Diatraea evanescens

Dyar, 1917

Black-dot Diatraea

Diatraea evanescens is a in the Crambidae, first described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1917. It is found across the southeastern and south-central United States. The has a wingspan of approximately 18–20 mm and is active from March through September. Larvae feed on Paspalum larranagae, a grass species.

Diatraea evanescens (15436856124) by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Diatraea evanescens P1020221a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Diatraea evanescens P1250565a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Diatraea evanescens: //daɪəˈtriːə ˌɛvəˈnɛsɛnz//

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

Identification

Diatraea evanescens can be distinguished from other Diatraea by its geographic distribution and association with Paspalum larranagae as a larval . The specific epithet 'evanescens' and the 'Black-dot Diatraea' suggest possible distinguishing markings, though detailed diagnostic features require examination. Accurate identification typically requires reference to genitalia or molecular analysis.

Images

Appearance

have a wingspan of about 18–20 mm. Specific coloration and pattern details are not well documented in available sources.

Habitat

Associated with where the larval plant Paspalum larranagae occurs. This grass typically grows in open, disturbed areas, fields, and roadsides in the southeastern United States.

Distribution

Found in the United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

Seasonality

have been recorded on wing from March to September.

Diet

Larvae feed on Paspalum larranagae (a grass ). feeding habits are not documented.

Host Associations

Paspalum larranagae - larval plantGrass ; sole documented for larvae

Life Cycle

Complete with , larval, pupal, and stages. Specific details of development duration and stage are not documented for this .

Ecological Role

As a herbivore, larvae contribute to nutrient cycling through consumption of grass . The is part of the supporting and of Crambidae larvae.

Human Relevance

Not documented as a significant agricultural pest. The Diatraea includes several economically important stalk-boring pests of sugarcane and corn, but D. evanescens is not among them.

Similar Taxa

Diatraea saccharalisAlso in Diatraea and occurs in overlapping geographic range, but is a major pest of sugarcane and corn with different associations and typically larger size
Diatraea grandiosellaSouthwestern corn borer with similar but different distribution (more western) and preferences

More Details

Taxonomic note

The specific epithet 'evanescens' (meaning 'vanishing' or 'fading') and 'Black-dot Diatraea' suggest possible wing markings, though these are not described in detail in available literature.

Research gaps

Detailed morphological descriptions, larval , and economic significance remain poorly documented for this compared to congeneric pests such as D. saccharalis.