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Farmer, Gary Nankervis, has reported a large number of moths within a forage rape crop in the Upper Murray, Victoria. The moths have been identified by entomologist, Ken Henry (SARDI), as cabbage centre grub (Hellula spp.). Caterpillars of the cabbage centre grub attack canola and other brassica crops, where they tunnel into the growing points of the plants, covering the entrances with webbing. Occasionally, they feed within the leaves of older plants, forming blisters; but numbers are seldom enough to cause economic damage.
Adult moths are about 12 mm long with light and dark brown markings. They are rapid fliers and hold their wings horizontally when resting. Larvae are a creamish colour with dark heads, grow up to 12 mm long and have longitudinal reddish-brown stripes along the body. Cabbage centre grubs can be mistaken for Etiella, cabbage white butterfly and diamondback moth larvae.
Cabbage centre grubs have several generations a year. They are more common in warm, dry cropping areas, and tend to cause problems throughout summer and autumn. For this reason, they are normally only a minor pest of most brassica crops, including canola. To monitor crops, inspect leaves for feeding damage and the presence of characteristic silken webbing which cabbage centre grubs use to bind leaves together.
Click here for image of the cabbage centre grub adult.
What is PestFacts?
PestFacts south-eastern keeps growers and advisers informed about invertebrate pests and beneficials in broadacre crops and pastures during the winter-cropping season in Victoria and southern New South Wales.
PestFacts south-eastern is run through IPMforGrains: Best Practice Insect Pest Management, a project delivered by the National Pest Information Network (cesar, DPIRD, QDAF, NSW DPI, and SARDI). This project aims to provide grain growers and advisors with information on invertebrate grain pest occurrence and equip industry with the knowledge needed to implement integrated pest management practices. This initiative is a GRDC investment and includes in-kind contributions from all project partner organisations.
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PestFacts is produced on an ʻas-needsʼ basis and relies upon pest observations and field reports from our subscribers. If you have recently observed invertebrate pests (or beneficial species) in broadacre crops, please contact us to report your observations.
Agricultural invertebrate identification
If you are a grower or agronomist in Victoria or NSW working with broadacre crops or pastures, we can assist you with identifying invertebrates found on farms at no cost. Please contact us for identification help.
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