Scirpophaga nivella

Sugarcane top borer
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Scirpophaga
Species: S. nivella
Binomial name
Scirpophaga nivella
(Fabricius, 1794)
Synonyms
  • Tinea nivella Fabricius, 1794
  • Crambus niveus Fabricius, 1798
  • Scirpophaga chrysorrhoa Zeller, 1863
  • Scirpophaga auriflua Zeller, 1863
  • Scirpophaga brunnescens Moore, 1888
  • Schoenobius celidias Meyrick, 1894
  • Scirpophaga euclastalis Strand, 1918

Scirpophaga nivella, the sugarcane top borer, is a moth in the Crambidae family. It was described by Fabricius in 1794.[1] It is found in China (Henan, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong, Guangxi, Yunnan), Taiwan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, on the Andaman Islands, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, western Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, on Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Timor, Aru, New Guinea, Australia, New Caledonia and Fiji.[2]

Description

The wingspan is about 28-30 mm in male and 24-50 mm in female.[3] Hind wings with veins 4,5 well separated at origin. A pure white moth with orange anal tuft, sometimes brownish in the female. The larvae are off-white with a reddish dorsal line.[4]

Ecology

Major feeding plant is sugarcane, besides Oryza sativa, Scirpus, Cyperus, Eleocharis (including Eleocharis dulcis) and Calidum articulatum are also susceptible as feeding plants of the moth.[5]

Damage

Caterpillars bore into midrib, by leaving red markings and small holes on the leaves. Then it bore in the upper portion of stem, causing “dead heart” symptoms. Gradually, side branches start growing from a lower node, giving a characteristic “bunchy top” appearance to the plant.[6]

Control

Most effective method is using biological predators and parasitoids. It is also environment friendly. Parasitoids such as Tetrastichus, Trichogramma intemedium, and Trichogramma minutum parasitized upon eggs. Goniozus indicus, Stenobracon deesae, Amauromorpha accepta schoenobii, Isotima javensis, Syzeuctus, and Sturmiopsis infenens used to eradicate caterpillars. Pupa can destroyed by using Tetrastichus ayyari, and Xanthopimpla pedator species.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "global Pyraloidea database". Globiz.pyraloidea.org. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
  2. ↑ Taxonomic review of the subfamily Schoenobiinae (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Crambidae) from China
  3. ↑ Lepidoptera Larvae of Australia
  4. ↑ Hampson G. F. (1892). "The Fauna Of British India Including Ceylon And Burma Moths Vol-iv". Digital Library of India. p. 558. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "white rice borer (Scirpophaga nivella)". Plantwise Technical Factsheet. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "Top-Borer (Scirpophaga Nivella) or (Trporyza Novella): Distribution, Life Cycle and Control". YourArticleLibrary.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "The Sugarcane Top Borer". IASZoology.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016.


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