Pasture webworm

Pasture webworm larvae are typically light-dark brown in colour and grow to approximately 20 mm long. They have a smooth body and shiny dark brown heads. Pasture webworm feed at night and hide inside web-lined tunnels beneath the ground by day. They typically feed on the soil surface or pull plant material into their tunnels, and can cause large losses to establishing cereal crops. Adult moths are long-legged with enlarged mouthparts arranged in a beak-like projection. They are 10-12 mm long with a wingspan of about 22 mm. Moths are easily detected as they fly up from pastures in the autumn.