Moths of North Carolina
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16 NC Records

Evergestis pallidata (Hufnagel, 1767) - Purple-backed Cabbageworm Moth

Evergestis pallidataEvergestis pallidataEvergestis pallidata
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Pyraloidea Family: CrambidaeSubfamily: EvergestinaeTribe: [Evergestini]P3 Number: 80a1223 MONA Number: 4897.00
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Munroe (1973)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: This is an easily distinguished species with a distinctive mark in the subcostal region near the middle of the wing that resembles an hourglass or tied knot. The following description is based on that of Munroe (1973). The forewing is straw yellow and lightly dusted with fuscous. The fuscous medial and postmedial lines are fine but distinct and both run obliquely outward from the costa then bend and project obliquely inward to the inner margin. The medial line is interrupted by a ringlike mark in the end of cell. Immediately adjacent to this distally is an hourglass-shaped mark. Many specimens have a third similar line that runs parallel to the other two near the base, but this is often absent. The terminal area has a brownish patch of variable width and intensity that contains a clear straw-yellow patch just before the margin. There is a fine dark terminal line, and the fringe is straw-yellow and variegated with brown. The hindwings are very pale straw-colored with faint violaceous iridescence and are darker towards the anal margin. The terminal margin and part of the fringe are dark tinged and there is a weak, broken, fuscous postmedial line.
Forewing Length: 10-12 mm (Munroe, 1973).
Adult Structural Features: Munroe (1973) has descriptions of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larvae feed on members of the mustard family, including many cultivated species such as cabbage. The eggs are laid in masses of three to a dozen or so on leaf surfaces and the larvae feed on the foliage. The full-grown larva is olive green to purplish and has a broad yellow lateral stripe, a black head and tubercles (Munroe, 1973). It overwinters in a cocoon on the ground and pupates in the spring.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Evergestis pallidata in native to Eurasia and was introduced to North America from Europe sometime between 1850-1900 (Capinera, 2002). It has since spread throughout many of the northern latitudes, including much of southern Canada. In the eastern US it occurs from the New England states southward to western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, and westward to Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. Populations are also established in the Pacific Northwest and in several states in the Rocky Mountains region. As of 2023, all of our records are from the Blue Ridge.
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 collected from May through December in North America, with a seasonal peak in June through September. Populations in North Carolina appear to be bivoltine, with adults first emerging in May and June, then again in September and early August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Local populations can be found where cultivated plants are grown, but also in natural habitats such as mesic forests where Cardamine and other members of the mustard family likely serve as hosts.
Larval Host Plants: The larvae feed on various members of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), and can occasionally be a significant pest in home gardens or commercial operations. They feed on both native and cultivated species (Munroe, 1973), including Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), Chinese Cabbage (Brassica campestris), Cabbage (B. oleracea), Turnip (Brassica rapa), wintercresses (Barbarea spp.), bittercresses (Cardamine spp.), Radish (Raphanus sativus) and charlocks (Sinapis spp.). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are attracted to lights and the larvae can be found on the foliage of the host plants.
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 is an introduced species and does not merit protection.

 Photo Gallery for Evergestis pallidata - Purple-backed Cabbageworm Moth

Photos: 11

Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Bo Sullivan and Becky Elkin on 2023-09-15
Macon Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ed Corey, David George on 2023-06-17
Avery Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-09-16
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-02
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: tom ward on 2021-06-02
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2020-10-07
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-09-13
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2020-09-13
Madison Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2019-09-16
Madison Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Doug Blatny/Jackie Nelson on 2012-05-26
Ashe Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Vin Stanton on 2010-09-10
Buncombe Co.
Comment: