Pectinophora gossypiella

Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders, 1844)
(one synonym : Gelechia umbripennis)
Pink Bollworm
CHELARIINAE , GELECHIIDAE

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

This Caterpillar is initially white, becoming pink, and has a brown head. It grows to a length of about 1 cm. It bores into a bud or fruit of its food plant, and feeds on

Cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum, MALVACEAE ).

(Photo: courtesy of Brian Cartwright, Adelaide Hills)

The adult moths are small with a complex brown pattern on the forewings. The hindwings are off-white with brown veins. The wingspan is about 2 cms. The pheromones of this species have been identified.

The species occurs world-wide, including

Africa,

Asia,

Europe,

USA,
and in Australia in:

Northern Territory,

Western Australia,

South Australia.

Attempts are being made to control it using :

burning or drowning the stubble
the breeding of resistant transgenic Bt cotton varieties,
wasps such as Microchelonus blackburni ( BRACONIDAE ),
pheromone traps,
Nematodes,
sterile insect release.