Page 637 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Noctuidae
DISTRIBUTION Throughout Africa, Macaronesia, southernmost Europe
(rare migrant farther north to the British Isles), Madagascar,
the Middle East, and western Asia
HABITAT Rain forests, moist tropical forests, and many open, warm habitats,
including farmland, rough ground, and gardens
HOST PLANTS Many from more than 40 families, including Brassicaceae, such
as cabbage (Brassica spp.); Asteraceae, such as Lettuce (Lactuca
sativa); Fabaceae (legumes); Poaceae (grasses and cereals);
and Euphorbiaceae (spurges)

NOTE Signi cant, mainly African pest that is variable but quite
distinctive
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but widespread and common

ADULT WINGSPAN

1⅜–1 ⁄ in (35–40 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1 ⁄ –1¾ in (40–45 mm)
SPODOPTERA LITTORALIS
AFRICAN COTTON LEAFWORM 635

(BOISDUVAL, 1833)

The eggs of the African Cotton Leafworm, also known as the
Mediterranean Brocade, are laid in batches of several hundred,
covered with brownish hairs from the tip of the female’s
abdomen. The caterpillar hides under a leaf when small, but
when larger it may leave the plant to hide during the day.
It feeds externally on the leaves, but on some hosts it also burrows
into stems, such as Maize (Zea mays), or fruiting bodies, such
as Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Severe attacks can destroy The African Cotton Leafworm caterpillar is
entire crops. The full-grown caterpillar pupates just beneath plump with a rather small head and somewhat
hunched posture. It can be gray, brown, or gray
the soil surface. green in color. The markings vary but often
include a pair of bold, black spots on the fourth
segment, sometimes forming a broken band,
Within two to four days of eclosing, the female will lay and often pairs of black or yellow spots, or both,
along the back and sometimes yellow stripes.
up to 2,000 eggs. The length of the life cycle can vary from 19 to
144 days, with up to seven generations a year recorded. This
adaptable and prolific species is an important crop pest
throughout its range, more so in the warmest areas, and is often
accidentally transported on produce to other parts of the world.
The Asian Cotton Leafworm (Spodoptera litura), with a more
easterly range, is almost identical in all life stages.

Actual size