The native budworm (Helicoverpa punctigera or, as it was known, Heliothis punctigera) is native to Australia and is distributed, particularly during spring, throughout much of the central and southern regions of the country. It is the major pest of all grain legumes, although pea weevil is equally important in field peas. It also attacks most oilseed crops, some vegetables, particularly tomato and sweet corn, and various pasture species such as clover and lucerne. In terms of production losses, field peas, chick peas, faba beans, tomatoes and lucerne are probably the most important hosts.