Diatraea crambidoides

Grote, 1880

southern cornstalk borer moth, southern corn stalk borer

Diatraea crambidoides is a in the Crambidae whose larvae are significant agricultural pests of corn, sorghum, and sugarcane. The was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1880 and occurs in eastern North America from Alabama and northern Florida to Ohio and Maryland. are straw-colored to dull white with wingspans of 15–40 mm. The species has two per year, with larvae boring into stalks and damaging internodes, reducing crop yield. It has been evaluated as a target for using the Aprostocetus esurus.

Diatraea crambidoides larva by Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series. Used under a CC BY 3.0 us license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Diatraea crambidoides: //ˌdaɪəˈtriːə ˌkræmˌbɪˈdɔɪdiːz//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Diatraea crambidoides can be distinguished from similar stalk-boring by its eastern North American distribution and pale straw-colored to white coloration. It is smaller than some related Diatraea such as D. saccharalis. Accurate identification typically requires examination of genitalia or molecular markers. The species has two per year, which may help distinguish it from some relatives.

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Appearance

are straw-colored to dull white with wingspans of 15–40 mm. The forewings are slightly darker than the hindwings. The overall coloration is pale and nondescript, typical of many crambid moths.

Habitat

Agricultural fields and adjacent areas where grasses grow, including cornfields, sorghum fields, and sugarcane plantations. The is associated with cultivated crops rather than natural .

Distribution

Eastern North America, from Alabama and northern Florida northward to Ohio and Maryland. Records also exist from Guatemala where it has been studied as a sugarcane pest.

Seasonality

Two per year. activity and larval damage occur during the growing season of crops.

Diet

Larvae feed on Zea mays (corn), Sorghum (including grain sorghum), Tripsacum dactyloides (eastern gamagrass), and Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane). Larvae bore into stalks and feed on pith tissue, damaging internodes.

Host Associations

Zea mays - larval food plantPrimary in North America
Sorghum bicolor - larval food plantGrain sorghum
Tripsacum dactyloides - larval food plantWild grass
Saccharum officinarum - larval food plantSugarcane in Central America
Aprostocetus esurus - Chalcid that attacks pupal stage; evaluated for in Guatemala

Life Cycle

Two per year. are laid on plant leaves. Larvae feed initially on leaves or leaf axils, then bore into stalks and tunnel through pith tissue. Larval development takes approximately 25 days. occurs within the stalk. emerge to produce the second generation. In Guatemala, the pupal stage was observed 36–39 days after adult release in experimental conditions.

Behavior

Larvae are stalk borers that tunnel up and down the pith of plant stalks. Feeding near the base of the grain can cause the head to break off. Larval tunneling increases plant susceptibility to stalk rot and lodging.

Ecological Role

Agricultural pest that reduces yield in corn, sorghum, and sugarcane by damaging stalks and interfering with nutrient transport. Serves as for including Aprostocetus esurus. Injury to stalks creates entry points for fungal .

Human Relevance

Significant pest of corn and sorghum in the eastern United States, and of sugarcane in Central America. Economic damage results from reduced yields, stalk breakage, and increased lodging. Management includes early planting, crop , destruction of to kill larvae, and applications targeting larvae before they enter stalks. using Aprostocetus esurus has been evaluated in Guatemala, with releases of at least 5 per projected pupa showing significant increases in sugar yield.

Similar Taxa

Diatraea saccharalisSimilar sugarcane borer with overlapping range; D. saccharalis is generally larger and has a broader distribution including South America and the southern United States
Diatraea grandiosellaSouthwestern corn borer with similar and appearance; distinguished by western distribution and different markings
Eoreuma loftiniMexican rice borer with similar stalk-boring habit; distinguished by more western and southern distribution in the United States
Ostrinia nubilalisEuropean corn borer with similar larval ; distinguished by different coloration (usually brown with darker markings) and different genitalia

More Details

Biological Control Research

In Guatemala, Aprostocetus esurus has been evaluated as a agent against D. crambidoides in sugarcane. Field cage studies at Finca Belén found that releasing the at a ratio of at least 5 per projected pupa significantly increased sugar yield and reduced damaged internodes. This represents one of the few documented biological control programs specifically targeting this .