Cadra cautella

Cadra cautella (Walker 1863)
(previously known as : Ephestia cautella)
Almond Moth
PHYCITINI, PHYCITINAE
PYRALIDAE

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

(updated 11 September 2008)

(Picture: courtesy of Casa Bernardo, Brasil)

This Caterpillar is an international agricultural pest, particularly of

Flowers of Date Palms ( Phoenix dactylifera, ARECACEAE ),

Peanuts ( Arachis hypogaea, FABACEAE ),

Kernels of Tree Beans ( Parkia timoriana, MIMOSACEAE ),

stored grain, and

dried fruit.

The Caterpillar grows to a length of about 1 cm.

When one Caterpillar encounters another, they each produce a small amount of brown liquid from the mouth, and this causes the Caterpillars to walk apart. This appears to be a mechanism that prevents overcrowding of the Caterpillars. Unfortunately for the Caterpillars, this mandibular secretion also attracts parasitoid wasps such as the Ichneumonid Venturia canescens.

(Picture: courtesy of Casa Bernardo, Brasil)

The adult moths have a wingspan of about 1 cm. They are fawn coloured, with a fringe on the back of each hind wing. The males and females come together using pheromones the chemical nature of which have been identified. The females emit these chamicals and the males sense them and fly to the female. The adults also use ultrasonic sounds (~80 Khz) in their courtship behaviour.

The species occurs world-wide, for example :

Brazil,

Cyprus,

Hawaii, as well as

every state of Australia, being introduced by unfortunate accident.

Attempts to control the pest have used :

Methyl Bromide,

various insecticides,

water-kerosene oil-mixture trap,

the toxin from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis( BACILLACEAE ),
(limited by the Caterpillars developing resistance to the toxin),

the wasp Bracon hebetor ( BRACONIDAE ), and

pheromone lures.