''Plutella antiphona'', also known as the diamondback moth, is a

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

of the family

Plutellidae The Plutellidae are a family of moths commonly known as the diamondback moths, named after the diamondback moth (''Plutella xylostella'') of European origin. It was once considered to have three subfamilies: Plutellinae, Praydinae, and Scythrop ...

first described by

Edward Meyrick Edward Meyrick (25 November 1854, in Ramsbury – 31 March 1938, at Thornhanger, Marlborough) was an English schoolmaster and amateur entomologist. He was an expert on microlepidoptera and some consider him one of the founders of modern m ...

in 1901. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

Description

This species is very similar in appearance to ''Plutella xylostella'' and can only be distinguished from that species either by examining the larvae, the pupae or the adult genitalia. The diamond pattern on the forewings of this species is variable and can be blurred or faded.

Distribution

It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the country.

Habitat and hosts

''P. antiphona'' inhabit open areas including cultivated places like gardens. Larvae of this species feed on plants in the ''

Brassicaceae Brassicaceae () or (the older) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important family of flowering plants commonly known as the mustards, the crucifers, or the cabbage family. Most are herbaceous plants, while some are shrubs. The leav ...

'' family.

Behaviour

The larvae make a web of silk on the lower side of the leaves and produce see through windows in the leaf structure as they feed. They pupate in a cocoon made of silk either on the ground or alternatively on their host plant. Adults are on the wing throughout the year and are both day and night flying. They are attracted to light.

Interaction with humans

Although this species feeds on plants in the ''Brassicaceae'' family it is not regarded as a serious pest of agricultural crops.

References

Plutellidae Moths of New Zealand Moths described in 1901 Endemic fauna of New Zealand Taxa named by Edward Meyrick Endemic moths of New Zealand {{Lepidoptera-stub