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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #300956
Title: First record of Ectomyelois muriscis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on physic nut (Jatropha curcas), a biofuel plant

Author
item GOMEZ, RUIZ - The Department Of Method Development - Mexico
item LOPEZ, GUILLEN - Instituto Nacional De Investigaciones Forestales Y Agropecuarias (INIFAP)
item BARRERA, J. - The Department Of Method Development - Mexico
item Solis, M Alma
item ZAMARRIPA, COLMENERO - Instituto Nacional De Investigaciones Forestales Y Agropecuarias (INIFAP)

Submitted to: Biomass and Bioenergy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/14/2015
Publication Date: 3/6/2015
Citation: Gomez, R.J., Lopez, G.G., Barrera, J.F., Solis, M.A., Zamarripa, C.A. 2015. First record of Ectomyelois muriscis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on physic nut (Jatropha curcas), a biofuel plant. Biomass and Bioenergy. 75:150-154.

Interpretive Summary: Phycitine moths are well known worldwide as highly destructive stored product pests, often feeding on seeds. A phycitine species, Ectomyelois muriscis, was recently discovered in Mexico to feed on Jatropha curcas, known as the physic nut. The seeds of this plant produce high quality biofuel, 27-40% oil in seeds, which has been used for automobiles and jets. This information is useful to agriculturalists that grow this plant species to extract oil for biofuel.

Technical Abstract: The natural infestation of fruits and stems of Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) by larvae of the pyralid moth Ectomyelois muriscis (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is reported for the first time. Populations of E. muriscis on J. curcas were observed in various parts of the state of Chiapas, southern Mexico. Feeding damage by larvae resulted in the destruction of J. curcas seeds. We conclude that this insect is a potential pest of J. curcas cultivation in this region.