Dotted Diatraea
Common NameDotted Diatraea
Scientific NameDiatraea punctella
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilyCrambinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Primary Colorspale yellow, greenish, black
HabitatAgricultural fields (sugarcane, corn, rice), grasslands, areas with large grasses
Geographic RangeSouthern United States (Florida, Louisiana, Texas), Caribbean, Central America, South America
Host Plantssugarcane, corn, rice, various large grasses
Flight PeriodMultiple generations, year-round in tropical climates
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are stem borers, developing inside the stalks of host plants like sugarcane and corn, with pupation also occurring within the stem.
Identification TipsLook for the pale yellowish-green coloration, slender body, and distinctive scattered black dots on the forewings, particularly along the termen. Long, porrect labial palps are also characteristic.
Description
A small, slender moth with pale yellowish-green forewings adorned with scattered black dots and faint dark longitudinal streaks.
