Cabbage Moth

Cabbage Moth
Cabbage Moth
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Mamestra
Species: M. brassicae
Binomial name
Mamestra brassicae
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Note: the Small White species of butterfly is commonly called a "cabbage moth" in North America.

The Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae) is a common European moth of the family Noctuidae.

Mamestra brassicae.jpg

This species varies considerably in size, with a wingspan of 34–50 mm. The forewings are brown and mottled with a prominent white-edged stigma and a broken white sub terminal line.[1][2] The hind wings are grey, darker towards the termen. The prominent spur on the tibia of the foreleg is a diagnostic feature, though is best viewed with a magnifying lens. This moth has a rather complex life history: two or three broods are produced each year and adults can be seen at any time from May to October, occasionally at other times [1]. It flies at night and is attracted to light, sugar and nectar-rich flowers.

The larva is green, khaki, grey-brown or brown with dark spots.[1][2] The topside is darker than the bottom side and a yellow or light brown stripe goes round the middle portion by the spots.[1][2] They grow to about an inch long before pupating, As the common and scientific names suggest, it can be a pest of cultivated brassicas and sweet peas, but it feeds on a wide range of other plants (see list below).[2] Due to its complex life history, this species overwinters either as a larva or a pupa.

  1. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

Recorded food plants

Beet greens with holes eaten by cabbage moth larvae

References

  • Chinery, Michael Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986 (Reprinted 1991)
  • Skinner, Bernard Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cabbage-moth — cabbˈage moth noun A moth (Mamestra brassicae) whose larvae feed on cabbage and similar plants • • • Main Entry: ↑cabbage …   Useful english dictionary

  • cabbage moth — /ˈkæbɪdʒ mɒθ/ (say kabij moth) noun any of a number of moths, especially of the genera Plutella and Plusia, the larvae of which feed on cabbage and other cruciferous plants …  

  • cabbage moth. — See diamondback moth. [1840 50] * * * …   Universalium

  • cabbage moth — noun : diamondback moth …   Useful english dictionary

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  • Cabbage — This article is about the vegetable. For other uses, see Cabbage (disambiguation). Cabbage Cabbage and its cross section Details …   Wikipedia

  • cabbage-worm — cabbˈage worm noun The larva of the cabbage butterfly or of the cabbage moth • • • Main Entry: ↑cabbage …   Useful english dictionary

  • Cabbage worm — The term cabbage worm is primarily used for any of four kinds of lepidopteran whose larvae feed on cabbages and other cole crops. Host plants include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, radishes …   Wikipedia

  • cabbage looper — noun : a pale green white striped measuring worm (Trichoplusia ni) that is the larva of a moth of the family Noctuidae and that feeds on the leaves of cabbage and other cruciferous plants * * * the larva of a noctuid moth, Trichoplusia ni, common …   Useful english dictionary

  • Cabbage looper — Taxobox name = Cabbage Looper image width = 240px regnum = Animalia phylum = Arthropoda classis = Insecta ordo = Lepidoptera familia = Noctuidae subfamilia = Plusiinae tribus = Argyrogtammatini genus = Trichoplusia species = T. ni binomial =… …   Wikipedia

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