Heliothis punctifera

Heliothis punctifera
Heliothis punctifera
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Noctuidae
Genus: Heliothis
Species: H. punctifera
Binomial name
Heliothis punctifera
Walker, 1857
Synonyms
  • Neocleptria grisescens Warren, 1913
  • Heliothis leucatma Meyrick, 1897

The Lesser Budworm (Heliothis punctifera) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

Dorsal view
Ventral view

The moths can occur in huge numbers when migrating within the country. In November 2005, this species caused a panic at Murray Downs Golf Club near Swan Hill, when swarms of them invaded the course and clubhouse. The walls, ceiling and floor of the clubhouse were covered with resting moths.[1]

The wingspan is about 30 mm.[2]

The larvae feed on Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae species, but also on a number of agricultural crops. It is considered a pest on Medicago sativa, Gossypium hirsutum and Triticum aestivum.

References

  1. ^ Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley (July 23, 2008). "Heliothis punctifera". uts.edu.au. Archived from the original on 2008-08-01. http://web.archive.org/web/20080801225631/http://linus.socs.uts.edu.au/~don/larvae/heli/punctif.html. Retrieved 2009-01-22. 
  2. ^ Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley (July 23, 2008). "Heliothis punctifera". uts.edu.au. Archived from the original on 2008-08-01. http://web.archive.org/web/20080801225631/http://linus.socs.uts.edu.au/~don/larvae/heli/punctif.html. Retrieved 2009-01-22. 
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