Switchgrass Moth
(Blastobasis repartella Dietz) |  |
Last modified, 01 April 2009
Contents © P.J. Johnson, 2008-2009
The
larvae of this attractive little moth was discovered by scientists at
South Dakota State University in 2006 as the insect responsible for
losses on a private farm specializing in seed production of native
grasses. In 2007, at research farms in South Dakota we found that
40% or more of new tiller growth was lost to the caterpillar.
In 2008 the adult moth was captured in rearing cages and
subsequently reared from larvae kept on an artificial diet provided by
colleagues at the University of Illinois. Specimens are presently
with a research taxonomist with the USDA at the U.S. National Museum of
Natural History.
