Rice Yellow Stem Borer
Common NameRice Yellow Stem Borer
Scientific NameScirpophaga incertulas
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilySchoenobiinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorspale yellow, orange, black
HabitatRice paddies, agricultural fields, wetlands
Geographic RangeSouth Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia
Host Plantsrice (*Oryza sativa*), wild grasses
Flight PeriodMultiple generations per year, coinciding with rice cultivation
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesFemales lay egg masses on rice leaves, which hatch into larvae that bore into rice stems, causing 'dead hearts' or 'white heads'. Pupation occurs within the stem.
Identification TipsKey features include the pale yellow-orange forewings with a single, prominent black spot on each. Females are often larger and paler with a distinct anal tuft of hairs.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with pale yellow to straw-colored forewings, each featuring a single distinct black spot. The hindwings are typically a paler white or cream color.
