Sweetpotato stemborer

Description:

Crambidae, Spilomelinae - Omphisa anastomosalis (Sweetpotato stemborer)

Habitat:

Geographical distribution Generally widespread in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hawaii and Vietnam. It also occurs in China, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, Burma (Myanmar), and Thailand.

Notes:

The larva bores into the main stem and sometimes penetrates the storage roots. Larval feeding produces large tunnels causing hollow cavities in the stem resulting in wilting and eventual death of infested plants. Attack at early stages of plant growth prevents storage root formation since translocation of food and its storage in the roots become severely affected. Further damage occurs when the larva tunnels into the storage roots making them non-marketable. Infestation during the establishment phase of the crop can result in yield losses of 30-50% or more.