Gold-banded Etiella Moth
Common NameGold-banded Etiella Moth
Scientific NameEtiella zinckenella
FamilyPyralidae
SubfamilyPhycitinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Primary Colorsreddish-brown, golden-yellow, grey, dark brown
HabitatAgricultural fields, gardens, disturbed areas, open woodlands where host plants are present
Geographic RangeCosmopolitan (Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia)
Host Plantspeas, beans, lentils, soybeans, peanuts, lupines, clover, vetch
Flight PeriodMay to October (multivoltine, varies by region)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on the host plant, typically legumes. Larvae are borers, feeding internally within pods and seeds. Pupation usually occurs in the soil, and the species is multivoltine, producing several generations per year.
Identification TipsKey identification features include the bright golden-yellow band across the basal third of the forewing, the reddish-brown and greyish mottling of the rest of the wing, and the noticeably long, upturned labial palps.
Description
A small moth characterized by its reddish-brown to greyish forewings, featuring a prominent, bright golden-yellow transverse band near the base and a dark streak along the costa. It possesses distinctive long, upturned labial palps.
