Etiella zinckenella

Etiella zinckenella (Treitschke, 1832)
(one synonym : Tinea marginella)
Lima Bean Pod Borer
PHYCITINI , PHYCITINAE , PYRALIDAE

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

(Photo: courtesy of Department of Agriculture, Andhra Pradesh)

This Caterpillar is a cosmopolitan pest on various beans ( FABACEAE ) such as:

Mung Beans ( Vigna radiata ),

Lima Beans ( Phaseolus lunatus ), and

Soy Beans ( Glycine max ),

as well as

Gingko fruit ( Ginkgo biloba, GINKGOACEAE ).

It feeds on the seeds inside the pod. The Caterpillar is off-white with a dark head.

(Photo: courtesy of Graeme Cocks, Townsville)

The adult moth has brown forewings with a pale yellow line along the costa and a transverse orange band. The hindwings are pale brown. The wingspan is about 2 cms

(Photo: courtesy of Department of Agriculture, Andhra Pradesh)

. Its pheromones have been elucidated.

Although found around the world, for example in:

Japan, and

U.S.A.,
so far it is found only in Australia in

Queensland.