Etiella behrii

Etiella behrii (Zeller, 1848)
(one synonym: Pempelia subaurella)
PHYCITINI, PHYCITINAE
PYRALIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 19 February 2008)

(Photo: courtesy of the South Australian Research and Development Institute)

The Caterpillars of this species are green with pink markings and a mottled brown head. They are an agricultural pest, feeding inside the developing seedpods of various members of the family FABACEAE, including:

Peanuts ( Arachis hypogaea ),

Tagasaste ( Chamaecytisus prolifer ),

Soybeans ( Glycine species ),

Lupins ( Lupinus nanus ),

Lucerne ( Medicago sativa ), and

Garden Peas ( Pisum sativum ).

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The adult is brown, with a brown pattern on the forewings, which also have a white line along the leading edge. The hind wings are satin white with brown veins and a brown edge. The moth has a wingspan of about 1 cm.

It is found over much of south-east Asia including :

Indonesia, and

and Australia :

Victoria. and