Dermolepida albohirtum
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Author(s): Peter Lillywhite, Museum Victoria
Source: PaDIL
Dermolepida albohirtum (Waterhouse, 1875) - (greyback canegrub)
This cockchafer-like beetle is found in north-eastern Australia, where it is a serious pest of sugarcane. The larvae damage the roots, causing stunting up to plant death. Additional, but less significant damage is caused by the adults, when they feed on the leaves. Annual yield losses have been estimated at $10 million, peaking at $40 million during outbreaks (Sallam, 2011).
There is one generation per year, with adults emerging from the soil of sugarcane fields in October until January (spring and early summer). They first feed on trees and most of them later return to the sugarcane fields, others disperse. They live around 2 months and females lay around 30 eggs in the soil. The emerging larvae (white grunbs) feed on the roots and on organic matter in the soil. The fully grown third instars pupate around June (late autumn). The most significant natural enemies are two entomopathogens, the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae and the protozoan Adelina.
For a detailed review see Sallam (2011).
- Other images of Dermolepida albohirtum (PaDIL - click to enlarge)
male
head
head
male - posterior end
raster on posterior end of larva
