Scirpophaga excerptalis

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Scirpophaga excerptalis
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Scirpophaga
Species:
S. excerptalis
Binomial name
Scirpophaga excerptalis
(Walker, 1863)
Synonyms
  • Chilo excerptalisWalker, 1863
  • Scirpophaga monostigma Zeller, 1863
  • Scirpophaga butyrota Meyrick, 1889
  • Scirpophaga intacta P.C.T. Snellen, 1890
  • Topeutis rhodoproctalis Hampson, 1919

Scirpophaga excerptalis, the white top borer or sugarcane top borer, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1863. [1] It is found in southern Asia from the Indian Subcontinent in the west to southern China in the east, south to New Guinea, possibly Australia and the Solomon Islands. [2]

Contents

Description

The wingspan is 22–28 mm for males and 26–35 mm for females. The forewings and hindwings are white with an orange-red anal tuft in females. [3]

Similar species

Many, if not all, records of the moth Scirpophaga nivella in the cane fields of Asia are in fact of S. excerptalis. All species of Scirpophaga are indistinguishable from each other as caterpillars, very difficult to distinguish as females, and can best be distinguished by examining the male genitalia or by sequencing and comparing the DNA. [4] Chen & Wu find the males resemble S. magnella the most in their key to the genitalia of the genus, with S. tongyaii slightly less similar, and S. khasis and S. adunctella less so. The females are also most similar to S. magnella, and less so to S. adunctella and S. flavidorsalis. [2]

Distribution

It is found in China [2] [4] (including Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan), [2] Taiwan, [2] [4] Japan, [2] [4] Pakistan, [2] [4] India, [2] [4] Sri Lanka, [4] Nepal, [2] [4] Bhutan, [4] Bangladesh, [2] [4] Thailand, [2] [4] Vietnam, [2] [4] Singapore, [2] [4] Peninsular Malaysia, [2] [4] Indonesia [4] (including Java, Sumba Island, Timor, Buru, Adonara Island, Ambon Island and New Guinea), [2] the Philippines, [2] [4] Papua New Guinea [4] (including New Hannover, New Britain and New Ireland) [2] and the Solomon Islands. [2]

It is not native to Australia. According to Sallam (2003, 2006) it does not occur there and has a high chance of invading the country, [4] [5] however Chen & Wu (2014) include Australia in its distribution. [2]

Ecology

Food plants

The larvae feed on Saccharum (sugarcane, including Saccharum robustum and Saccharum officinarum ) and Triticum species (cultivated wheat). [6] Young larvae eat through rolled leaves, then usually penetrate along the midrib of the leaf into the heart of the plant. They then tunnel in the midrib, emerging through the upper epidermis. [7] [8]

Parasitoids

According to Girish Chandra, Tetrastichus , Trichogramma intermedium and T. minutum are egg parasitoids. Goniozus indicus , Stenobracon deesae , Amauromorpha accepta schoenobii, Isotima javensis , Syzeuctus and Sturmiopsis inferens have been found infecting caterpillars. Known parasites of pupae are the species Tetrastichus ayyari and Xanthopimpla pedator. [9]

Isotima javensis is a key general parasitoid of larvae and pupae in India. Another study found Centeterus alternecoloratus to be the by far most important parasitoid of pupae in India, with levels of parasitism from 33–50% depending on study/region; it also occurs in maize fields. Rhaconotus scirpophagae is the most common parasitoid of the caterpillar stage of this moth in the sugarcane fields of Pakistan. [5]

D. K. Butani documented a number of parasitoids of the moth in sugarcane fields in India in the early 1950s, and again in the early 1970s: Brumus suturalis , Telenomus beneficiens , T. saccharicola, Tetrastichus schoenobii and another Tetrastichus species on the eggs; an Anostocetus species, an Aprostocetus species, Campyloneurus mutator , a Chilonis species, Cotesia flavipes , a Cremastus species, Glyptomorpha karnalensis , Goniozus indicus , another Goniozus species, Iphiaulax sikkimenis , another Iphiaulax species, Listrognathus clavinervis , Meganura famulus , Myosoma chinensis , Rhaconotus roslinesis , R. scirpophagae, R. signipennis, a Syzeuctus species, Stenobracon deesae, Sturmiopsis inferens and a Vipio species on the caterpillars; a Monomorium species on both the caterpillars and pupae; Ischnojoppa luteator , Isotima dammermani , I. javensis, Melcha ornatipennis , Tetrastichus ayyari and Xanthopimpla stemmator on the pupae; and Goryphus basilaris , another Goryphus species, a Kriegeria species and a Shirakia species on an unknown stage of life. Stenobracon nicevillei (a possible synonym of S. maculata from Taiwan) was recorded twice by Butani, as well as later in the Punjab. [5]

