Expansion of the Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) into Rice and Sugarcane in Louisiana

Abstract

The Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is an invasive pest of sugarcane, Saccharum spp., rice, Oryza sativa L., and other graminaceous crops in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. Traps baited with E. loftini female sex pheromones were used to document establishment and distribution of E. loftini near sugarcane, rice, and noncrop hosts in seven southwest Louisiana parishes from 2009 to 2013. Additional field surveys documented larval infestations in commercial sugarcane and rice. After its initial detection in 2008, no E. loftini were detected in Louisiana in 2009 and only two adults were captured in 2010. Trapping documented range expansion into Cameron, Beauregard, and Jefferson Davis parishes in 2011 and Allen, Acadia, and Vermilion parishes in 2013. During the course of this study, E. loftini expanded its range eastward into Louisiana 120 km from the Texas border (≈22 km/yr). Surveys of larval infestations provided the first record of E. loftini attacking rice and sugarcane in Louisiana. Infestations of E. loftini in rice planted without insecticidal seed treatments in Calcasieu Parish reached damaging levels.

Integrated pest management for sustainable rice cultivation: a holistic approach

“…Synthetic pheromones are currently available for striped stem borer, Chilo suppressalis, ricebug, Leptocorisa chinensis Dallas and Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner). These pheromones are rarely employed as sex disruptors but used more commonly in pest monitoring to help predict pest densities or to identify peaks in seasonal occurrence as a guide for management interventions (Kojima et al 1996;Watanabe et al, 2009;Witzgall et al, 2010;Wilson et al, 2015).…”

Biology and Management of the Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Rice in the United States

“…2012; Way and Pearson 2013, 2014; Wilson et al. 2015a), whereas the sugarcane borer has remained a sporadic rice pest, despite being abundant and damaging in certain years and areas (Castro et al.…”

“…In Louisiana, where Mexican rice borer adults were first collected in 2008 (Hummel et al. 2010), larval infestations in rice have reached damaging levels (Wilson et al. 2015a).…”

“…The recent establishment of the Mexican rice borer in Texas and Louisiana rice production areas has triggered studies to develop management strategies (Reay-Jones 2005, Beuzelin 2011, Wilson et al. 2015a).…”

Anti-insect potential of a lectin from the tuber, Dioscorea mangenotiana towards Eldana saccharina (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

“…Infestation causes lodging of the plants due to tunneling and provides access for fungal diseases into stems and maize cobs. Adult exit holes can be seen in the stems and they are usually covered with fraises; the damage may reach up to 100% of crop loss (Wilson et al, 2015). In most countries where E. saccharina affects maize crops and sugar cane, farmers frequently use broadspectrum insecticides to control the pest.…”