Hymenia perspectalis

Hymenia perspectalis (Hübner, 1796)
Spotted Beet Webworm Moth
(one synonym : Zinckenia primordialis Zeller, 1852)
SPILOMELINAE, CRAMBIDAE, PYRALOIDEA

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

Hymenia perspectalis
(Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda, Queensland)

The Caterpillars of this species are a minor international pest on:

Beet ( Beta vulgaris, CHENOPODIACEAE ),

as well as feeding on various plants such as:

Spiny Saltbush ( Rhagodia spinescens, CHENOPODIACEAE ),

Water Hemp ( Amaranthus deflexus, AMARANTHACEAE ), and

Giant Pigweed ( Trianthema portulacastrum, AIZOACEAE ).

drawing by Jacob Hübner, listed as Pyralis perspectalis,
Pyralides, Sammlung Europäischer Schmetterlinge,
Volume 6 (1813), Plate 16, fig. 101,
image courtesy of Biodiversity Heritage Library, digitized by Ernst Mayr Library, Harvard University.

The adult moth is dark brown with variable markings. The forewings can have a pattern darker brown and either white or paler brown markings. The hindwings each have a ragged white stripe. The body is brown with white bands. The legs are white, with black bands on the forelegs. The moth has a wingspan of about 2 cms.

The species has been found all over the world, including :

as well as in Australia in

Western Australia,

Queensland, and

New South Wales.