Telenomus beneficiens var. elongatus has been found to be the most important parasite of the eggs in sugarcane fields in Taiwan, Amauromorpha schoenobii and Exetastes longicornis have been recorded from these same fields since before the 1950s, and Xanthopimpla stemmator has been recorded from here since before 1934. Low levels of parasitism of the caterpillars by an Isotima species in a sugarcane field in Pakistan was reported in a 1962 study. The same study found low levels of parasitism by Stenobracon deesae in Pakistan, <3.1% (also in maize), but in another study in North Bihar, India, up to 54.23% of the caterpillars were infected. In Indonesia Tetrastichus schoenobii infects eggs in sugarcane fields. A Stenobracon species was found to parasitise the caterpillars in cane fields in Lampung, Sumatra, Indonesia. Stenobracon trifasciatus has been recorded a number of times as a parasite of the caterpillars of this species in sugarcane fields in Taiwan and Indonesia. [5]

There are pre-1950s reports from cane fields of Kriegeria heptazonata , Gambroides dammermani , Meganura famulus and Rhaconotus schoenobivorus parasitising an unknown stage of life of the moth in the Philippines, from Myanmar Melcha ornatipennis (unknown), and from India Mesostenus longicornis (unknown) and the generalist parasitoid of pupae Xanthopimpla predator , and from both the Philippines and Indonesia Gambroides javensis (unknown). An Apanteles species has been found to parasitise the caterpillars in cane fields in Central Java, Indonesia, and another perhaps in the Philippines. An Elasmus species has been found on caterpillars in cane fields in Taiwan (1934) and Indonesia (pre-1953). Macrocentrus jacobsoni and Shirakia yokohamensis have been found on caterpillars in cane fields in Taiwan (pre-1953). Two relatively recent studies found Cotesia flavipes as a parasitoid of the caterpillars in respectively the Philippines and Thailand. There is lastly an old report of a Dinarmus species that has possibly been found as a parasite of the caterpillars in Indonesia. [5]

Allorhogas pyralophagus is a Mexican species of parasitoid which has been recorded to attack this moth; it was introduced to India, and later Sumatra in Indonesia, and said to have been established at the release sites in India, although a later study failed to recover it from the cane fields. [5]

Uses

The species is a pest in sugarcane plantations. [4]

Damage

Caterpillars bore into the midrib of the leaf, leaving red markings and small holes on the leaves. Then it bores further to the upper portion of stem, causing "dead heart" symptoms as the top of the shoot dies off. Gradually, side branches start growing from a lower node, giving a characteristic "bunchy top" appearance to the plant. [10]

Control

Mechanical control is achieved by destroying crops in the infected part of the field and by collecting and destroying the egg masses. [9]

Chemical control is difficult but possible. Spraying low dosages of malathion, endosulfan or carbofuran during the period the moths lay their eggs has been effective. It has also been recommended to dust crops with moderate concentrations of carbofuran or high concentrations of dieldrin, endrin or lindane during the period the adult moths emerge from their cocoons. [9] Note that this information is very old, most of these products have been banned internationally for agricultural use.

There is no biological control known, but Chandra mentions that there has supposedly been one successful attempt documented by the former Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control (1948–1986, after a number of name changes and integration with CAB International, ceased to exist in 2006) using the mass release of exotic species of Trichogramma egg parasitoids as a control method, [9] however, no Trichogramma species is known to have parasitised this species according to Sallam in his 2006 review of different sugarcane stem borer species and their parasites in Asia and Australia [5] This attempt Chandra mentions most likely refers to an experiment in Taiwan, published 1972, where Trichogramma australicum and T. japonicum were released into a field which may have likely harboured this species. [11]

Related Research Articles

<i>Trichogramma</i> Genus of parasitic insects

Trichogramma is a genus of minute polyphagous wasps that are endoparasitoids of insect eggs. Trichogramma is one of around 80 genera from the family Trichogrammatidae, with over 200 species worldwide.

