Olive pyralid moth

Palpita (=Margaronia) vitrealis (=unionalis)

1. Identification

• Common name: Jasmine moth
• Scientific name:Margaronia unionalis Hübner
• Synonym: Palpita vitrealis Rossi
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Crambidae

2. Pest description

• Adults 20–25 mm in wingspan, white and shiny wings with pearly reflections.
• Wing margin with a thin brown line.
• Larvae green, very mobile, with a brown head.
• Larvae feed on the young leaves, rolling them up with silky threads.
• More intense activity on new shoots and in nurseries.

3. Main hosts

• Olive tree.
• Wild olive.
• Jasmine.
• Other sensitive Oleaceae.

4. Symptoms and damage

• Young leaves rolled up and bound together by silky threads.
• Consumption of the leaf blade, leaving only veins.
• Drying and drop of new leaves.
• Reduction of vegetative growth.
• More severe damage on young plants and in nurseries.

5. Biological cycle

• Several generations per year in hot climates.
• Eggs laid singly or in small groups on the underside of the leaves.
• Larvae develop rapidly on tender shoots.
• Pupation in silky cocoons on the leaves or branches.
• Adults active from spring to autumn.

6. Monitoring

• Observation of leaves rolled up and bound together by threads.
• Checking for green larvae on young shoots.
• Intensive monitoring in nurseries and young olive groves.
• Recording of periods of greater activity (spring and summer).
• Assessment of attack intensity to determine the need for intervention.

7. Management measures

• Cultural: pruning of heavily attacked shoots, elimination of infested material and promotion of balanced growth.
• Biological: conservation of natural parasitoids and predators present in the olive grove.
• Integrated protection: regular monitoring, interventions only when justified, judicious application of authorised insecticides and integration of cultural practices to reduce the susceptibility of the plants.

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Palpita unionalis.
• CABI Invasive Species Compendium – P. unionalis.
• Bento, A. et al. (2001). Pragas da oliveira e sua gestão integrada.
• Tzanakakis, M. E. et al. (2003). Biology and control of olive leaf moths.