When one Caterpillar encounters another, they each produce a small amount of brown liquid from the mouth, and this contains a spacing pheromone [Mossadegh] which causes the Caterpillars to walk apart. This appears to be a mechanism that prevents overcrowding of the Caterpillars. Unfortunately for the Caterpillars, this mandibular secretion also includes a kairomone which attracts parasitoid wasps.

(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The adults have brown fore wings with a pale basal half, and a darker half toward the margin. The hind wings are white with brown veins. The moths have a wingspan of about 1 cm. The adults use ultrasonic sounds (~80 Khz) in their courtship behaviour.

The pheromones (specific sex-attractant substances) of this species have been determined and pheromone traps can be purchased to control the moths. The authors found that these can have an embarrassing effect if used in a home, as some pheromone condenses on clothing. Then when one then walks around a supermarket (where inevitably there will be some of these moths present) they cluster and flutter around one's body. The adult females are attracted to lay eggs on substrates contaminated by wandering fifth instar larvae.

Attempts have also been made to control the pest using :

This species originated in Europe, but now occurs world-wide, for example:

Further reading :

Ian F.B. Common
Moths of Australia, Melbourne University Press, 1990, pp. 57, 68, 350.

M.S. Mossadegh
Inter- and intra-specific effects of the mandibular gland secretion of larvae of the Indian-meal moth, Plodia interpunctella, Physiol.Ent., Volume 5 (1980), pp. 165-173.

J.K. Waage
Arrestment responses of the parasitoid, Nemeritis canescens, to a contact chemical produced by its host, Plodia interpunctella, Physiol.Ent., Volume 3 (1978), pp. 135-146.

previous caterpillar

Australian butterflies

Australian caterpillars

Australian moths

next caterpillar