Maliarpha separatella (African white rice borer).

M. separatella is a stem borer of sub-Saharan and Indian Ocean islands and is the only rice stem borer that has widespread distribution in sub-Saharan Africa. Damage by M. separatella includes reduced plant height, total number of grains per panicle, number of filled grains per panicle and grain weight, depending on the plant stage attacked.

Revision of the genus Maliarpha (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), based on adult morphology with description of three new species

What has previously been referred to in the literature as the African white rice borer Maliarpha separatella, is a complex of three closely related stemborers. These are described and the genus revised. The genera Biafra Ragonot and Ethitropa Hampson are synonymized with Maliarpha Ragonot. All primary types available have been examined. The revised genus Maliarpha is a monophyletic group defined by the apomorphic, tri-lobed form of the male gnathos. Six species of Maliarpha are treated, of which brunnella, fuscicostella and longisignumella are described as new. The species Biafra rhodinella (Ragonot), Singhalia haemocharis (Meyrick), Ethiotropa phromerella (Hampson) and Biafra taxiarcha Meyrick are synonymized with Maliarpha concinnella (Ragonot), and Biafra concinnella Ragonot and Saluria rosella (Hampson) are recombined with Maliarpha. The adult moths are illustrated and line drawings of the genitalia are provided for all species.

Maliarpha separatella. [Distribution map].

A new distribution map is provided for Maliarpha separatella Ragonot. Lepidoptera: Pyralidae (Madagascar/African white rice borer). Attacks rice. Information is given on the geographical distribution in Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoro Islands, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Réunion, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Asia, Burma.

The parasitoids of the African white rice borer, Maliarpha separatella Ragonot (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

A key is provided for the recognition of the hymenopterous parasitoids of the African white rice borer, Maliarpha separatella Ragonot, a pest of rice in Africa and Madagascar. Five species are described as new: Braconidae: Chelonus maudae Huddleston, Rhacanotus carinafus Polaszek; Ichneumonidae: Prisfomerus bullis Fitton, Prisfomerus caris Fitton, Venturia jordanae Fitton. The following synonyms are proposed: Goniozus indicus Muesebeck, G. natalensis Gordh and G. procerae Risbec are synonymized with Goniozus indicus Ashmead. Phanerotorna major Brues is synonymized with Phanerotoma saussurei Kohl. Lectotypes are designated for Goniozus procerae Risbec, Rhaconotus scirpophagae Wilkinson and Garouella ovicida Risbec. The known distributions, biologies and alternative hosts of each parasitoid are provided, and their use as biological control agents or components of integrated pest management programmes are discussed.