Sugarcane borer moth - Hodges#5475
Diatraea saccharalis
This record describes Diatraea saccharalis (species). Recorded family: Crambidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Heppner (2003) reported this species was introduced to North America. Considered invasive in this country (from Central and South America). (Capinera, John L. North American Vegetable Pests. The Pattern of Invasion. American Entomologist. Spring 2002)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Pyraloidea
- Family
- Crambidae (Crambid Snout Moths)
- Subfamily
- Crambinae
- Tribe
- Chilonini
- Genus
- Diatraea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Heppner reported the range to include South Carolina to Florida, Kansas to Texas; West Indies; Mexico to Brazil.
Seasonal Activity
Heppner reported January, March to December in Florida.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Heppner listed the following host plants. Cortaderia selloana (Gramineae). Cyperus papyrus Oryza sativa Pennisetum purpureum Saccharum officinarum Setaria palmifolia Sorghum sp. Tripsacum dactyloides Zea mays [stem]
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Diatraea saccharalis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Sugarcane borer moth - Hodges#5475 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset
Frequently Asked Questions About Sugarcane borer moth - Hodges#5475
What is Sugarcane borer moth - Hodges#5475?
Sugarcane borer moth - Hodges#5475 (Diatraea saccharalis) is a species in the family Crambidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Sugarcane borer moth - Hodges#5475 found?
Range: Heppner reported the range to include South Carolina to Florida, Kansas to Texas; West Indies; Mexico to Brazil.
What does Sugarcane borer moth - Hodges#5475 eat?
The diet of the Sugarcane borer moth - Hodges#5475 includes Heppner listed the following host plants. Cortaderia selloana (Gramineae). Cyperus papyrus Oryza sativa Pennisetum purpureum Saccharum officinarum Setaria palmifolia Sorghum sp. Tripsacum dactyloides Zea mays [stem].
When is Sugarcane borer moth - Hodges#5475 active?
Sugarcane borer moth - Hodges#5475: seasonal activity - Heppner reported January, March to December in Florida..