About Hellula rogatalis Hulst, 1886
Hellula rogatalis, commonly known as the cabbage webworm, is a moth species in the family Crambidae. It was first described by George Duryea Hulst in 1886. Its distribution ranges across the southern United States, extending northward along the eastern continent to Maryland, New York, and Ontario. It is also found in Mexico, where it has been recorded from Distrito Federal. The wingspan of adult individuals measures 15 to 21 mm. The forewings are brownish yellow or grayish yellow, marked with wavy white antemedial, median, and postmedial lines. The subterminal line is made up of several evenly spaced black dots. The hindwings are light gray or grayish yellow, with a dark terminal line and pale-colored fringe. In the southern portion of its range, adult moths are active from late March through October; in the northern portion, they are active from June through October. Southern populations produce several generations each year. The larvae of this moth feed on a wide variety of Brassicaceae and related species, including cabbage, turnip, beet, collard, cauliflower, kale, rutabaga, radish, kohlrabi, mustard, rape, horseradish, shepherd's purse, and purslane. The larvae feed on the leaf buds and young leaves of their host plants, and they create silken webs.
