Eldana

''Eldana'' is a genus of moths of the family Pyralidae containing only one species, the African sugar-cane borer (''Eldana saccharina''), which is commonly found in Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and South Africa. Adults have pale brown forewings with two small spots in the centre and light brown hindwings, and they have a wingspan of 35mm. This species is particularly relevant to humans because the larvae are a pest of the '' Saccharum'' species as well as several grain crops such as sorghum and maize. Other recorded host plants are cassava, rice and ''Cyperus'' species. When attacking these crops, ''E. saccharina'' bores into the stems of their host plant, causing severe damage to the crop. This behavior is the origin of the ''E. saccharrina's'' common name, the African sugar-cane borer. The African sugar-cane borer is a resilient pest, as it can survive crop burnings. Other methods such as intercropping and parasitic wasps have been employed to prevent further damage to crops.

Taxonomy

The only member of the genus ''Eldana'', ''E. saccharina'' was described by Francis Walker in 1865. It is of the family Pyralidae of the order Lepidoptera and has eleven subspecies. The common name of ''E. saccharina'', the African sugar-cane borer, is derived from its activity as a pest in stretches of sub-Saharan Africa.

Description

Adult African sugar-cane borers are relatively small with a 3mm abdomen width. They have a wingspan of 35mm. The forewings are pale brown with two distinct dark brown spots in the center. The hindwings are a whitish brown and contain short fringes and brown longitudinal veins. Both male and female African sugar-cane borers share the same appearance, but females are slightly larger. When resting, ''E. saccharina'' folds its wings over its abdomen so that its fore wings are parallel to and cover the white hindwings.Girling D.J. (1978). The distribution and biology of ''Eldana saccharina'' Walker (Lepidoptera Pyralidae) and its relationship to other stem-borers in Uganda. Bulletin of Entomological Research 68, 471 – 488.

Distribution and habitat

''E. saccharina'' is indigenous to Africa and is widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa. It can be found in Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and South Africa. There are also populations of the African sugar-cane borer in stretches of northern Africa, in particular Ethiopia and parts of Senegal. Colder temperatures limit ''E. saccharina's'' range in these areas of Africa. However, in the Congo-Uganda border, geological events have extended these ranges. There are crater lakes and swamps that are the result of volcanic eruptions, which have been found to contain populations of ''E.saccharina''. ''E. saccharina'' primarily lives in sedges and wild grasses among riverine vegetation. However, recently, the African sugar-cane borers have been found to extend their home ranges to graminaceous