Pod-borer
Guides
Ancylostomia stercorea
pigeonpea pod borer
Ancylostomia stercorea is a pod-boring moth whose larvae feed on developing seeds of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan). In Trinidad, it is considered the most serious pest of this crop. The species has been documented across the Caribbean, southern Florida, southern Texas, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. It serves as host to multiple parasitoid species that have been studied for biological control potential.
Etiella
snout moths, pod borers, limabean pod borers
Etiella is a genus of snout moths (Pyralidae: Phycitinae) described by Philipp Christoph Zeller in 1839. The genus contains approximately seven described species, with Etiella zinckenella being the most economically significant as a major pest of legume crops worldwide. Species in this genus are characterized by their larval habit of boring into pods of leguminous plants, causing substantial agricultural damage. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution spanning tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions across multiple continents.
Rhyssomatus
Rhyssomatus is a genus of true weevils (Curculionidae) containing at least 180 described species. The genus includes significant agricultural pests, particularly of soybean and other leguminous crops. Several species have been intensively studied due to their economic impact, including R. nigerrimus (Mexican soybean weevil), R. subtilis (black soybean weevil in Argentina), and R. lineaticollis (milkweed stem weevil in North America). Species exhibit diverse life histories ranging from monophagous specialists to oligophagous generalists on legumes.