About Spodoptera picta (Guérin-Méneville, 1830)
Scientific name: Spodoptera picta (Guérin-Méneville, 1830)
Description: The moth has a wingspan of approximately 40 mm. Its body is generally ochreous-white, with the head and thorax suffused with pinkish red. On the forewings, the costal base bears some red coloring. Numerous indistinct, wavy black lines are present between the base of the forewing and the antemedial line. The orbicular and claviform markings take the form of black rings. A medial pinkish red band runs across the forewing, which is wide at the costa and narrows toward the inner margin. The reniform marking has ochreous and black outlines and a red center. The postmedial area features double wavy lines filled with ochreous, which are strongly excurved beyond the cell. Beyond these lines, black dashes appear on reddish patches. The hindwings are semi-hyaline white.
The caterpillars have smooth skin. They are pale grey with a series of longitudinal black lines. Dark patches are present on the mesothorax and the last abdominal segment. As the caterpillar develops, the central dorsal line becomes yellowish.
Ecology: Eggs are laid on the leaves of host plants. The caterpillars bore into the leaves and travel down into the crown of the host bulb. Before pupation, caterpillars may move to leaf litter. Pupation occurs underground inside an earthen cocoon.
