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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

990308n – 19308   Eoreuma loftini (Dyar, 1917)

© Mark Dreiling [T]
Distribution: Mexico; USA: FL to CA.
Type locality (loftini): Glendale, AZ.
Type locality (opinionellus): Yuma, AZ.
Seasonality
and Size:
Forewing length 8mm (n=1 male)
Larva and
Host Plants:
Larval have been recorded on Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane), Panicum miliaceum (millet), Oryza sativa (rice), Sorghum (sorghum, incl. Johnsongrass), Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass), Zea mays (maize/corn) and other large grasses.

Hayden (2010) describes the larvae as being "whitish and nearly 2.5 cm (1 inch) when full-grown. They have a relatively pale brown head, two pairs of broken pink to purple longitudinal stripes, and they lack a mid-dorsal stripe."
Description/
Field Marks:
Fore and hindwings are pale tan with nearly no pattern. Forewings of fresh specimens will have two darker, faint longitudinal streaks and a small black dot in the center of the wing.
Similar Species:
  • E. loftini and other Nearctic Eoreuma have a conical frons however E. densella (Eastern North America) has a round frons. Several Haimbachia spp. also have a conical frons, however they differ in wing maculation.
  • Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy: Chilo loftini Dyar, 1917
Chilo opinionellus Dyar, 1917
Taxonomic Notes: Eoreuma loftini (Dyar, 1917) is recognized within the North American fauna north of Mexico and is additionally listed as 5493.
References
  • (1) Hayden, J.E. 2012. Mexican Rice Borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera:Crambidae:Crambinae) in Florida [pdf]
  • (2) Natural History Museum: HOSTS- A Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants website
  • (3) Mexican Rice Borer ID card [pdf]
Eoreuma loftini
CalPhotos – © Jerry Powell
Eoreuma loftini
© Jim Vargo
Eoreuma loftini
© Mike Quinn

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