Artichoke moth

Gortyna xanthenes

1. Identification

• Common name: Artichoke moth
• Scientific name: Gortyna xanthenes Germar
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Noctuidae

2. Pest description

• Robust caterpillars, initially whitish and then pinkish, which bore into stems and flower heads.
• Adults of yellowish-brown colouring, with discreet patterns on the wings.
• Attacks mainly tender tissues, boring into the interior of stems and inflorescences.
• Species associated mainly with the artichoke, but may occur in other composites.

3. Main hosts

• Artichoke.
• Cardoon.
• Other herbaceous Asteraceae.

4. Symptoms and damage

• Perforations in the stems and internal galleries.
• Sudden wilting of shoots due to the destruction of conductive tissues.
• Damage to the flower heads, reducing commercial value.
• Presence of exudates and exit holes of the caterpillars.
• Significant production losses in intense attacks.

5. Biological cycle

• One generation per year in most regions.
• Eggs laid at the base of plants or in plant debris.
• Caterpillars penetrate the stems and develop inside over several months.
• Pupation in the soil or inside dry stems.
• Adults emerge in late summer and early autumn.

6. Monitoring

• Observation of wilting symptoms and perforations in the stems.
• Cutting of suspect stems for detection of galleries and caterpillars.
• Monitoring of flights with light traps or pheromone (when available).
• Assessment of the percentage of affected plants throughout the crop cycle.

7. Management measures

• Cultural: removal and destruction of attacked plants, crop rotation and cleaning of plant remains.
• Biological: conservation of natural enemies and application of Bacillus thuringiensis in early stages (when possible).
• Integrated protection: regular monitoring, interventions only when justified and judicious application of authorised insecticides.

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Gortyna xanthenes.
• CABI Invasive Species Compendium – G. xanthenes.
• Alford, D. (2007). Pest management in horticultural and vegetable crops.
• López‑Villalta, J. (2010). Pests of artichoke and their management. Integrated Pest Management Reviews.
• Vacante, V. (2016). Insect pests of Mediterranean vegetable crops.