Ancylostomia

Ragonot, 1893

Species Guides

Ancylostomia stercorea(pigeonpea pod borer)

Ancylostomia is a snout moth in the Crambidae. Its sole , Ancylostomia stercorea, is a significant agricultural pest known as the pigeonpea pod borer. The genus was described by Émile Louis Ragonot in 1893. The species occurs throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the southern United States.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ancylostomia: /ˌæŋsɪloʊˈstoʊmiə/

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Habitat

Agricultural areas, specifically fields of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) and related legumes. Larvae develop inside seed pods, while are active in surrounding vegetation.

Distribution

Southern Florida, southern Texas, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Bahamas, Grenada, St. Kitts, Trinidad, Mexico, Guatemala, Rica, Panama, Colombia, French Guiana, Brazil, Guyana, Dominica, Montserrat, and Antigua.

Seasonality

are on wing year round in tropical and subtropical regions.

Diet

Larvae feed on developing seeds of Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea), Cicer, and Dolichos . They bore into the seed cavity of plant pods.

Host Associations

Cajanus cajan - larval food plantprimary , developing seeds
Cicer - larval food plantdeveloping seeds
Dolichos - larval food plantdeveloping seeds

Life Cycle

are laid on young pods. Larvae feed on developing seeds inside pods, then pupate in soil. The complete requires 26–32 days. In Trinidad, breeding occurs throughout the year.

Behavior

Larvae bore into seed cavities of legume pods to feed on developing seeds. are and attracted to light.

Ecological Role

Agricultural pest of pigeon pea and related legumes. Serves as for at least eight of , including solitary , -larval , and gregarious . These parasitoids have been used in programs, with two species (Bracon cajani and Eiphosoma annulatum) successfully established in Mauritius for control of related pod borers.

Human Relevance

Significant economic pest of pigeon pea, the only serious pod borer of this crop in Trinidad. Subject of research and introduction programs. Parasitoids reared from this have been shipped internationally for control of related pests.

More Details

Taxonomic placement

Sources vary in placement: GBIF and Catalogue of Life place Ancylostomia in Crambidae, while Wikipedia and NCBI list it in Pyralidae. This reflects ongoing taxonomic revisions; Crambidae is now widely treated as a separate family from Pyralidae sensu stricto.

Parasitoid complex

The associated with A. stercorea in Trinidad includes: Apanteles etiellae isolatus (solitary , 14–18 day ), Phanerotoma bennetti (solitary -larval , 20–28 days), Eiphosoma annulatum (solitary endoparasite, 26–35 days), Bracon thurberiphagae and Bracon cajani (gregarious , 13–16 days), and Perisierola sp. (gregarious ectoparasite, 11–15 days). Hyperparasites attacking parasite pupae are also present.