Heart and Dart vs Cabbage Whitefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Heart and Dart Cabbage Whitefly
Scientific Name Agrotis exclamationis Aleyrodes proletella
Order Lepidoptera Hemiptera
Family Noctuidae Aleyrodidae
Size 32-40 mm wingspan 1-1.5 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Root Feeders Sap Feeders
Regions Europe, temperate Asia Europe, North Africa, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Heart and Dart

An extremely common brown moth named for the heart and dart-shaped markings on its forewing. It is often the most abundant species in light traps across Europe.

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Did You Know?

A single light trap can capture over a thousand individuals in one night during peak emergence.

Cabbage Whitefly

A small white-winged insect that infests brassica crops, weakening plants with sap feeding and honeydew production. Populations have increased dramatically in European cabbage and kale crops.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most whiteflies, it thrives outdoors in cool temperate climates rather than in tropical greenhouses.