Wingspan of 7-20 mm. Forewings are typically light yellow-brown with some darker scale patterns forming longitudinal striations, usually darker at wing margins.Hindwings are white.
Larvae
Up to 25 mm long when fully grown. Body is creamywhite to yellow-brown with 4 purple-brown longitudinal stripes and conspicuous dark brown dorsal spots. Head and prothoracic shield are reddish-brown to dark brown. Pale medial furrow on thoracic plate.
Eggs
Scale like, creamy white, 1.5 mm across and laid in overlapping batches.
Distribution
Eastern and southern Africa and southern Asia.
Economic Host(s)
Sugarcane (Saccharum), sorghum (Sorghum), maize (Zea) and rice (Oryza).
Symptons/Signs
Early instars feed in leaf funnels creating characteristic scars and holes. Later instars feed on growing points and tunnel into stems to feed within galleries. Dead hearts, weakened stems and chaffy heads in sorghum are all signs of infestation.
Generations
Up to 6 (climate dependent)
Monitoring
Adults Present
January to December (climate dependant). May enter diapause in wet or cold periods.
Recommended Trap Density
1-2 traps per hectare in large uniform crops and 3-4 traps per hectare in mixed crop stands.
Trap Maintenance
Check traps on a regular basis; at least twice a week. It is recommended to replace the pheromone dispensers every 4 weeks to achieve optimum results.
Storage
Keep product away from direct sunlight, heat, sparks and open flame. Store in a refrigerator for a shelf life of 12 months or a freezer for an extended life of 18 months.
Always store sealed in original packaging.
