Chilo sacchariphagus

Chilo sacchariphagus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Subfamily: Crambinae
Genus: Chilo
Species: C. sacchariphagus
Binomial name
Chilo sacchariphagus
(Bojer, 1856)
Synonyms
  • Procera sacchariphagus - Bojer, 1856
  • Borer saccharellus - Guenée, 1862
  • Chilo mauriciellus - Walker, 1863
  • Diatraea striatalis - Snellen, 1891
  • Chilo venosatus- Walker, 1863
  • Argyria straminella- Caradja, 1926
  • Proceras sacchariphagus indicus- Kapur, 1950
  • Argyria sacchariphagus stramineella- Caradja, 1926
Chilo sacchariphagus ssp. sacchariphagus

Chilo sacchariphagus (spotted borer) is a moth of the Crambidae family. It is originally found in South and South-East Asia, where there are three subspecies:

The larvae are a major pest to sugar cane.

In 1850 Chilo sacchariphagus sacchariphagus had been introduced in sugar cane setts from Java to Mauritius,[1] around 1855 also to the neighbouring island Réunion. Its presence is also confirmed in Madagascar and Comores.[2] In 1999 the first presence on the African continent was confirmed in sugar estates in Mafambisse, Mozambique and in 2001 also in Marromeu.[3]

Biological control

In attempting its biological control, the Mauritian Government had introduced 31 species of parasitoids. Only two became established (Trichogramma australicum and Cotesia flavipes) [4]

References

  1. www.sasta.co.za
  2. www.afromoths.net
  3. www.sasta.co.za - Biolog.Control
  4. www.gov.mu
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