Hellula hydralis Guenée, 1854
(one synonym : Scopula criasusalis)
Cabbage Centre Grub
 GLAPHYRIINAE   ,    CRAMBIDAE

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

Hellula hydralis
(Photo: courtesy of Michael Keller,
School of Agriculture and Wine,
University of Adelaide,
South Australia.)

These Caterpillars are smooth, brown and stripy, with a dark head. They are an agricultural pest, feeding on the growing tips and flowers of many crops in BRASSICACEAE, including:

  • Cabbage ( Brassica oleracea ),
  • Canola ( Brassica napus ),
  • Broccoli ( Brassica italica ),
  • Brussel Sprouts ( Brassica gemmifera ),
  • Cauliflower ( Brassica botrytis ),
  • Kohlrabi ( Brassica gongylodes ),
  • Turnips ( Brassica rapa ),
    as well as
  • Parsnips ( Pastinaca sativa, APIACEAE ).

    Hellula hydralis
    (Photo: courtesy of Donald Hobern, Aranda)

    The adult moth is brown with two irregular darker stripes across each forewing. The hindwings are plain fawn. The moth has a wingspan of about 2 cms.

    The species is found occasionally in

  • New Zealand,
    but commonly occurs throughout Australia, including:
  • Australian Capital Territory,
  • New South Wales,
  • Northern Territory,
  • Queensland,
  • South Australia,
  • Tasmania,
  • Victoria, and
  • Western Australia.

    Further reading :

    Ian F.B. Common,
    Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, fig, 33.15, pp. 66, 354.

    P.C. Hely, G. Pasfield, and J.G. Gellatley,
    Insect pests of fruit and vegetables in NSW. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

    Buck Richardson,
    Mothology,
    LeapFrogOz, Kuranda, 2008, p. 28.

    Paul Zborowski and Ted Edwards,
    A Guide to Australian Moths, CSIRO Publishing, 2007, p. 133.

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    (updated 17 November 2010)