Banana Stem Borer

Telchin licus

The Banana Stem Borer is a moth of the Castniidae family. It is native to South America, where it is found from Colombia, Venezuela and the Guianas, throughout the Amazon basin in Brasil and Peru. It has also been recorded as an introduced species in Hawaii.
Telchin licus (Castniidae) ACONABIKH, San Martín, Peru. Oct 12, 2022 Banana Stem Borer,Geotagged,Peru,Spring,Telchin licus

Appearance

The length of the forewings is 64-80 mm. Adults are dark brown with bluish or greenish hues. There is a whitish-cream transverse band and an apical whitish spotted band on the forewing. The hindwings are dark brown with a whitish-cream band. The spots are red or reddish with the middle spots larger in size.
Banana Stem Borer Rare and difficult to photograph. Banana Stem Borer,Brazil,Castniidae,Moth,Telchin licus

Naming

*"Telchin licus licus"
⤷ "Telchin licus albomaculata"
⤷ "Telchin licus chocoensis"
⤷ "Telchin licus insularis"
⤷ "Telchin licus laura"
⤷ "Telchin licus licoidella"
⤷ "Telchin licus pauperata"
⤷ "Telchin licus magdalena"
⤷ "Telchin licus microsticta"
⤷ "Telchin licus rubromaculata"
⤷ "Telchin licus talboti"
⤷ "Telchin licus vorax" Lamas, 1995
Banana Stem Borer Geotagged,Telchin licus,Trinidad and Tobago

Food

The larvae feed on "Saccharum officinarum", "Musa", "Heliconia" and "Ichnosiphon" species. It is considered a pest species. Young larvae make a small cavity and then tunnel into the heart of the cane of the host plant. They tunnel upwards and downwards, and create a shelter in the rootstock where they rest. Pupation takes place in the rootstock or at the base of the cane.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderLepidoptera
FamilyCastniidae
GenusTelchin
SpeciesT. licus
Photographed in
Brazil
Colombia
Peru
Trinidad and Tobago