Leucinodes orbonalis

Leucinodes orbonalis
File:Leucinodes orbonalis.jpg
File:Leucinodes orbonalis2.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Leucinodes
Species:	L. orbonalis
Binomial name
Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée, 1854

Leucinodes orbonalis, the eggplant fruit and shoot borer or brinjal fruit and shoot borer, is a moth species in the genus Leucinodes. It is found throughout the tropics in Asia and Africa and is a minor pest in the Americas.

The length of the forewings is 8.5–10.5 mm for males and 9.5–12 mm for females. The forewing ground colour is white, with a light- to dark brown basal area, delimited by a dark brown to grey antemedial line. The median area has a pale brown, faint proximal discoidal stigma. The distal discoidal stigma is pale brown, reaching from the costa to the forewing centre. The central dorsum has a prominent orange to dark brown L-shaped or triangular spot leading to the forewing centre and often meeting with the distal discoidal stigma. The antemedial line is sinuate, more or less distinct, but with a prominent subcostal bulge. The subapical half of the termen has a half moon-shaped brown to grey-grown spot. The marginal line is dotted. The hindwing ground colour is white. The internal area is white, with a discoidal spot, basicostally often with an auxiliary spot. The medial line is sinuate, the distal half approaching the discoidal spot, then turning towards the dorsum. The external area is pale brown to grey with a dotted marginal line.

Larvae bore inside an eggplant fruit and feed until they pupate. Fruit feeding is the major cause of damage. The larvae may also bore into tender shoots causing wilting and dieback of the branch terminals. This reduces the fruit-bearing capacity of plant.

A genetically modified brinjal, called Bt brinjal, has been developed to fight against L. orbonalis.

Gallery

• Leucinodes orbonalis male.jpg

  Mounted male

• Leucinodes orbonalis larva mid instar.jpg

  Mid instar larva

• Leucinodes orbonalis larva late instar.jpg

  Late instar larva

See also

• List of moths of Australia (Pyralidae)