Title: Lesson 4: Rice Moth
1Lesson 4 Rice Moth
The adult moth is a pale grayish brown and the
head bears a projecting tuft of scales (Fig.).
The eggs are spherical and white, and up to 200
are laid loose in the food material. The eggs
hatch in 3 to 5 days.
Rice Moth
2Lesson 4 Rice Moth
Larvae are creamy white (Fig.) and web together
particles of food and frass with silken threads
into galleries in which they live and feed. The
larval period is 20-30 days and during this
period damage to sorghum grain occurs.
Larva of Rice Moth
3Lesson 4 Rice Moth
Damage Infested produce is densely webbed by
the larvae with particles of food and frass with
silken threads into galleries and thus the grain
will become unfit for consumption
(Fig.). Management Sorghum grain should be
well-dried and stored following good sanitation
measures. Common fumigants are useful.
Rice Moth damage