Spodoptera ornithogalli, a polyphagic pest threatening crops in Europe

Published 2021년 4월 20일

Tridge summary

A species of caterpillar has been reported to cause damage to plants in North and South America. The caterpillars feed on the above-ground parts of plants, skeletonizing leaves and eating whole leaves. They can also feed on fruit and flowers. The eggs are laid in large beds, usually on the underside of leaves. The caterpillars can grow up to 35 mm long and have a distinct coloration. The adult butterflies have a wingspan of 34 to 41 mm. This pest could potentially be transferred to Europe and poses a threat to outdoor and greenhouse crops.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

This species has been reported so far in North America (Canada, Mexico, USA), Central America and the Caribbean islands (Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and El Salvador) and South America ( Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Colombia, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela). The damage is mainly caused by caterpillars feeding on the above-ground parts of plants. Younger larvae skeletonize the leaves, and older larvae bite out irregular holes in the leaves or eat the whole leaves. Caterpillars can also feed on the fruit of plants such as tomato and cotton (bags) or on flowers. The eggs are laid in beds of 200 - 500 pieces, usually on the underside of the leaves. The caterpillars are up to about 35 mm long. The coloration of the caterpillars varies, but mature caterpillars have a broad brownish border on their backs with a white line in the center. There are distinct black triangular spots on the sides of ...

Source: E-warzywnictwo