Erechthias flavistriata

Erechthias flavistriata, the sugarcane bud moth, is a moth of the family Tineidae. It was described by Lord Walsingham in 1907 from a specimen collected in Hawaii, but it is probably an introduced species. It is found in large parts of the Pacific Rim, including New Zealand, the Cook Islands, the Marquesas, Rapa Iti, Fiji, the New Hebrides, the Kermadec Islands, the Solomons, Java and Malaya. People have spread it widely and have travelled to many islands throughout much of the Pacific.

Taxonomy

first described this species in 1907 and initially named it Ereunetis flavistriata. Edward Meyrick placed this species in the genus Erechthias in 1915.

Description

Walsingham first described this species as follows:

Biology

Larvae have been recorded feeding on bananas, coconuts and other palms, as well as Pandanus species, pineapples and sugarcane. The full-grown larva is about 12 to 15 mm.

Interactions with humans

This species is a declared pest in Western Australia.
The larvae of this species are regarded as a pest of sugarcane. It has been described by O.H. Swezey as follows: