Silver Y moth

Silver Y moth
A. gamma on a leaf showing the 'Y'-shaped markings on its wings (beige)
Scientific Classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Noctuidae
Genus:	Autographa
Species:	Autographa gamma

The Silver Y (Autographa gamma) is a migratory moth of the family Noctuidae which is named for the silvery Y-shaped mark on each of its forewings. Silver Y caterpillars can damage various herbs including basil, parsley and brassicas. They are green with dark stripes along the back and a narrow yellow line down the side. These caterpillars have only three pairs of prolegs, instead of the usual five pairs.

Symptoms

Caterpillar damage can usually be distinguished from slug or snail damage by the presence of caterpillar droppings (frass, often barrel-shaped) on the leaves and the lack of slime trails. Young caterpillars can produce 'windows' in the leaf, where only the underside is removed, leaving the upper surface intact.

Treatment

Biological control

Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki

B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki, known 'Bt' or Dipel DF, is a bacterial biopesticide which is specific to caterpillars. Bt is applied as a high volume spray and has a SOLA for use on protected and outdoor herbs. It is most effective against young caterpillars. Optimal control relies on good coverage of both sides of the leaves, as the caterpillars need to eat treated foliage to take in the bacteria. Dipel DF should be sprayed onto dry foliage and plants should not be watered overhead within 6 hours of treatment. Once ingested Bt quickly stops the caterpillars from feeding, but death can take 1-3 days. Dead caterpillars shrivel up and can sometimes be seen hanging from the foliage.

Trichogramma brassicae

T. brassicae is a minute wasp that parasitises moth eggs, supplied as black parasitised eggs on cards. Adult wasps emerge from the eggs and search to find suitable moth eggs that have been laid on the plants. The parasitised eggs turn black and develop into more parasites instead of caterpillars.

Chemical

Tracer (spinosad)

Tracer has a SOLA for use on protected herbs and is effective against caterpillars. The product is safe to many biological control agents but is harmful to parasitic wasps e.g. those used for leaf miner or whitefly control, for up to 2 weeks after application. Although there should be no resistance problems with caterpillars, over-use of Tracer could lead to thrips' tolerance of the pesticide. Thus it is very important to follow the Specific Resistance Management Guidelines given on the SOLA.

Spruzit (pyrethrins plus oil)

Spruzit is approved for use on any protected edible crop and is effective against caterpillars. The product is harmful to many biological control agents but has only limited persistence, thus it can be used with care within IPM programmes. Spruzit has been known to cause leaf damage to curly parsley. The product should be tested on a few plants first for any herb species, before using on a large scale, particularly if more than one application is made.

Prevention

Cultural control

Maintain strict weed control in and around glasshouses and tunnels, including in empty structures in between crops.

Dispose of unwanted infested plants and any plant debris promptly and carefully.

Pheromone traps are available for silver Y moth. They will trap male moths and are intended as a monitoring system - use for early warning of first moth activity, to help time control measures. The traps themselves are not intended as a control measure; too few moths will be caught to affect the population size.

Examples

Larvae on [[dill]

Caterpillar on carrot