Hellula undalis (Fabricius, 1781) Species
Last modified: Dec. 21, 2023, 4:32 p.m.
A new species for Belgium in 2019 in AN.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Crambidae > Subfamily: Glaphyriinae > Tribus: Glaphyriini > Genus: Hellula > Species: Hellula undalis
- Vernacular names
- Verkennertje (NL), Old World Webworm (EN), La Nymphule ondée (FR), Südeuropäischer Kruziferenzünsler (DE)
- Status
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Migrant
For your info, the first 10 observations are listed here: 1 specimen on 01.viii.2019 at Muizen (AN), leg. G. Verbeylen. Second specimen on 24.x.2022 at Revogne (NA), leg. C. Steeman. Third specimen on 29.x.2022 at Uncimont (LX), leg. K. Arnouts. Fourth specimen on 30.x.2022 at Bunsbeek (VB), leg. P. Collaerts. Fifth specimen on 18.ix.2023 at Kalmthout (AN), leg. G. Vermeersch. Sixth specimen on 21.ix.2023 at Schoten (AN), leg. T. Vochten. Seventh specimen on 27.ix.2023 at Mabompré (LX), leg. F. De Coster.
Distribution
Imago
Adult moths have light grey-brown forewings, each with sinuous pale lines and a kidney-shaped mark. The hindwings are uniform grey, darkening at the margins.
Museum specimens
No pictures yet!Specimens in nature
Genitalia
Caterpillar
A pale greenish-brown colored larva with five broad, irregular reddish-brown bands that extend the length of the body. The head is very dark brown.
Bionomics
The caterpillars initially bore into the stem of growing shoots, later instars feeding in the leaves and leaf stems. The caterpillars make a web of silk around their feeding area which accumulates frass.
Pupation occurs within the silken shelter generally spun between leaves or at the entrance of the feeding tunnel. But they have also been found under or beside secondary buds growing from old cabbage stems, inside the stem and bases of dropped leaves, or approximately 1/8 inch deep in the soil immediately surrounding the host plant.
Adults live from 4 to 9 days depending on temperature.
The adults come to light.
Flight periods
Specimens have been seen in Belgium from early August towards late October.
Observed on
- Host plant (genera):
- Brassica
- Substrates:
- Cultivated crops
The caterpillars are an agricultural pest on crops in the Cabbage family (Brassicaceae), particularly.
