Diamond back moth

  • Butterfly small and inconspicuous. Long antennae. Wing span 15-18 mm, in resting position steeply folded up, frayed at the back. Several generations/year. Egg deposition on the underside of the leaf. Young caterpillars dark head, older caterpillars yellowish-green.
  • At first scraping of small caterpillars on underside of leaves, epidermis of leaves remains intact. Later pitting, until only the midribs remain in case of heavy infestation. Dangerous only with mass appearances.

 

CONTROL BENCHMARK 

  • The moth is very inconspicuous, not detectable via yellow dishes.
  • The infestation only becomes visible during plant inspection for scraping and pitting of the caterpillars.
  • Only in single (warm-dry) years a mass reproduction with localized stronger feeding damage takes place. Measures are therefore rarely necessary.
  • Insecticides against biting insects have sufficient effect. 

 

PREVENTION

  • Field hygiene!
  • Decimate caterpillars and pupae on plant remains by soil cultivation.

 

Diamond back moth
 Diamond back moth
Young caterpillar on the underside of the leaf
 Young caterpillar on the underside of the leaf
In case of mass occurrence skeletal damage
 In case of mass occurrence skeletal damage