The life history of the buffalograss webworm Surattha indentella Kearfott, in Kansas (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) [Pest of golf fairways and lawns]

The buffalograss webworm, Surattha indentella Kearfott (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), had one generation a year in Kansas. We found larvae throughout the year except during early September. Interval between larvae of successive generations was 7 to 10 days. Larvae are solitary and inhabit vertical tunnel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 1979-04, Vol.52 (2), p.282-296
Main Authors: Sorensen, K. A., Thompson, Hugh E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Eggs
Entomology
Female animals
Insect larvae
Instars
Larval development
Male animals
Moths
Pupae
Tunnels
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Summary:The buffalograss webworm, Surattha indentella Kearfott (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), had one generation a year in Kansas. We found larvae throughout the year except during early September. Interval between larvae of successive generations was 7 to 10 days. Larvae are solitary and inhabit vertical tunnels attached to individual horizontal surface tubes, which they extend until they encounter a grass stem. Food gathering is nocturnal and feeding is in vertical tunnels during the day. Most food is consumed during later instars (larvae pass through 8 instars). Pupation occurs within vertical tunnels at various depths during August. Adults emerge in August and September, peak emergence being in late August, and they are crepuscular and nocturnal in flight. Male moths are small, light-to-dark, smoky, ochreous brown and have bipectinate antennae; female moths are larger, lighter in color, and have filiform antennae. During August and September, each mated female laid an average of 84 eggs, each being laid singly in barren areas to a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch. An average hatch of 97% was determined from 3 fertile females. After hatching, 1st instar larvae excavated cells where they overwintered and underwent an obligatory diapause. Natural enemies included killdeer, robins, swallows, robber flies, toads, crab spiders, ants, and domestic poultry. A larval parasite, Anisepyris subviolaceus Keiffer (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), also was collected from an infestation of S. indentella.
ISSN:0022-8567
1937-2353