Classification

Yponomeutoidea: Plutellidae: Plutellinae: Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus)

Common name

diamondback moth

Synonyms

[too many to list; Moriuti (1986)Moriuti (1986):
Moriuti, S. 1986. Taxonomic notes on the diamondback moth. In N. S. Talekar and T. D. Griggs (eds.). Diamondback Moth Management, Proceedings of the First International Workshop, 11-15 March 1985. The Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center. Shanua, Taiwan. 471 pp. details the taxonomy]; the diamondback moth was previously known as Plutella maculipennis.

Larval diagnosis (Detailed)

According to Moriuti (1977: 29), larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
of the Plutellinae have the following characters: V1 of the head microscopic, V1 of the meso- and metathoraxmetathorax:
the third thoracic segment
on the coxa, prolegsprolegs:
fleshy, unjointed abdominal legs with or without crochets; false legs
at least as long as broad, and L2 on its own pinaculumpinaculum:
a small, flat, or slightly elevated chitinized area bearing a seta or setae
on A9.

The larvalarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (= maculipennis) (Linnaeus) was at least partially described by Ripper (1928)Ripper (1928):
Ripper, W. 1928. Die Raupe der Kohlschabe (Plutella maculipennis Curt.) Zeitschrift fur wissenschaftliche Insektenbiologie 23: 195-203., Jayewickreme (1940)Jayewickreme (1940):
Jayewickreme, S. H. 1940. A comparative study of the larval morphology of leaf-mining Lepidoptera in Britain. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 90: 63-105., Werner (1958)Werner (1958):
Werner, K. 1958. Die Larvalsystematik einiger Kleinschmetterlingsfamilien (Hyponomeutidae, Orthoteliidae, Acrolepiidae, Tineidae, Incurvariidae und Adelidae). Abhandlungen Zur Larvalsystematik der Insekten 2. Akademie-Verlag. Berlin, Germany. 145 pages., Peterson (1962)Peterson (1962):
Peterson, A. 1962. Larvae of insects: an introduction to Nearctic species. Part I: Lepidoptera and plant infesting Hymenoptera. Columbus, Ohio. 315 pp., Moriuti (1977, 1986), and Stehr (1987). Being a cosmopolitan species, it was included in several keys to intercepted organisms and crucifer pests, for example, Habeck and Workman (unpublished), Emmet (1980), Weisman (1986)Weisman (1986):
Weisman, D. M. 1986. Keys for the identification of some frequently intercepted lepidopterous larvae. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine series 81-47. 64 pp., and Schnitzler et al. (2012)Schnitzler et al. (2012):
Schnitzler, F. R., J. W. Haw, L. Kumarasinghe and S. George. 2012. Identification Guide to Lepidoptera Larvae Intercepted on Trade Pathways. Bulletin of the Entomological Society of New Zealand 15. 105 pp..

The caterpillarcaterpillar:
a larva with a conspicuous head, three pairs of thoracic legs, and prolegs; the larva of a butterfly, moth, sawfly, or scorpionfly (= eruciform)
of P. xylostella has seven setaeseta:
a hairlike projection of the body wall that is articulated in a socket; compare to spine
on A9. D1 and D2 are on the same or seperate pinaculapinaculum:
a small, flat, or slightly elevated chitinized area bearing a seta or setae
and SD1 is hairlike (Weisman 1986Weisman 1986:
Weisman, D. M. 1986. Keys for the identification of some frequently intercepted lepidopterous larvae. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine series 81-47. 64 pp., Moriuti 1977Moriuti 1977:
Moriuti, S. 1977. Fauna Japonica, Yponomeutidae s. lat. (Insecta: Lepidoptera). Keigaku Publishing Company, Tokyo. 327 pp.). There are only two L setaeseta:
a hairlike projection of the body wall that is articulated in a socket; compare to spine
and L2 is closer to SD1 than L1 (photograph in Schnitzler et al. 201s: 224). Abdominal prolegsabdominal prolegs:
all prolegs on any abdominal segment except the last, which are Anal prolegs
of the diamondback moth are longer than broad with a few crochetscrochets:
sclerotized, hooklike structures, usually arranged in rows or circles on the prolegs of Lepidoptera larvae
in a circle (Weisman 1986Weisman 1986:
Weisman, D. M. 1986. Keys for the identification of some frequently intercepted lepidopterous larvae. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine series 81-47. 64 pp., Schnitzler et al. 201s). The prothoracic and anal shields of P. xylostella have a characteristic pattern of spotting and the setaeseta:
a hairlike projection of the body wall that is articulated in a socket; compare to spine
are dark and thick (Emmet 1980). Unfortunately, yponomeutoid larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
are poorly known and it is unclear how many of these characters are distinctive for the world fauna. Kyrki (1984)Kyrki (1984):
Kyrki, J. 1984. The Yponomeutoidea: a reassessment of the superfamily and its suprageneric groups (Lepidoptera). Entomologica Scandinavica 15: 71-84. listed feeding on Brassicaceae and Capparidaceae (=Capparaceae) as an apomorphy of the "Plutella" group. Moriuti (1986)Moriuti (1986):
Moriuti, S. 1986. Taxonomic notes on the diamondback moth. In N. S. Talekar and T. D. Griggs (eds.). Diamondback Moth Management, Proceedings of the First International Workshop, 11-15 March 1985. The Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center. Shanua, Taiwan. 471 pp. noted pore AFa is absent in P. xylostella; this is significant.

