Description

Adult

Wingspan of 30-35 mm and a body length of ca. 14-17 mm. Forewings are straw coloured with dark brown streaks across each forewing. Hindwings are white.

Larvae

Final instars reach 35 mm in length. Body is purple to pink dorsally and white ventrally. The head is orange-red.

Eggs

Bead like and yellowish in colour. Laid in 1-3 rows, usually on the inner surface of leaf sheaths.

Distribution

Southern Asia and northern Oceania

Economic Host(s)

Rice, millet, sugarcane, sorghum, wheat and maize.

Symptoms/Signs

Larvae feed on rolled leaves and bore into stems to feed. Boring into stems results in damage to growing points, wilting, dead hearts and stem breakage.

Generations:

2-6 (depending on temperatures)