Biology ofThysanoplusia orichalcea(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in New Zealand

Abstract
The paper describes current knowledge of the identification, pest status, and ecology of a newly self-introduced plusiine noctuid moth, Thysanoplusia orichalcea, in New Zealand. Following its discovery in early 1984, it has survived 2 winters, and is well established in the Auckland isthmus, with records as far south as Taranaki. It is polyphagous, with a host plant range differing from, though overlapping with, Chrysodeixis eriosoma. It is more abundant than C. enosoma on 7 species of plant, and could become a significant defoliating pest in legumes and brassicas. Levels of parasitism of T. orichalcea larvae in soybeans were much lower than for C. eriosoma. Nomuraea rileyi, a fungal pathogen of noctuid moths which killed both plusiine species in soybeans, is recorded for the first time in New Zealand.