Moths of North Carolina
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10 NC Records

Hellula rogatalis (Hulst, 1886) - Cabbage Webworm Moth

Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: GlaphyriinaeTribe: [Glaphyriini]P3 Number: 801018.00 MONA Number: 4846.00
Comments: Hellula rogatalis is very similar to The Old World H. undalis, and was at one time thought to be the latter that was introduced to North America. The two species were confused until Capps (1953) documented marked differences in genitalia for both sexes.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1972)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Shrestha and Webb, 2016                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The following is mostly based on the description by Forbes (1923) and Munroe (1972). This species has both dark and pale forms. The ground color is somewhat variegated and is concentrated in fairly wide basal, antemedial, medial and subterminal zones, with the last fragmented. In dark individuals the ground is olivaceous fuscous on a buff ground, compared with yellowish buff on a whitish-buff ground in pale individuals. The complete dark medial zone is characteristic of this species.

The ground is overlain with a series of wavy, whitish to pale buff lines that are faintly defined with black. These include a fragmentary basal line, a complete transverse antemedial line, and a strongly sinuous postmedial line that sharply bulges outward around the reniform spot. The reniform is somewhat broadly kidney-shaped and is dark fuscous throughout. A line of black terminal dots is present along the termen that is immediately preceded by a thin, even, whitish line. The hindwings vary from whitish to light fuscous.
Forewing Length: 7-9 mm (Munroe, 1972)
Adult Structural Features: Capps (1953) and Munroe (1972) have descriptions and illustrations of the genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Hellula rogatalis is a serious pest on cabbage, broccoli, and many other commercially grown members of the Brassicaceae. The eggs are laid either singly or in small masses and the young larvae are pale yellowish gray with the head and prothoracic shield dusky colored. The first two instars are leaf miners, while the older larvae feed on the lower surfaces of leaves inside protective webs. The larvae may also feed on the midribs of leaves, which can cause the midribs to weaken and the leaves to break (Munroe, 1972; Shrestha and Webb, 2016). In addition, the larvae often bore into the main stem and stalk of young plants and cause the plants to wilt and die. After they stop feeding, the larvae drop to the ground and burrow into the soil, then pupate in a compact cocoon composed of webbed grains of soil.

The full-grown larva is a little over 13 mm long and is grayish yellow or yellowish gray, with five purplish longitudinal stripes. These include a wide dorsolateral stripe on each side and narrower mid-dorsal and lateral stripes. The head is black and shining, with a distinct whitish area along the adfrontal suture that extends to the vertex. The thoracic shield is purplish gray, shining and variably marked with brown. There are also irregular brown lateral markings on the second thoracic segment (Munroe, 1972).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: The native range of Hellula rogatalis is poorly documented. It is native to North America, but has presumably expanded its range in association with the growth of commercial crops of cabbage, broccoli and other members of the Brassicaceae. It is currently found in the US across a wide swath from northern California eastward to Indiana, Ohio and Massachusetts. The range extends southward to southern Florida, southern Texas and southern California. This species also occurs in southern Ontario, and in most of Mexico, northern Guatemala and Puerto Rico. As of 2023, all of our records are from the Coastal Plain and Piedmont.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: The adults have been observed year-round in the southernmost populations in the US, and mostly from August to October in northern populations. As of 2023, our records are from mid-June through late-August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: This species is a commercial pest and is generally associated with croplands.
Larval Host Plants: The Cabbage Webworm is a serious pest on commercially grown members of the Brassicaceae, including bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, collard, kale, mustard, radish, rutabaga, shepherd’s purse, and turnip (Shrestha and Webb, 2016). This species is native to North America, but the native hosts that were used prior to the production of commercial crops are poorly documented. - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae are common in field crops.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR [S3-S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species is relatively uncommon in North Carolina, but is of little conservation concern due to it being a serious crop pest in many areas of the country.

 Photo Gallery for Hellula rogatalis - Cabbage Webworm Moth

Photos: 5

Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-08-24
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: R. Newman on 2022-08-13
Carteret Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-20
Guilford Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Gary Maness on 2022-06-20
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Paul Scharf on 2011-10-18
Warren Co.
Comment: