Cabbage Moth vs Spotted Asparagus Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cabbage Moth Spotted Asparagus Beetle
Scientific Name Mamestra brassicae Crioceris duodecimpunctata
Order Lepidoptera Coleoptera
Family Noctuidae Chrysomelidae
Size Wingspan 34-50mm 6-7 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia Europe, introduced to North America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Cabbage Moth

A mottled grey-brown moth with kidney-shaped and circular stigmata on the forewings. Its caterpillar is a serious pest of brassica crops worldwide.

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Did You Know?

A single caterpillar can bore deep into a cabbage head contaminating it with frass and making it unmarketable.

Spotted Asparagus Beetle

A reddish-orange beetle with twelve black spots on its elytra. It is a pest of asparagus, with larvae feeding inside the berries.

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Did You Know?

Unlike its relative the common asparagus beetle, its larvae feed inside the berries rather than on stems.