Parthenium Biological Control Agents

Bucculatrix parthenica (leaf mining moth)

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Actual Size 4mm
Eggs laid on leaves

Larvae pupate in coccons on the undersides of leaves and stems
  • from Mexico
  • adults life for 4-5 days
  • mate after 1 day
  • larvae mine for 14 days
  • cocoons last for 7 days
  • life cycle about 28 days

Larvae mine into the leaf, leaving thread-like trails

larger larvae feed and produce windows on the leaf