Newly Recorded Noctuid Pest, Leucapamea askoldis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from Amur Silver Grass, Miscanthus sacchariflorus

Young Hak Jung1,2   Eun Ju You1,2   Jong-Woong Ahn3   Jung-Joon Park1   Young- Moo Choo4   Ho Yul Choo1   Dong Woon Lee5,*   

1Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Program), Graduate School of Gyeongsang National University
2SM Bio Co
3Bioenergy Crop Center, NICS, RDA
4New Functional Materials R&DB Team, Jeonju AgroBio-materials Institute
5Major of Applied Biology, School of Ecological Environment and Tourism, Kyungpook National University

Abstract

Amur silver grass, Miscanthus sacchariflorus is one of the promising biofuel weeds. A damage of noctuid pest, Leucapamea askoldis was firstly observed from Amur silver grass in Hwasun silver grass plantation during the survey of insect pests of Amur silver grass in Iksan, Hwasun, and Sancheong plantation areas in Korea. The host of L. askoldis was not known yet in Korea. The L. askoldis damage was observed as larval feeding on newly grown shoots and roots of M. sacchariflorus close to soil surface from early May in 2013. Investigated larval density was 1.6±1.1 per m2 on April 4 and damage rate of shoots was 0.8±0.4% on May 4, 2013. The larvae bore into shoots of M. sacchariflorus and feed on the inside of plant. The damaged shoots are easily pulled out and distinguished by the boring hole on the shoots. L. askoldis was potential insect pest in M. sacchariflorus plantation areas.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Rural Development Administration (grant no. PJ009165).

Figures & Tables

Larval damage of Amur silver grass shoot and Leucapamea askoldis. A: Damage hole; B: Larva on shoot; C: Larva in the shoot; D: Larva; E: Pupa; F: Adult.