Sugarcane bud moth

Opogona glycyphaga

Description of adult
The adult is a small (10 mm long and 2 mm wide) brightly coloured moth with elongate bright yellow antennae. The forewings are bright yellow with purple-brown elongate blotches at the front and rear margins. Wingspan is approximately 15 mm. The hind wings are pale-yellow and feathery. During the day, adults rest with wings folded on banana leaves, leaf petioles and fruit but because of their small size they are seldom seen.

Host range
Bananas, sugarcane and possibly ornamentals such as Strelitzia are hosts.

Damage
Larvae commence feeding on the surface of fruit after the bracts have fallen. Larval feeding causes superficial scarring of fruit. Damage is less severe than from scab moth and is usually concentrated on the outside tip of fingers where contact occurs between the lower hands and those hands immediately above. It should not be confused with scab moth damage that is usually confined to areas between touching fruit and on the outer fruit curve near the bunch stalk. Sugarcane bud moth attacks old bunches and not young bunches as is the case with scab moth

Plant Protection Products