18.001 Plutella xylostella (Diamond-backed Moth)
ws: 12-17mm; bivoltine May, Jul-Sep; Brassica spp; common throughout GB
Plutella xylostella §3 male
ID: generally readily recognised by brown forewing with pale dorsal streak
Key (to Plutellidae): forewing narrow (length >3.25x width) (excludes Eidophasia messingiella); with pale dorsal streak (excludes Rhigognostis senilella); termen not contrastingly dark (excludes Plutella porrectella); forewing without pink suffusion (excludes Rhigognostis incarnatella); costa not conspicuously strigulate (excludes Rhigognostis annulatella); forewing without rows of spots (excludes Plutella haasi) > Plutella xylostella
Key (to Plutellidae): forewing narrow (length >3.25x width) (excludes Eidophasia messingiella); with pale dorsal streak (excludes Rhigognostis senilella); termen not contrastingly dark (excludes Plutella porrectella); forewing without pink suffusion (excludes Rhigognostis incarnatella); costa not conspicuously strigulate (excludes Rhigognostis annulatella); forewing without rows of spots (excludes Plutella haasi) > Plutella xylostella
§1 Foulness, Essex; 26/08/2007
§2 St Marys, Isles of Scilly; 24/10/2007
§3 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 18/09/2011; male; fw 8.0mm
§4 St Marys, Isles of Scilly; 02/10/2011; female
§5 Isle of Wight; 30/05/2014
§6 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 21/05/2018; male; fw 6.6mm
§7 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 21/05/2018; female; fw 7.6mm
§8 Loch Naver, Sutherland; 23/06/2021
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 St Marys, Isles of Scilly; 24/10/2007
§3 Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk; 18/09/2011; male; fw 8.0mm
§4 St Marys, Isles of Scilly; 02/10/2011; female
§5 Isle of Wight; 30/05/2014
§6 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 21/05/2018; male; fw 6.6mm
§7 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 21/05/2018; female; fw 7.6mm
§8 Loch Naver, Sutherland; 23/06/2021
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 30/01/2012 (§1-4) | §5 added 29/01/2015 | §6&7 added 07/03/2019 | §8 added 14/10/2021
