Kingdom Animalia Family Plutellidae Genus Plutella Order Butterflies and moths | Class Insecta Phylum Arthropoda Rank Species | |
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Similar Plutella, Butterflies and moths, Plutellidae, Diamondback moth | ||
Plutella australiana is a moth of the Plutellidae family. It is found in eastern Australia.
The length of the forewings 5.4–6.9 mm for males and 5.6–6.9 mm for females. In external appearance P. australiana is indistinguishable from Plutella xylostella. Both species exhibit significant, overlapping variation in forewing pattern. Most specimens of both species have the pale, scalloped band along the hind/dorsal margin typically used to recognize P. xylostella. That band varies from strongly marked to nearly indistinct (the latter particularly so in females) in both species. No reliable external difference was observed that permits the separation of the two species. Genitalia must be examined and they afford several good characters.
P. xylostella is thought to feed on a wide variety of cruciferous plants in Australia, including native and introduced species. However, Australian records are in question because of the past oversight of P. australiana. As a result, the host plants of both species are uncertain.
Etymology
This species name reflects the current restriction of the species to Australia.