Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
926
Shargacucullia lychnitis
(Rambur) (
926
)
syn.
Cucullia lychnidis
Rambur
Striped lychnis moth
This very local, generally uncommon and declining
Eurasiatic species is very similar in appearance to
S. verbasci
, but associated mainly with dark mullein
(
Verbascum nigrum
) and white mullein (
V. lychnitis
). In
areas where the moth still survives, larvae (which feed
later in the year than those of
S. verbasci
) are sometimes
found feeding on the flower spikes of cultivated
mulleins.
Spodoptera littoralis
(Boisduval) (
927-928
)
Mediterranean brocade moth
larva
926
Larva of striped lychnis moth (
Shargacucullia lychnitis
).
Mediterranean climbing cutworm
A mainly tropical and subtropical species but recently
established in southern Europe; sometimes introduced
into northern Europe on imported
Chrysanthemum
cuttings and on other ornamentals such as
Hibiscus
and
Kalanchoe
; a potentially serious pest of greenhouse-
grown crops, especially chrysanthemums.
=
927
DESCRIPTION
Adult:
40 mm wingspan; fore wings blackish brown,
with lighter markings, and often with a purplish sheen;
hind wings mainly white.
Larva:
up to 45 mm long;
light brown to blackish brown, finely speckled with
white; dorsal and subdorsal lines orange-brown, the
latter interrupted on the first and eighth abdominal
segments by black patches and on the other segments by
yellow spots, each bordered above with a black patch;
yellow spots and black patches are also present on the
second and eighth thoracic segments; subspiracular line
broad and light reddish brown; dark forms are mainly
blackish brown.
Pupa:
16-20 mm long; reddish brown.
927
Mediterranean brocade moth (
Spodoptera littoralis
).
928
LIFE HISTORY
Eggs are deposited in large groups on the underside of
leaves of host plants or on nearby surfaces and then
coated with scales from the female's abdomen. The eggs
hatch within a few days at normal greenhouse
temperatures. Larvae then attack the plants, feeding
voraciously and producing noticeably wet faecal pellets.
Development is completed in 2-4 weeks; the larvae then
pupate in flimsy cocoons, and adults emerge about two
weeks later. Breeding is continuous under suitably warm
conditions. In northern Europe, the pest is unlikely to
survive the winter outdoors or in unheated structures.
928
Mediterranean climbing cutworm (
Spodoptera littoralis
).
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