When compared to Prays, another genus of pests, Weisman (1986)Weisman (1986):
Weisman, D. M. 1986. Keys for the identification of some frequently intercepted lepidopterous larvae. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine series 81-47. 64 pp. considered the setaeseta:
a hairlike projection of the body wall that is articulated in a socket; compare to spine
of A9 to be widely spaced in P. xylostella. He illustrated D1 and D2 of A9 on separate pinaculapinaculum:
a small, flat, or slightly elevated chitinized area bearing a seta or setae
. This contrasts with Moriuti (1977: fig. 504K) who showed the D setaeseta:
a hairlike projection of the body wall that is articulated in a socket; compare to spine
of A9 in P. xylostella were fused on one pinaculumpinaculum:
a small, flat, or slightly elevated chitinized area bearing a seta or setae
. Weisman (1986: fig. 200) and Schnitzler et al. (2012: fig. 222) illustrated the anal proleg with crochetscrochets:
sclerotized, hooklike structures, usually arranged in rows or circles on the prolegs of Lepidoptera larvae
in a circle; this is incorrect, both illustrations refer to the abdominal prolegsabdominal prolegs:
all prolegs on any abdominal segment except the last, which are Anal prolegs
. The anal prolegsanal prolegs:
prolegs on the last abdominal segment (A10)
of P. xylostella are in a semicircle (Moriuti 1977Moriuti 1977:
Moriuti, S. 1977. Fauna Japonica, Yponomeutidae s. lat. (Insecta: Lepidoptera). Keigaku Publishing Company, Tokyo. 327 pp.).

Identification Authority (Detailed)

Moriuti (1986)Moriuti (1986):
Moriuti, S. 1986. Taxonomic notes on the diamondback moth. In N. S. Talekar and T. D. Griggs (eds.). Diamondback Moth Management, Proceedings of the First International Workshop, 11-15 March 1985. The Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center. Shanua, Taiwan. 471 pp. discussed the recognition of P. xylostella in the Old World. In southeast Asia and Australia, Leuroperna sera (previously placed in Caunaca or Rhigognostis) is also found on crucifers and could be confused with P. xylostella. The mandible of L. sera has a small inner tooth, pore AFa is present, and the abdominal crochetscrochets:
sclerotized, hooklike structures, usually arranged in rows or circles on the prolegs of Lepidoptera larvae
are in a mesal penellipsemesal penellipse:
an incomplete circle of crochets closed mesally and open laterally
. Plutella xylostella has no inner tooth, lacks pore AFa, and the crochetscrochets:
sclerotized, hooklike structures, usually arranged in rows or circles on the prolegs of Lepidoptera larvae
are in a complete circle.

Plutella antiphona is native to New Zealand and has a larvalarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
associated with crucifers (Dugdale 1973Dugdale 1973:
Dugdale, J. S. 1973. The genus Plutella (Hyponomeutidae) in New Zealand and the position of the Cicoxena (Lepidoptera). New Zealand Journal of Science 16: 1009-1023.). Therefore, interceptions from New Zealand are best left at the genus level.

In the United States and Europe, Plutella porrectella is similar to P. xylostella but the former usually feeds on Hesperis instead of economically important plants (Smith and Sears 1984Smith and Sears 1984:
Smith, D. B. and M. K. Sears. 1984. Life History of Plutella porrectella, a relative of the Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera, Plutellidae). The Canadian Entomologist 116: 913-917., Moriuti 1986Moriuti 1986:
Moriuti, S. 1986. Taxonomic notes on the diamondback moth. In N. S. Talekar and T. D. Griggs (eds.). Diamondback Moth Management, Proceedings of the First International Workshop, 11-15 March 1985. The Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center. Shanua, Taiwan. 471 pp.). There are no sibling species in Latin America. Interceptions from crops can be identified as P. xylostella, but larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
from other hosts should be examined very carefully.

