- Widespread within Asia. In Oceania, Fiji, Guam, Solomon Islands, and Tonga. Cowpea is the main host, and many other food, ground covers, and fodder legumes.
- Damage: larvae burrow though upper leaf surface making snake-like mines that end in a large blotch. Mature larva red, with brown head. Pupation on crop plants and weeds. Adult dirty-cream, smoky wings, antennae longer than body with turned up ends to wings. Body at steep angle at rest. Pupae survive on plant debris between crops, in soil or on weeds. Impact on cowpea in Fiji unknown.
- Cultural control: avoid overlapping crops; squash mines between finger and thumb or remove infested leaves; collect debris and burn after harvest.
- Chemical control: biorational (i) insecticidal soap, white or horticultural oils; (ii) botanicals (chillies, neem, derris, pyrethrum); (iii) microbials (abamectin, spinosad). Avoid organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids.
