Diamondback Moths

Plutellidae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Yponomeutoidea
Family: Plutellidae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Plutellidae: //pluˈtɛlɪdi//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Plutella porrectella (53087496158) by Ben Sale from Stevenage, UK. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Rhigognostis interrupta by CBG Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics. Used under a CC0 license.

Diamondback Moth (Plutella xylostella), Haroldswick - geograph.org.uk - 4685726 by Mike Pennington . Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Diamondback Moth (Plutella xylostella), Baltasound - geograph.org.uk - 4982884 by Mike Pennington . Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Plutella xylostella 97330799 by Jonathan Whitaker. Used under a CC0 license.

Plutella xylostella 85784935 by Peter Gabler. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Plutellidae, commonly known as diamondback moths, is a family of moths with around 22 species in North America that typically feed on plants in the Brassicaceae family. They are small to medium-sized with distinctive wing characteristics and can be economic pests.

Physical Characteristics

Small to medium in size, with wingspans ranging from 7 to 55 mm (0.3 to 2.2 in). The head usually bears smooth scales, antennae often thickened in the middle. Elongated wings with long fringes on hindwings and a sickle-shaped appearance due to fringe arrangement. Colouring is generally drab with various banding and markings.

Identification Tips

Look for adult moths that are nocturnal or crepuscular, with sickle-shaped forewings and long fringes on hindwings. The presence of skeletonized leaves on host plants may indicate larvae of these moths.

Distribution

About 22 species in North America; the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) is of European origin.

Diet

Larvae primarily feed on the surfaces of leaves, skeletonizing them. Many feed on plants in the family Brassicaceae.

Life Cycle

Pupation occurs in a loose-meshed, less compact cocoon compared to Ypsolopha.

Economic Impact

Some species, especially Plutella xylostella, are significant economic pests of crops in the Brassicaceae family.

Evolution

Originally, the Plutellidae were thought to have three subfamilies: Plutellinae, Praydinae, and Scythropiinae. Praydinae has been elevated to its own family, Praydidae, while Scythropiinae has been moved to Yponomeutidae or elevated to its own family.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

The fungus moth Erechthias niphochrysa was once included in this family, as a distinct genus Acrocenotes.