This document summarizes information on various moth species found in North Bengal, India. It discusses the order Lepidoptera and states that approximately 12,000 moth species have been recorded in India, with over 1,058 species found in West Bengal. It then provides details on several moth species from the super family Pyraloidea, including their common and scientific names, which plants they feed on, and whether they are considered pests. Species discussed include the rice leaf roller, yellow stem borer, white stem borer, rice case worm, and brinjal shoot and fruit borer.

1. Moth of North Bengal, India
Part 3 Published : 03.11.2015
Dr Tusar K. Ghosal
Department of Agril. Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture
Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari-736165,
West Bengal
E mail: drtkghosal@gmail.com
©

2. Moth diversity at a glance
Lepidoptera being a second largest order of class
Insecta having about 47 Super Families.
In India, approximately 12,000 species of moths are
recorded.
In West Bengal, documented moth species is over
1058, belonging to 614 genera pertaining to 38
families and 83 sub families.

3. Super Family : Pyraloidea
(Snout moth)
The Pyraloidea (pyraloid moths or snout moths) is the
third largest with about 16,500 described species
across the world. Currently, there are 19 subfamilies
in this family.
Bhattacharya (1997) reported 72 species from West
Bengal (India) which gives us the rich diversity of this
family in the area.
1. Family : Pyralidae
2. Family : Crambidae

4. Rice Leaf Roller, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee, 1854
Sub-species : C. m. canstensziana Rothschild, 1915.
Bengali Name : Dhaner pata mora poka
Super Family : Pyraloidea
Family : Crambidae
Sub Family : Spilomelinae
©
UBKV/ CB/ Mo 18
Rice leaf folder or folder is sometime major pest in nature in this area. Now its
complex has changed from minor to major pest status in Philippines, South and South
East Asia
©

5. Rice Leaf Roller, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee, 1854
Sub-species : C. m. nurscialis Walker, 1859.
Bengali name : Dhaner pata mora poka
Super Family : Pyraloidea
Family : Crambidae
Sub Family : Spilomelinae
UBKV/ CB/ Mo 18a
Rice leaf folder or folder is sometime major pest in nature in this area. Now its
complex has changed from minor to major pest status in Philippines, South and
South East Asia

6. Lessar Rice Leaf Roller, Cnaphalocrocis poeyalis (Boisduval )
Bengali Name : Poyal patamora poka
Super Family : Pyraloidea
Family : Crambidae
Sub Family : Spilomelinae
Lessar Rice leaf folder is a minor pest in nature in this
area. Very recently it has been recorded from this area.
CB/ Mo/ I 212

7. Yellow Stem Borer , Scirpophaga incertulus (Walker, 1863)
Bengali Name : Majra
Super Family : Pyraloidea
Family : Crambidae
Sub Family : Schoenobiinae
©
UBKV/ CB/ Mo 12
Yellow rice stem borer, is commonly a serious pest of rice in
India including North Bengal.
©

8. White Stem Borer, Scirpophaga innotata Walker
Bengali Name : Sada majra
Super Family : Pyraloidea
Family : Crambidae
Sub Family : Schoenobiinae
This stem borer, is some time serious pest of maze, rice of
the Asian mainland and Japan. It is reported to be minor
pest in this area.
UBKV/ CB/ Mo 12a
©

9. Rice Case Worm , Nymphula depunctalis Guence 1854
Bengali Name : Chungi poka
Super Family : Pyraloidea
Family : Crambinae
It is very common pest of paddy in India . It is
sometimes cause huge loss of this crop.
©
UBKV/ CB/ Mo 92

10. Cotton Leaf Roller, Syllepta derogata (Fab.)
Bengali name : Bhindir patamora poka
Super Family : Pyraloidea
Family : Crambidae
Its larva reported to be major pest of cotton, okra etc. Leaves rolled in the form
of trumpets fastened by silken threads. Marginal portion of leaves eaten away
and plants defoliated in severe attack.
©
UBKV/ CB/ Mo/ P 41
©

11. Dark Headed Stem Borer, Chilo polychrysus (Meyrick)
Bengali name : Bhuttyar nali poka
Super Family : Pyraloidea
Family : Crambidae
Sub Family : Crambinae
It is repoted to be major pest of maze crop . Its caterpillars
are damage the stem of joyar, bajra, paddy, sugarcane etc.
CB/ Mo / I 208

12. Pod Borer Moth, Maruca testulalis (Gayer)
Bengali name : Suti chidrakari poka
Super Family : Pyraloidea
Family : Crambidae
Its larva are reported to be minor pest of
cowpea, garden pea, bean etc.
CB/ Mo I 213

13. Paraponyx fluctuosalis Zeller 1852
Bengali Name : Sada chit moth
Super Family : Pyraloidea
Family : Crambidae
Sub Family : Acentropinae
CB/ Mo/ I 214
Its larvae feed on various grasses growing in water,
including Nymphaea species and Oryza sativa. It is found in
this area but not repoted to be a pest.

14. Cabbage Head Borer, Hellula undalis (Fab. 1794)
Bengali Name : Kopir majra
Super Family : Pyraloidea
Family : Crambidae
Sub Family : Glaphyriinae
Its larva are reported to be major pest of cabbage. It is also
damage cauliflower, radish, beet root, knolkhol.
©
CB/ Mo/ I 215

15. Brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee 1854
Bengali name : Beguner fal chidrakari poka
Super Family : Pyraloidea
Family : Crambidae
Sub Family: Pyraustinae. Tribe: Spilomelini
©
CB/ Mo/ I 217
Always serious pest of brinjal (Solanum melongena) in
this area. Chemical control is sometimes impossible. Secondary host
plants comprise tomato, potato and few other Solanum spp.

16. Beet Webworm, Spoladea recurvalis (Fab. 1775 )
Bengali name : Bit moth
Super Family : Pyraloidea
Family : Crambidae
Sub Family Spilomelinae
UBKV/CB/ Mo/ 53
The larvae feed on beet, spinach, maize, soybean,
cotton etc. The green larvae feed on the underside of
the leaves protected by a slight web.

17. Rice Grain moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton
Bengali Name : Chaler moth
Super family : Pyraloidea
Family : Pyralidae
Sub Family : Galleriinae
©
UBKV/ CB/ Mo 24
©
Its caterpillars can become a significant pest of stored paddy,
rice grains, wheat, pulse seeds, flour, dried fruits etc . Its eggs are
very important tool for bio-control agents of egg parasitoids.

18. Wax moth, Galleria mellonlla L. 1798
Bengali Name : Chaler moth
Super family : Pyraloidea
Family : Pyralidae
Sub Family : Galleriinae
©
The greater wax moth is well known as pest of honeybees and
their hives. Sometimes, especially in the rainy season it may
cause economic loss caused of the bee hive.
UBKV/ CB/ Mo 222

19. Cucumber moth, Diaphnia indica Saunders 1851
Bengali name : Ghuri moth
Super Family : Pyraloidea
Family : Crambidae
Sub Family : Spilomelinae
Its caterpillars are occasionally a pest of cucurbits in
this area. it is native to southern Asia.
UBKV/ CB/ Mo 223