Life history
The egg is inserted into the flower. Usually a light brown spot develops on the external surface of the bud at the site of oviposition. The eggs hatch in three to five days. The larvae has a brown head and the remainder of the body is white to pale yellow. The first-instar larva usually feeds on the pistil, then on the stamens. It remains in the bud in which the egg was laid throughout the first instar. The second-instar larva also usually remains in the initial bud but it may bore into an adjacent bud. Subsequently, as the larva develops, it bores into other florets, eating the inner parts of them. The damaged florets are joined together near the entrance holes. Often as many as 15 florets are joined together in a row, forming a tunnel in which a fully grown larva may be found.
The larva spins a silken cocoon within which it pupates. The pupa is almost white at first, turning brown soon after, and almost black when the adult is ready to emerge. When the larva is ready to pupate it probably comes out of the florets and drops to the ground to pupate.
The adult moth is usually nocturnal.
Helicoverpa zea, commonly known as the corn earworm, is a species in the family Noctuidae. The larva of the moth Helicoverpa zea is a major agricultural pest. Since it is polyphagous during the larval stage, the species has been given many different common names, including the cotton bollworm and the tomato fruitworm. It also consumes a wide variety of other crops.
Ceratomia catalpae, the catalpa sphinx, is a hawk moth of the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1875. Other common names are the Catawba worm, or Catalpa sphinx.
The pine processionary is a moth of the subfamily Thaumetopoeinae in the family Notodontidae, known for the irritating hairs of its caterpillars, their processions, and the economic damage they cause in coniferous forests. The species was first described scientifically by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775, though it was known to the ancients, with remedies described by Theophrastus, Dioscorides and Pliny the Elder. Its processionary behaviour was described in 1916 by the French entomologist Jean-Henri Fabre. It is one of the most destructive species to pines and cedars in Central Asia, North Africa and southern Europe.
The geranium bronze or brun des pélargoniums in French, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.
The light brown apple moth is a leafroller moth belonging to the lepidopteran family Tortricidae.
Daphnis nerii, the oleander hawk-moth or army green moth, is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.
Spodoptera littoralis, also referred to as the African cotton leafworm or Egyptian cotton leafworm or Mediterranean brocade, is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae. S. littoralis is found widely in Africa, Mediterranean Europe and Middle Eastern countries. It is a highly polyphagous organism that is a pest of many cultivated plants and crops. As a result, this species was assigned the label of A2 quarantine pest by the EPPO and was cautioned as a highly invasive species in the United States. The devastating impacts caused by these pests have led to the development of both biological and chemical control methods. This moth is often confused with Spodoptera litura.
Metzneria paucipunctella is a species of moth known as the spotted knapweed seed head moth. It is used as an agent of biological pest control against noxious knapweeds, particularly spotted knapweed.
Chrysomya rufifacies is a species belonging to the blow fly family, Calliphoridae, and is most significant in the field of forensic entomology due to its use in establishing or altering post mortem intervals. The common name for the species is the hairy maggot blow fly, and it belongs to the genus Chrysomya, which is commonly referred to as the Old World screwworms. This genus includes other species such as Chrysomya putoria and Chrysomya bezziana, which are agents of myiasis. C. rufifacies prefers very warm weather and has a relatively short lifecycle. It is widely distributed geographically and prefers to colonize large carcasses over small ones. The species commonly has a greenish metallic appearance and is important medically, economically, and forensically.
Peridroma saucia, the pearly underwing or variegated cutworm, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Jacob Hübner in 1808. It is found in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The variegated cutworm feeds on many plants, especially common fruits and vegetables. The moth undergoes two to four generations per year. The development of the moth slows in colder temperatures, indicative of its migratory nature. All stages of the life cycle have a developmental threshold for temperature. The moth is known to migrate to the northern regions during warmer months, returning to the southern regions when the climate becomes colder.
Etiella behrii is a species of moth of the family Pyralidae, occurring sporadically but when present considered a serious pest of agricultural crops throughout parts of Australia.
Apamea apamiformis, known by the common names rice worm moth, riceworm, and wild rice worm, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in North America, including Wisconsin, New York, Minnesota and eastern Canada, with imperiled or critically imperiled populations in Maryland and Indiana, respectively, and a vulnerable population in New Jersey.
Hellula undalis, the cabbage webworm or Old World webworm, is a moth of the family Crambidae. It is a widespread species which is found from Europe across Asia to the Pacific. It was first described from Italy.
Acrobasis pyrivorella, the pear fruit moth, pear moth or pear pyralid, is a moth of the family Pyralidae. It is native to the temperate zone of eastern Asia, where it is widely distributed. It has been recorded from northern China, the Korean Peninsula, Japan, Taiwan and Russia.
Proteoteras willingana, the eastern boxelder twig borer moth, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in southern Canada and the eastern United States, west through the Great Plains.
Archips argyrospila, the fruit-tree leafroller moth, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is found in most of the United States and southern Canada.
Parapoynx stagnalis, the rice case bearer or rice caseworm, is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It has a wide distribution and is found in India, Sri Lanka, South-East Asia, South Africa, South America, southern Europe, Russia and Australia.
Lymantria dispar dispar or LDD moth, commonly known as the gypsy moth, European gypsy moth, North American gypsy moth, or spongy moth, is a species of moth in the family Erebidae that is of Eurasian origin. It has a range that extends over Europe, Africa, and North America.
Diadegma semiclausum is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. Its larvae are parasites of the larvae of the diamondback moth and certain other moths.
Odoiporus longicollis, commonly known as banana stem weevil or banana pseudostem borer, is a species of weevil found in South Asia and South East Asia.
