Sugarcane Borer vs Seven-spotted Ladybird

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sugarcane Borer Seven-spotted Ladybird
Scientific Name Diatraea saccharalis Hippodamia variegata
Order Lepidoptera Coleoptera
Family Crambidae Coccinellidae
Size 20-28 mm wingspan 3-5 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Omnivores Predators
Regions Americas Europe, Asia
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Sugarcane Borer

A straw-colored moth whose larvae bore into sugarcane stalks, causing yield losses and allowing disease organisms to enter. It is the most important sugarcane pest in the Western Hemisphere.

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Did You Know?

The parasitoid fly Cotesia flavipes was introduced from Asia to control this borer and has been remarkably successful in Brazil.

Seven-spotted Ladybird

A small, variably marked ladybird that is an important predator of aphids in agricultural settings. Often found in open, dry habitats. Less well-known than the common seven-spot.

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Did You Know?

Despite sharing a similar common name, this species is more tolerant of hot, dry conditions than the familiar seven-spot ladybird.