Cabbage Budworm Moth - Hodges#4847
Hellula phidilealis
This record describes Hellula phidilealis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing brownish-yellow mottled with white patches, especially in basal half; basal, AM, and PM lines wavy, bordered by white; reniform spot an irregular-shaped blackish patch; terminal line consists of three main black dots - one at the apex, and two closer to anal angle, with both areas surrounded by small white patch; subterminal line lacking (unlike H. rogatalis which has a subterminal line composed of several equally-spaced black dots); hindwing light gray.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Glaphyriinae
- Genus
- Hellula
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Gardens, commercial crop fields; the moths make short erratic flights when flushed from plants during the day; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light.
Geographic Range
Southern United States (Florida to Arizona), north in the east to North Carolina. Also occurs south to South America.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Young larvae bore into buds, stems, and stalks of crucifers (plants in the mustard family) and related weeds, including cabbage, turnip, beet, collard, cauliflower, kale, rutabaga, radish, kohlrabi, mustard, rape, horseradish, shepherds purse, purslane.
Life History
Up to 350 eggs are laid on host plant buds, hatching in three days. Larvae feed in summer and fall. Older larvae spin silken webs on leaves and feed on outer leaves during the day within these webs. Overwinter in soil as pupae or larvae in silk-lined cells.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Hellula phidilealis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Cabbage Budworm Moth - Hodges#4847 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Randy Hardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Cabbage Budworm Moth - Hodges#4847
What is Cabbage Budworm Moth - Hodges#4847?
Cabbage Budworm Moth - Hodges#4847 (Hellula phidilealis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cabbage Budworm Moth - Hodges#4847?
Wingspan about 15 mm. Larvae to 20 mm.
How do you identify Cabbage Budworm Moth - Hodges#4847?
Adult: forewing brownish-yellow mottled with white patches, especially in basal half; basal, AM, and PM lines wavy, bordered by white; reniform spot an irregular-shaped blackish patch; terminal line consists of three main black dots - one at the apex, and two closer to anal angle, with both areas surrounded by small white patch; subterminal line lacking (unlike H. rogatalis which has a subterminal line composed of several equally-spaced black dots); hindwing light gray.
Where is Cabbage Budworm Moth - Hodges#4847 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Gardens, commercial crop fields; the moths make short erratic flights when flushed from plants during the day; adults are nocturnal and attracted to light. |
| Range | Southern United States (Florida to Arizona), north in the east to North Carolina. Also occurs south to South America. |
What does Cabbage Budworm Moth - Hodges#4847 eat?
The diet of the Cabbage Budworm Moth - Hodges#4847 includes Young larvae bore into buds, stems, and stalks of crucifers (plants in the mustard family) and related weeds, including cabbage, turnip, beet, collard, cauliflower, kale, rutabaga, radish, kohlrabi, mustard, rape, horseradish, shepherds purse, purslane..
What is the life cycle of a Cabbage Budworm Moth - Hodges#4847?
Up to 350 eggs are laid on host plant buds, hatching in three days. Larvae feed in summer and fall. Older larvae spin silken webs on leaves and feed on outer leaves during the day within these webs. Overwinter in soil as pupae or larvae in silk-lined cells.