Cryptoblabes adoceta

Young larvae are yellow but darken with age to yellow-brown to grey, usually with dark and orange stripes. Larvae reach 13 mm in length. Moths have grey forewings with a transverse two-tone pale/dark band. Moths rest with their wings folded back along the body and are only 8 mm long.

Distinctive colouration differentiates larvae from other podborers. The striped larvae resemble small armyworms, but unlike armyworms they taper noticeably toward the head and rear.

An exotic pest reported from New South Wales, Northern Territory and Queensland. Also occurs in New Zealand.

Minor, widespread, irregular.

Sorghum but also recorded on adzuki beans and pigeon peas in South East Queensland.

Holes made in adzuki pods may let in water and increase seed weathering. Leaf webbing is unlikely to affect yield.

At podding.

Eggs are probably laid on or near pods. Larvae bore into and feed inside pods. On pigeon peas, webbed leaves provide sheltered feeding sites.

Look for webbing and larvae in pods. Moths are difficult to detect.

No specified thresholds.

Chemical control: No registered products. Chemicals targeting Helicoverpa are likely to be effective. See Pest Genie or APVMA for current control options.

Natural enemies: The avoidance of broad-spectrum pesticides prior to flowering may help conserve natural enemies. However, beneficial insects are unlikely to control populations above about 10 per square metre.