Nolidae

74.0122 Eastern Bollworm / Spotted Bollworm Earias vittella (Fabricius, 1794)

Immigrant / Adventive

Similar species: This moth is unmistakeable as it has a green forewing with broad, white leading and trailing edges.

Forewing: 8 to 12mm

Habitats: Arid hillsides and arable fields.

Habits: The only record of a moth to light was at Durlston Country Park, Dorset on 16th June 2003. Other records were of larvae and pupae found in imported Okra at Heathrow airport in spring 1976. The moth comes to light.

Foodplant: The early stages have not been recorded in Britain other than larvae and pupae recorded in imported Okra. In the tropics it feeds internally on plants in the mallow family including Abutilon and Hibiscus, Cotton and the seedpods of Okra. It pupates in a tough, boat-shaped cocoon on the underside of a leaf of the foodplant.