Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley
(updated 9 August 2004)
(Photo: courtesy of the
Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, Bundaberg)
This Caterpillar is an agricultural pest, particularly of
It bores into the young shoots. The Caterpillar grows to a length of about 0.5 cm.
It pupates in a frail cocoon covered in frass in the debris on the surface of the soil. The pupa has a length of about 0.5 cm. The adults emerge after about 12 days.
The adults are grey. The males are smaller than the females and have black dots, and a wingspan of about 0.8 cm. The females have white flecks, and a wingspan of about 1 cm.
The eggs are pale yellowish-green, flecked with blue and pink.
The species occurs from the Mediterranean, through Turkey, across Africa and Asia to Australia. In Australia, it occurs over most of Queensland.
The species is very difficult to control, as the larvae are so well protected in their tunnels, and most of the damage has been done by the time the infestation is discoved.
Further reading :
J.R. Agnew (ed.), Australian Sugarcane Pests, (Photo: courtesy of the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations (Indooroopilly) 1997, p. 44.
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