Etiella behrii (Zeller, 1848)
(one synonym: Pempelia subaurella)
 PHYCITINI ,   PHYCITINAE ,   PYRALIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley


(Photo: courtesy of the South Australian Research and Development Institute)

The Caterpillars of this species are green with pink markings and a mottled brown head. They are an agricultural pest, feeding inside the developing seedpods of various members of the family FABACEAE, including:

  • Peanuts ( Arachis hypogaea ),
  • Tagasaste ( Chamaecytisus prolifer ),
  • Soybeans ( Glycine species ),
  • Lupins ( Lupinus nanus ),
  • Lucerne ( Medicago sativa ), and
  • Garden Peas ( Pisum sativum ).


    (Photo: courtesy of Laura Levens, Victoria)

    The adult is brown or grey, each forewing having two orange bands at the base, and also a white line along the leading edge. The hind wings have a satin sheen, and are pale brown with brown veins and a brown edge. The moth has a wingspan of about 1 cm.


    (Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

    It is found over much of south-east Asia including :

  • Hong Kong,
  • Indonesia, and
  • Malaysia.

    and Australia :

  • Western Australia,
  • South Australia,
  • Tasmania,
  • Victoria,
  • Australian Capital Territory,
  • New South Wales, and
  • Queensland.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, fig. 32.4, pp. 57, 66, 350.

    Paul Zborowski and Ted Edwards,
    A Guide to Australian Moths, CSIRO Publishing, 2007, p. 134.

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    (updated 8 September 2011)