also: こなが
diamondback moth; cabbage moth
A small moth whose larvae are a major pest of cruciferous vegetables.
The diamondback moth is a major enemy of cabbages.
Farmers are struggling to control diamondback moths.
Hiragana spelling, less common than katakana.
Kanji form; rarely used. The reading こなが is also possible but uncommon.
The origin is uncertain. The kanji 小菜蛾 literally means 'small vegetable moth'.