Because P. xylostella is cosmopolitan, orgin provides no clues. However the host is helpful, identifications of the diamondback moth should be restricted to larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
associated with members of the Brassicaceae or Capparaceae. First instar larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
of P. xylostella are leaf miners (Jayewickreme 1940Jayewickreme 1940:
Jayewickreme, S. H. 1940. A comparative study of the larval morphology of leaf-mining Lepidoptera in Britain. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 90: 63-105.) and are difficult to identify.

Origin records

Plutella xylostella has been intercepted from the following locations:

Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Palestinian Territory, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe

Host records

Plutella xylostella has been intercepted on the following hosts:

Abelmoschus esculentus, Achillea millefolium, Achillea sp., Aconitum sp., Agapanthus sp., Allium fistulosum, Allium porrum, Alstroemeria sp., Amaranthus sp., Ammi majus, Ananas comosus, Ananas sp., Anethum graveolens, Antirrhinum majus, Antirrhinum sp., Apium graveolens, Apium graveolens var. dulce, Apium sp., Artemisia dracunculus, Asparagus officinalis, Asparagus sp., Aster sp., Astilbe sp., Bambusa sp., Beta vulgaris var. vulgaris, Brassaia sp., Brassia sp., Brassica campestris, Brassica chinensis, Brassica juncea, Brassica napus, Brassica oleracea, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra, Brassica oleracea var. botrytis, Brassica oleracea var. capitata, Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera, Brassica oleracea var. italica, Brassica pekinensis, Brassica rapa, Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis, Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis, Brassica rapa var. parachinensis, Brassica sp., Brassicaceae, Bromelia sp., Calathea crotalifera, Campanula sp., Capsicum annuum, Capsicum sp., Carthamus sp., Celosia sp., Chrysanthemum sp., Cicer arietinum, Cichorium sp., Coccinea grandis, Cocculus sp., Colocasia esculenta, Coriandrum sativum, Cucumis sativus, Cucurbita sp., Cymbidium sp., Daucus sp., Delphinium sp., Dianthus barbatus, Dianthus caryophyllus, Dianthus sp., Dracaena deremensis, Dracaena sp., Epipremnum sp., Eruca sativa, Eruca sp., Eruca vesicaria, Eryngium foetidum, Eryngium sp., Erysimum cheiri, Erysimum sp., Fernaldia pandurata, Freesia sp., Gaultheria shallon, Gerbera sp., Gladiolus sp., Godethia sp., Gypsophila sp., Helianthus annuus, Helianthus sp., Hydrangea sp., Hypericum sp., Iris sp., Lactuca sativa, Lactuca sp., Laurus nobilis, Leucadendron sp., Leucospermum sp., Liatris sp., Lilium sp., Limonium sinuatum, Limonium sp., Lisianthus sp., Luffa sp., Magnoliophyta sp., Malva neglecta, Maranta sp., Mathiola sp., Matthiola incana, Matthiola sp., Melaleuca sp., Mentha sp., Moluccella sp., Molucella sp., Musa sp., Nasturtium officinale, Ocimum basilicum, Odocoileus virginianus, Olea europaea, Olea sp., Opuntia sp., Orchidaceae, Origanum majorana, Origanum sp., Origanum vulgare, Ornithogalum sp., Oryza sativa, Petroselinum sp., Phaseolus sp., Phlox sp., Phormium sp., Pisum sativum, Pithecellobium dulce, Prunus persica, Punica granatum, Ranunculus sp., Raphanus sativus, Raphanus sp., Rosa sp., Rosmarinus officinalis, Rubus sp., Rumex sp., Rumohra sp., Ruscus sp., Salvia officinalis, Salvia sp., Sechium edule, Solidago sp., Spinacia oleracea, Spinacia sp., Statice sp., Stromanthe sp., Syringa sp., Thlaspi arvense, Thymus sp., Thymus vulgaris, Trachelium sp., Treculia africana, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Vaccinium sp., Veronica sp., Wasabia japonica, Xanthosoma brasiliense, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Zea mays

Hosts listed here that are not members of the Brassicaceae or Capparaceae need confirmation.