Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Spoladea
Species: S. recurvalis
Binomial name: Spoladea recurvalis
Synonyms: Phalaena recurvalis Fabricius, Zinckenia recurvalis,
Phalaena Pyralis fascialis, Hymenia recurvalis, Hymenia exodias,
Hydrocampa albifacialis, Hydrocampa albifascialis,
Hymenia diffascialis, Nacoleia ancylosema, Odezia hecate var. formosana, Phalaena angustalis, Phycis recurvella, Spoladea animalis.
Common names: Hawaiian beet webworm moth, Beet webworm moth, Small webworm moth.
Spoladea recurvalis is a pest species of moth of the family Crambidae. It is found worldwide, but mainly in the warmer regions. In New Zealand, it has been recorded only in the North Island south to New Plymouth
It has a wingspan of >24 mm. The forewings are 9-11 mm long and are a deep brown colour and they have broad white median band beginning at the inner margin and terminating in "fish-hook" shape before reaching costa. The band has smooth margins outlined in black. The hindwings are the same deep brown and they also have a broad white median bar beginning at costa and terminating part-way across the wing, with three white spots beyond it. The fringe of both wings has dark and light patches. The adult moths shelter beneath leaves during the day.
Spoladea recurvalis’s mature larva (> 25 mm long) is a brownish-green with sparse white hairs; thin black dorsal line, broad dark subdorsal stripes, and paler yellowish sides and bottom. The head is a light yellowish-brown colour with brown spots. The larvae hosts are Amaranthus (amaranth), Arachis hypogaea (peanut), Beta vulgaris (beetroot), Beta vulgaris (beet), Chenopodium quinoa (quinoa), Citrullus lanatus (watermelon), Cucurbitaceae (cucurbits), Dahlia, Daucus carota (carrot), Phaseolus (beans), Solanum melongena (aubergine), Spinacia oleracea (spinach), dried stored products, Zea mays (maize)and various weeds such as Amaranthus (amaranths) and Chenopodium (goosefoots) species.
The larvae feed on the underside of the leaves protected by a slight web, hence their common name ‘webworm’.
Pupation occurs within a slight cocoon within a folded piece of leaf. The pupa is a very pale brown. The pupal period lasts about 12 days. Spoladea recurvalis can have two generations per year.
The larvae.
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