LepidopteraPlutellidae – Diamondback Moths

Plutella armoraciae - Hodges#2358

Plutella armoraciae

This record describes Plutella armoraciae (species). Recorded family: Plutellidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Plutella armoraciae - Hodges#2358 - Plutella armoraciae
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Busck original description is available online.

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Yponomeutoidea
Family
Plutellidae (Diamondback Moths)
Genus
Plutella

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: The larvae feed on Armoracia (horseradish) species.

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Plutella armoraciae. 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.

Explore Lepidoptera families and species →

Photos of Plutella armoraciae - Hodges#2358 (3)

Plutella armoraciae - Hodges#2358 - photo 1
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Plutella armoraciae - Hodges#2358 - photo 2
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Plutella armoraciae - Hodges#2358 - photo 3
Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman

Frequently Asked Questions About Plutella armoraciae - Hodges#2358

What is Plutella armoraciae - Hodges#2358?

Plutella armoraciae - Hodges#2358 (Plutella armoraciae) is a species in the family Plutellidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

How big is Plutella armoraciae - Hodges#2358?

Busck listed the wingspan as 16-18 mm.

How do you identify Plutella armoraciae - Hodges#2358?

Busck original description is available online.

What does Plutella armoraciae - Hodges#2358 eat?

The diet of the Plutella armoraciae - Hodges#2358 includes The larvae feed on Armoracia (horseradish) species..

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.