Buds and flowers wither and drop. Conspicuous holes are present where the larvae entered.

Generations:

Up to 6