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Budworm |
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Helicoverpa punctigera
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Budworm larvae (Helicoverpa punctigera)
? Agriculture Western Australia
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Description
Typically the caterpillars are seen high up on plants with their heads buried in buds, flowers or fruits. They are shades of orange, brown and green and usually have dark stripes along the body. The body, which is up to 40 mm long, is sparsely covered with small bumps and bristles.
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Budworm larvae
? Agriculture Western Australia
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Life cycle
The small white eggs are laid on young plant shoots or on fruiting parts. Caterpillars emerge from these in about a week and feed for about three weeks before forming pupae in the soil. The pupal stage lasts a few days to several months depending upon the time of year. The moths may be recognized by their rapid flight, pale colour and size of 20 mm long and 30 mm across the wings.
There are several generations per season but the first spring generation is the most damaging to dryland crops. |
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Lupin damage
? Agriculture Western Australia
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Damage
The native budworm attacks the fruiting parts of a wide range of plants. The most serious damage occurs to ripening lupins, peas, clover and lucerne seed crops, linseed and rapeseed. Cereals may also be attacked especially when large numbers of caterpillars migrate out of drying, capeweed-dominant pastures. In pastures, lucerne and lupins, extensive leaf feeding can occur but this is not as serious as the damage to fruiting parts. |
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Budworm moth
? Agriculture Western Australia
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Control
Huge moth flights do not necessarily lead to damaging numbers of caterpillars as the weather and numerous parasites, predators and pathogens may dramatically reduce the population. Apart from the avoidance of unnecessary sprays harmful to beneficial species, there is little which can be achieved to influence overall numbers, as this pest breeds in native vegetation and on farms over a vast area and the adults are very mobile.
Budworm moth.
In lupins, at an on farm return of $180/tonne, for every large caterpillar found in a square metre of crop, farmers can expect a financial loss of $1.30 per hectare. In peas it is economic to spray when one small caterpillar is caught in three sweeps with an insect net. |
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