Complex Plutella xylostella-australiana – Plutella xylostella (Diamond Back or Cabbage Moth) is a world wide pest of cruciferous crops. The species is well known for the typical adult forewing pattern with scalloped band on hind margin that when at rest forms a series of diamonds down the ‘back’. However adults vary greatly including forms where the scallops are indistinguishable. Recent DNA analysis and genitalia comparison of Australian specimens demonstrated the existence of a cryptic new species, subsequently named P. australiana (Landry & Hebert 2013). In that study only P. xylostella was detected in Tasmania but the authors suggest more sampling and DNA sequencing to confirm the presence or absence of P. australiana in that state.
Late November 2010
Hobart/ nipaluna
Photo AD
Late January 2022
Nicholls Rivulet
Image by Elaine McDonald, used with permission.
Late November 2015
Sandford
Image by James Duggan, used with permission.
Late October 2023
Kelcey Tier, Devonport
Identification thanks to Lynne Forster and Peter McQuillan
Photo KE
mid January 2024
Dennes Point, Bruny Island
Photo KE
cf. pupal cocoon
Late December 2018
Hobart / nipaluna
Cocoon on glass (1st pic = upper surface, 2nd = underside).
Photos KE
References
Herbison-Evans, D. and Crossley, S. 2012. Lepidoptera Larvae of Australia. Online resource. Viewed 17 September 2012. http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/moths.html
Landry, J.-F. & Hebert, P. D. N. 2013. Plutella australiana (Lepidoptera, Plutellidae), an overlooked diamondback moth revealed by DNA barcodes. ZooKeys 327: 43–63.
No Author Stated. Diamondback moth (DBM). Infonet Biovision (2018) Online resource. Viewed 22 April 2019. https://www.infonet-biovision.org/PlantHealth/Pests/Diamondback-moth-DBM