Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet EditionBeet webworm (345)
Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet EditionBeet webworm (345)
Summary
- Worldwide. Defoliation by caterpillars important on beet, amaranth, and legumes - if attack coincides with pod-filling.
- Larvae feed from underside of leaves, making "windows"; later, feed from within rolled leaves. Up to 25 mm, greyish-green (reddish-pink at maturity), with dark line along back. Adult with white bands on wings.
- Spreads on the wing: famous for long-distance migrations; spread in plant trade.
- Natural enemies: larval parasitoids.
- Cultural control: weed; plant far from infested crops; in small plots, remove leaves with caterpillars, or squash by hand; collect debris and destroy after harvest.
- Chemical control: PDPs (neem, derris, pyrethrum, or chilli, with soap to get them into rolled leaves); use spinosad or Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis). Avoid, synthetic pyrethroids: they will kill natural enemies.
Common Name
Beet webworm, Hawaiian beet webworm
Scientific Name
Spoladea recurvalis; previously known as Hymenia recurvalis.
AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
1Information from Swaine G (1971) Agricultural Zoology in Fiji. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. London; and CABI (2017) Spoladea recurvalis (Hawaiian beet webworm) Crop Protection Compendium. (www.cabi.org/cpc); and from Rice weevil. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland Government. (https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/plants/field-crops-and-pastures/broadacre-field-crops/integrated-pest-management/a-z-insect-pest-list/stored-grain-insect-pests/rice-weevil). Photo 1 Alton N. Sparks, Jr., University of Georgia, Bugwood.org. Photo 2 Mark Dreiling, Bugwood.org. Photo 3 McCormack, Gerald (2007) Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at: (http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org).
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
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