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Reference · Pests

Ghost moths

Ghost moths (Hepialidae) are a family of moths whose larvae are notorious soil-dwelling pests that cause damage to a wide range of agricultural and horticultural crops. Due to their subterranean nature, they often go unnoticed until significant damage to the root system has already occurred.

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Behrens ghost moth Hepialus behrensi Chinese ghost moth Endoclita sinensis Dalaca Dalaca Dalaca noctuides Dalaca noctuides Endoclita Endoclita Endoclita Endoclita undulifer Endoclita buettneria Endoclita buettneria Endoclita chalybeatus Endoclita chalybeatus Endoclita gmelina Endoclita gmelina Ghost moth Hepialus humuli Ghost moth Korscheltellus lupulina Ghost moth Hepialus Hepialus hecta Hepialus hecta Korscheltellus Korscheltellus Korscheltellus gracilis Korscheltellus gracilis Map-winged Swift Hepialus fusconebulosus New Zealand subterranean grass caterpillar Oxycanus cervinatus New Zealand subterranean grass caterpillar Wiseana cervinata New Zealand subterranean grass caterpillar Wiseana despecta Oncopera Oncopera Oncopera fasciculata Oncopera fasciculata Oncopera intricata Oncopera intricata Oncopera rufobrunnea Oncopera rufobrunnea Orange swift moth Hepialus sylvina Oxycanus Oxycanus Phassus damor Phassus damor Phassus malabricus Phassus malabricus Phassus moth Phassus Phassus pharus Phassus pharus Phassus signifer Phassus signifer Wiseana Wiseana Wiseana fuscomaculatus Wiseana fuscomaculatus Wiseana jocosa Wiseana jocosa Wiseana signata Wiseana signata

Ghost moths

In terms of systematic classification, Hepialidae belong to the order Lepidoptera. Adults are characterized by primitive wing venation and a lack of functional mouthparts; they do not feed during their short adult lifespan, focusing entirely on mating and egg-laying processes.

These pests are generalists and pose a threat to various plants, including cereals, potatoes, strawberries, carrots, and ornamental shrubs. By consuming roots and boring into crowns, the larvae deprive the plants of essential nutrients and water, eventually leading to stunted growth or death.

The biology of the Ghost moth is defined by a slow development cycle, often spanning two or three years. The larvae spend this entire duration underground, moving through soil layers to access root systems. This multi-year cycle allows for persistent infestations if left unchecked.

Effective management strategies focus on integrated pest management (IPM) practices. Key methods include:

  • Deep cultivation to disrupt larval habitats and expose them to predators.
  • Proper crop rotation to reduce larval food sources.
  • Monitoring of adult moth flights using light traps during the breeding season.
  • Application of soil-applied insecticides when larval densities exceed economic thresholds.