<i>Helicoverpa armigera</i> Species of moth

Helicoverpa armigera is a species of Lepidoptera in the family Noctuidae. It is known as the cotton bollworm, corn earworm, Old World (African) bollworm, or scarce bordered straw. The larvae feed on a wide range of plants, including many important cultivated crops. It is a major pest in cotton and one of the most polyphagous and cosmopolitan pest species. It should not be confused with the similarly named larva of the related species Helicoverpa zea.

<i>Penicillaria jocosatrix</i> Species of moth

Penicillaria jocosatrix, the mango shoot borer, is a moth of the family Euteliidae first described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It is found from southeast Asia to the Pacific. Records include Borneo, Guam, Hawaii, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and in Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.

<i>Maliarpha separatella</i> Species of moth

Maliarpha separatella, the African white stemborer, is a species of moth of the family Pyralidae. A worldwide paddy pest, it is found throughout African countries of Cameroon, Mali, Réunion, Madagascar, South Africa, and many Asian paddy cultivating countries such as Myanmar, India, and Sri Lanka. Though they are reported from China and Papua New Guinea, they are also known to attack sugarcane.

<i>Eldana</i> Genus of moths

Eldana is a genus of moths of the family Pyralidae containing only one species, the African sugar-cane borer, which is commonly found in Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and South Africa. Adults have pale brown forewings with two small spots in the centre and light brown hindwings, and they have a wingspan of 35mm. This species is particularly relevant to humans because the larvae are a pest of the Saccharum species as well as several grain crops such as sorghum and maize. Other recorded host plants are cassava, rice and Cyperus species. When attacking these crops, E. saccharina bores into the stems of their host plant, causing severe damage to the crop. This behavior is the origin of the E. saccharrina's common name, the African sugar-cane borer. The African sugar-cane borer is a resilient pest, as it can survive crop burnings. Other methods such as intercropping and parasitic wasps have been employed to prevent further damage to crops.

<i>Sesamia inferens</i> Species of moth

Sesamia inferens, the Asiatic pink stem borer, gramineous stem borer, pink borer, pink rice borer, pink rice stem borer, pink stem borer, purple borer, purple stem borer or purplish stem borer, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1856. It is found from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar to Japan and the Solomon Islands. A polyphagous species, it is a major pest in many crops worldwide.

Trichogramma evanescens is a 0.5mm long parasitoid wasp which parasites Lepidoptera eggs.

<i>Homona coffearia</i> Species of moth

Homona coffearia, the tea tortrix or camellia tortrix, is a moth of the family Tortricidae. The species was first described by Nietner in 1861. It is widely distributed in the Oriental region.

<i>Scirpophaga incertulas</i> Species of moth

Scirpophaga incertulas, the yellow stem borer or rice yellow stem borer, is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1863. It is found in Afghanistan, Nepal, north-eastern India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sumba, Sulawesi, the Philippines, Taiwan, China and Japan.

<i>Chilo sacchariphagus</i> Species of moth

Chilo sacchariphagus, the spotted borer, is a moth of the family Crambidae. It was described by Wenceslas Bojer in 1856 and was originally found in South and South-East Asia, where there are three subspecies:

{{Taxobox | name = Coconut black headed caterpillar | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Arthropoda | classis = Insecta | ordo = Lepidoptera | familia = Xyloryctidae | genus = Opisina | species = O. arenosella | binomial = Opisina arenosella | binomial_authority = }} The Coconut black headed caterpillar, is a species of moth found in multiple regions throughout East Asian countries including Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, as well as Indonesia. It is considered a pest to these countries, as they infest coconut palm trees, causing considerable damage to the trees, and reducing the plant's yield significantly. This is a great burden to all countries who experience infestations, as coconut is one of the main crops driving the economy. The species exists on coconut palms in all forms, from larval to moth, and utilizes the tree fronds as a main source of nutrition. Various methods of control have been explored, yet the primary control method is the administration of pesticides directly to the root of the coconut palms.

