Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Crambidae Scientific name Scirpophaga nivella | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Genus Scirpophaga Rank Species | |
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Similar Scirpophaga, Scirpophaga excerptalis, Chilo infuscatellus, Chilo auricilius, Chilo sacchariphagus | ||
Scirpophaga nivella, the sugarcane top borer, is a moth in the Crambidae family. It was described by Fabricius in 1794. 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.
Contents
Description
The wingspan is about 28-30 mm in male and 24-50 mm in female. 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.
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.
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.
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.
