Rice Moth in Sorghum

The adult moth is a pale grayish brown and the head bears a projecting tuft of scales.

       

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. Larvae are creamy white  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.

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.

Management

Sorghum grain should be well-dried and stored following good sanitation measures. Common fumigants are useful.