Lima Bean Pod Borer: Appearance, Territory, Damage and Life Cycle

Latin Name: Etiella Zinckenella

Appearance: Wingspan: 19-27 mm Yellow to brownish-grey forewings with a distinctive light stripe along the foredge and an orange patch in the basal part of the wing. Hindwings are pale grey with black venation and a dark double line before of the fringe. The fringe is light and lengthy. To feed, larvae tunnel into pods, creating a brown entrance mark. As the larvae eats within the pod, frass accumulates, resulting in the creation of rotting patches. When the larva departs to pupate in the earth, it creates a second big hole.

Hosts Plants: The larva’s host plants include the locust tree (Robinia), green peas, and Argyrotaenia species. The lima bean pod borer may be distinguished from the others by its distinctive wing pattern and form. In Europe, noctuids such as Polia nebulosa (during the first flight phase) and Noctua fimbriata (during the second flight period) are occasionally attracted. They are both substantially larger than the target species.

Territory: The lima-bean pod borer is found in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the West Indies.

Damage Insect Cause: The seeds in the pod have gnawing damage, and the caterpillar has filled the inside of the pod with webbing, which contains little particles of feces. Chewing damage on green peas affects a substantial portion of the seed surface, however it is shallow. Mature larvae may completely consume small seeds.

Life History and Habits: The life cycle of a moth has four stages: egg, pupae, larva, and adult moth. The egg stage lasts 3 days on average, the larva stage 13-14 days, the pupa stage 6-7 days, and adults can survive 6-10 days on average. Legume pod borers can result in yield reductions of up to 80%.