Scirpophaga excerptalis Walker
- Family: Crambidae
- Subfamily: Schoenobiinae
- Genus: Scirpophaga
- Distribution: Pakistan, India (All), Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, W. Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Java, Amboina, Sumba, Sulawesi, Irian Jaya, PNG, Timor, Australia (Q), New Ireland, Solomon Is. Philippines, Taiwan, China (All), Taiwan, Japan.
- Habitat: Lowland to submontane; riparian forest, disturbed areas & sugarcane plantations <1400m.
- Wing Length: male 10-12; female 11-16mm
Taxonomy
The holotype of Chilo excerptalis Walker, 1863: 142 is from India (North Hindustan).
Description
Both sexes are shining white. The orange-red anal scale tuft of the female is distinctive. The males may have black FW spots.
Life History
The White Top Borer, a very serious pest boring in stems of Sugar-cane Sacharrum robustum (Gramineae). There are many papers published on the pest status and biology but in some the exact sp. is not accurately identified. See Chen & Romera (2006) & Zainab, S. & Rajendra Nath Singh (2017).
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References
- Lewvanich, A. (1981) A revision of the old world species of Scirpophaga (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Entomol. 42 (4): 185-298.
- Chen, Y.H. & Romena, A. (2006 Aug) Feeding Patterns of Scirpophaga incertulas (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on Wild and Cultivated Rice during the Booting Stage) Environmental Entomology, 35 (4):1094-1102.