Crocidosema plebejana

Crocidosema plebejana Zeller, 1847
(one synonym: Penthina altheana)
EUCOSMINI , OLETHREUTINAE , TORTRICIDAE

(updated 2 September 2008)

(Photo: copyright of Dave Britton)

These Caterpillars bore into the tips and fruit of plants in the family MALVACEAE, including :

Cheeseweed ( Malva parviflora ),

Hollyhock ( Althaea ), and

and is an agricultural pest on

Cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ).

They have also been found feeding on :

Spreading Saltbush ( Atriplex limbata, CHENOPODIACEAE ), and

Wheat ( Triticum aestivum, POACEAE ).

(Picture: courtesy of CSIRO Entomology)

The adult moths are a pale patchy brown. Their wingspan is about 2 cms.

The species is found worldwide, including

U.S.A., as well as

where it is found over much of the mainland. The specimen shown was caught in Narrabri, New South Wales.