Cadra figulilella

Cadra figulilella (Gregson, 1871)
Raisin Moth
(erroneously: Ephestia fugulilla)
PHYCITINAE, PYRALIDAE, PYRALOIDEA

Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@outlook.com)
and
Stella Crossley

(Photo: courtesy of Caroline Harding, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, New Zealand )

This Caterpillar is quite handsome: it is white with four rows of purplish brown spots along the back, and a brown head and collar. It grows to a length of about 1 cm. It is a pest of any stored foodstuff, particularly fruit, and especially grapes. It really prefers grapes that are damaged already and still moist.

(Photo: courtesy of Walter Ebeling, Department of Entomology, University of California Riverside)

The adult moth has fawn forewings and pale hindwings. It has a wing span of about 2 cms. The mating behaviour has been investigated, and some of the pheromones have been determined.

The species occurs world-wide, for example in:

Belgium,

Pakistan,

U.S.A.,

and having been introduced by unfortunate accident, also occurs in Australia in

Queensland,

New South Wales,

Australian Capital Territory,

Victoria, and

South Australia.

The species may be controlled using :

pheromone traps for adult moths,