Moths of North Carolina
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Sole representative of Plutellidae in NC
245 NC Records

Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) - Diamondback Moth

Plutella xylostellaPlutella xylostellaPlutella xylostella
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Yponomeutoidea		 Family:
Plutellidae		Subfamily:
[Plutellinae]		Tribe:
[Plutellini]		P3 Number:
36a0180		 MONA Number:
2366.00		 Other Common Names:
Cabbage Moth, Lesser Cabbage Moth
Species Status: The Diamondback Moth is an introduced species in North America that specializes on members of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). It is uncertain which area of the world it is native to (perhaps China or South Africa; Sarfraz et al., 2005), but it now occurs worldwide where cruciferous crops are grown and is a major agricultural pest in many areas of the world.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD                                                                                 
Structural photos
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Each female typically lays 200 eggs or more on leaf surfaces of canola, cabbage or other members of the mustard family, with the majority laid on the upper leaf surface. The first instar larvae mine the spongy mesophyll tissues, while the remaining instars are surface feeders and consume the leaves, buds, flowers, and fruits of the host plants. The average duration of larval instars under Canadian field conditions was 4.0, 3.6, 3.4, and 4.2 days for the first through fourth instars, respectively and pupation required 7.8-9.8 days (Harcourt 1957; Sarfraz et al., 2005). Local populations in temperate areas of the world can produce up to four generations per year, while up to 20 are produced in some tropical regions.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Plutella xylostella
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species is an important crop pest, feeding on cabbage and other cultivated Brassicaceae.
Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed primarily on members of the Brassicaceae, including virtually all cultivated species; records also exist from a few other families (Robinson et al., 2010). In North Carolina, Tracy Feldman has reared a larva from Virginia Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum). - View
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR SNA
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species was introduced from the Old World, but is long-established in North America. As both an exotic species and as an agricultural pest, it does not have any concerns with regard to its conservation. Experimental approaches to control (or eliminate) populations of this species using release of genetically modified males are currently being conducted and the results should be closely monitored. With the potential to extinguish any targeted species -- which could include native "pest" species -- decisions about applying this technology need to be evaluated by ecologists, conservation organizations, and informed citizen groups in addition to governmental oversight agencies.

 Photo Gallery for Plutella xylostella - Diamondback Moth

223 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: R. Newman on 2025-05-06
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-05-02
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-05-01
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-04-29
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-04-28
Pender Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2025-04-27
Pender Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Bonnie Eamick on 2025-04-25
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-24
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin on 2025-04-14
Bladen Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-04-05
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George on 2025-04-04
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-04-04
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2025-04-04
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-31
Madison Co.
Comment: Specimen dissected.
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-31
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-03-18
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-02-07
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-02-06
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2025-02-01
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-12-17
Durham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-12-17
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-12-08
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: R. Newman on 2024-11-18
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-11-18
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2024-10-18
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: B. Bockhahn on 2024-10-18
Macon Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-14
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: John Petranka on 2024-06-11
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-23
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther on 2024-05-18
Cumberland Co.
Comment: