Host range: Maize, cereals, dry fruits, groundnuts and cereal products.

• Larva causes serious damage to ear and grain of maize; contaminates the grain with excreta, cast skins, webbings, dead individuals and cocoons; prefers to eat the germ portion and hence grains lose viability.
• It feeds superficially but may construct more than one silken tunnel.

Identification of the pest

• Egg: Greyish white with granular surface, laid indiscriminately at night.
• Larva: Transparent, dirty white, skin is granular with hairy body.
• Pupa: Straw coloured, changes colour to greyish with age, in silken cocoon.
• Adult: Forewing basal half silver white or greyish, outer 2/3 portion is reddish copper bronze lustre with irregular bands