News

Spodoptera ornithogalli, a polyphagic pest threatening crops in Europe

Published Apr 21, 2021

Tridge summary

Spodoptera ornithogalli (Gueneee) is a butterfly of the Owl family (Noctuidae), which is not compulsorily controlled in the European Union, but is on the EPPO Alert List. The hosts of the pest are various species of herbaceous plants, including: asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), beans (Phaseolus spp.), Beetroot (Beta spp.), Cotton (Gossypium spp.), Maize (Zea mais), paprika (Capsicum spp.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), sunflower (Heliantus annuus), sorghum (Sorghum, spp.), soybean (Glycine max), wheat (Triticum spp.) and various ornamental plant species including chrysanthemum spp. .) and roses (Rosa spp.).

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 ...
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