Hellula undalis (Fabricius, 1781)

old world cabbage webworm

Hellula undalis imago

Greece, Lefkas, Katouna, 31.viii.2021 © Laurens van der Linde

mine

The young larva mines a blotch in the youngest leaves; the older larva lives free on the plant, spinning the leaves together with a copious amount of silk. They also bore in the stem.

host plants

Brassicaceae, Cleomaceae, narrowly polyphagous

Brassica oleracea; Cleome spinosa; Diplotaxis; Lepidium; Malcolmia littorea; Moricandia.

phenology

Larvae in April-May and September-October (Hering, 1957a).

BENELUX

Not known from the Benelux countries (Fauna Europaea, 2009).

distribution within Europe

From Britain and Denmark to the Mediterranean islands and the Black Sea coast (Fauna Europaea, 2009); in large parts of Europe only as a rare migrant.

larva

Body, including pronotum and anal shield greyish green, wit 5-9 vague reddish brown length lines. Head dark brown; pinacula small, brownish black.

notes

In tropical regions all over the world a pest op Brassicaceae crops.

references

Anagnou–Veroniki, Papaioannou–Souliotis, Karanstasi & Giannopolitis (2008a), Fiumi (2018a), Hering (1957a), Huertas Dionisio (2007a), Huertas Dionisio & Fuentes (2004a), Kravchenko, Poltavsky, Segerer, ao (2020a), Vegliante & Zilli (2007a), Vieira (2008a).