Saluria inficita
Species of moth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saluria inficita, the white stem borer, is a moth of the family Pyralidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1863.[1] It is found in India and Sri Lanka.[2]
| Saluria inficita | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pyralidae |
| Genus: | Saluria |
| Species: | S. inficita |
| Binomial name | |
| Saluria inficita Walker, 1863 | |
Its caterpillars are pests of Eleusine coracana, Oryza sativa, Setaria italica and Zea mays.[3]
Description
The adult has brownish wings. A pale white band runs along the margin of the forewings. The hindwings are white. The caterpillar is whitish creamy coloured with a yellow head.[4][5] Its eggs are grey with a tuft of hairs. The pupa are brownish.[6]
Caterpillars attack root areas of the plant and then bore into the soft tissues. After severe infestations, the plants show dried up shoots and turn yellow. Damage can controlled by hand picking, pheromone usage, light traps and usage of chemical insecticides such as carabaryl, methyl parathion, phosphomidon or dimethoate.[6]