<i>Ostrinia furnacalis</i> Species of moth

Ostrinia furnacalis is a species of moth in the family Crambidae, the grass moths. It was described by Achille Guenée in 1854 and is known by the common name Asian corn borer since this species is found in Asia and feeds mainly on corn crop. The moth is found from China to Australia, including in Java, Sulawesi, the Philippines, Borneo, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Micronesia. The Asian corn borer is part of the species complex, Ostrinia, in which members are difficult to distinguish based on appearance. Other Ostrinia such as O. orientalis, O. scapulalis, O. zealis, and O. zaguliaevi can occur with O. furnacalis, and the taxa can be hard to tell apart.

Chilo auricilius, the gold-fringed rice stemborer or terai borer, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Gerald C. Dudgeon in 1905. It is found in India, Taiwan, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, as well as on Sulawesi, Borneo, Sangir Island and the Moluccas. The larvae bore into and feed on the stems of various grass family plants including sugarcane, rice and maize.

Chilo infuscatellus, the yellow top borer or sugarcane shoot borer, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by the Dutch entomologist Samuel Constantinus Snellen van Vollenhoven in 1890. It is found in India, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and on Java and Timor.

Scirpophaga nivella is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1794. It is found in southern Asia from the Indian Subcontinent in the west to southern China in the east, south to New Guinea and Australia, including New Caledonia and Fiji. Some sources have affixed the common name "sugarcane top borer" to it, despite it not being found in sugarcane, because they are confused with the species Scirpophaga excerptalis, which is an actual borer in the tops of sugarcane. Another newer common name that has been invented for these moths is "white rice borer".

Sturmiopsis inferens is a species of fly in the family Tachinidae. It is native to Asia and is a parasitoid of various moth species whose larvae feed inside the stems of sugarcane, rice and other large grasses, including the Gurdaspur borer and the sugarcane shoot borer.

Saccharum robustum, the robust cane, is a species of plant found in New Guinea.

Trichogramma japonicum is a minute wasp parasitoid from the Trichogrammatidae family in the order Hymenoptera. T. japonicum parasitizes the eggs of many pest species, especially Lepidoptera found in many monocultures. They are entomophagous parasitoids that deposit their eggs inside the host species' egg, consuming the host egg material and emerging from the egg once development is complete. T. japonicum can be found naturally in rice ecosystems, but are dispersed commercially to many monocultures as a biological control. The mitochondrial genomes of T. japonicum are significantly rearranged when comparing it to related insects.

Naranga diffusa, the rice green semilooper, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1865. It is found in many agricultural based countries such as Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Melanaspis glomerata, the sugarcane scale or black scale, is a species of armoured scale insect in the family Diaspididae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent where it is a serious pest of sugarcane.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Chen, Fu-Qiang; Wu, Chun-Sheng (April 2014). "Taxonomic review of the subfamily Schoenobiinae (Lepidoptera: Pyraloidea: Crambidae) from China". Zoological Systematics. 39 (2): 163–208. doi:10.11865/zs20140201. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014.
  3. Lewvanich, Angoon (June 25, 1981). "A revision of the Old World species of Scirpophaga (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)". Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology Series. 42 (4): 185–298 via Internet Archive.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Mohamed Nader Said Sallam; Peter G. Allsopp (2003). Preparedness for borer incursion: SRDC final project report BSS249 (PDF) (Report). Sugar Research Australia Ltd. p. 11. S2CID   114661210. SD03014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-12-08. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sallam, Mohamed Nader Said (2006). "A review of sugarcane stem borers and their natural enemies in Asia and Indian Ocean Islands: an Australian perspective". Annales de la Société Entomologique de France. 42 (3–4): 263–283. doi: 10.1080/00379271.2006.10697459 . ISSN   2168-6351.
  6. Savela, Markku. "Scirpophaga excerptalis (Walker, 1863)". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  7. Plantwise Knowledge Bank
  8. "white top borer (Scirpophaga excerptalis)". Plantwise Technical Factsheet. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Chandra, Girish. "The Sugarcane Top Borer". IASZoology.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  10. "Top-Borer (Scirpophaga nivella) or (Trporyza novella): Distribution, Life Cycle and Control". YourArticleLibrary.com. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  11. "white rice borer (Scirpophaga nivella)". Plantwise Technical Factsheet. Retrieved 26 October 2016.