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Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

Cabbage diamondback moth (020)

Photo 1. Young caterpillars of diamond backmoth, Plutella xylostella, eat from the underside of the leaf to the top layer of wax.

Photo 2. Holes in a cabbage leaf caused by larvae of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella.

Photo 3. Holes in the leaves of cabbage seedlings caused by larvae of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella.

Photo 4. Pupae of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, surrounded by their net-like cocoons on the underside of a Chinese cabbage leaf.

Photo 5. Adult diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, showing the characteristic wing patterns.

Photo 6. Adult diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella.

Photo 7. Adult Cotesia vestalis.

Photo 8. Cotesia vestalis inside its silken cocoon, close to the remains of a dead diamondback moth larva.

Photo 9. Adult Diadegma semiclausum laying egg in larva of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella.

Photo 10. Pupa of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, parasitised by Diadegma semiclausum.

Summary

Worldwide distribution. Members of the cabbage (brassica) family, e.g., head cabbage, Chinese cabbage, radish, cauliflower and broccoli; Amaranthus and watercress. An important pest.
Eggs, yellow, small, laid singly. Young larvae mine leaves; larger ones leave waxy windows and holes. If touched, larger ones wiggle backwards, and fall down on silk threads.
Natural enemies: wasp parasitoids, especially Cotesia (see Fact Sheet no. 287) and Diadegma (see Fact Sheet no. 285).
Cultural control: inspect nurseries and crops regularly; remove larvae; use trap crops, e.g., mustards or Chinese cabbage (Bok Choy), but destroy trap crop before eggs hatch.
Chemical control: in household plots, PDPs (chillies, neem, derris, pyrethrum to safeguard natural enemies); in commercial plots, grow under nets; use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) sprays against caterpillars when young. Avoid pyrethroids and organophosphates.

Common Name

Diamondback moth

Scientific Name

Plutella xylostella

AUTHORS Grahame Jackson & Mike Furlong
Photos 1&2 Graham Walker, Plant and Food Research, Auckland, New Zealand. Photo 4 Richard Markham, ACIAR, Canberra. Photo 4 Jack Kelly Clark, US Statewide IPM Project. Photos 5,7-9) Mike Furlong, University of Queensland, Australia. Photo 6 Mani Mua, SPC, Sigatoka Research Station, Fiji.

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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