Sugarcane Borer vs Sweetbay Silk Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Sugarcane Borer | Sweetbay Silk Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Diatraea saccharalis | Callosamia securifera |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Crambidae | Saturniidae |
| Size | 20-28 mm wingspan | 80-105 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Wetlands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Americas | Southeastern United States coastal plain |
| 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.
Did You Know?
The parasitoid fly Cotesia flavipes was introduced from Asia to control this borer and has been remarkably successful in Brazil.
Sweetbay Silk Moth
A large silk moth similar to the promethea but associated with sweetbay magnolia in the southeastern United States. Males are dark brown-black and females are reddish-brown.
Did You Know?
The sweetbay silk moth is so closely tied to wetland habitats that its distribution precisely mirrors that of sweetbay magnolia swamps along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.