Bioecology of the Mocis latipes.
The Mocis latipes is commonly known as false grass measuring worm or grass peeling worm, the first name is associated with the way the larva moves, since it stretches and shrinks the ends and arches the middle part of the back as if it were measuring, on the other hand, the second name is associated with the damage it causes to plants, because it performs the defoliation of the leaves leaving only the if there is no timely control, this habit is very similar to that exercised by the Spodoptera frugiperda.
The appearances of this insect are generally appreciated in tropical conditions and according to Espinoza (2016), it belongs to the genus Mocis spp.,order Lepidoptera, family Noctuidae and can also be located through different synonyms such as Remigia latipes, Ophuisa delinquens, Remigia exscindens, Remigia subtilis, Remigia collata, Remigia indentata, the arthropod presents an oral apparatus chewer with which it causes a chopping of the leaf blades; like the Spodoptera it is polyphagous, because it has a preference for different crops such as sorghum, rice, wheat, sugar cane and grasslands, all as can be observed poaceae family.
Similarly, among the grass species susceptible to the attack of Mocis l. reported by different researchers and producers in tropical areas are the following: Cynodon nlemfuensis(star grass), Melinis minutiflora (fat grass), Urochloa arrecta(tanner grass) and another less susceptible but that has been affected by the meter is the Megathyrsus maximus (guinea grass).
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Aguilar, M. (2016). Diagnosis of the damage caused by the false meter (Mocis latipes) in the cultivation of sugar cane (Saccharum officinarumL.) at Finca San José Buena Vista. Unpublished degree work. University of San Carlos of Guatemala: Mazatenango Guatemala.
Alvarez, A. and Sanchez, G. (n.d.). Life cycle and description of the Mocis latipes worm. Rev. ICA, 16 (2), 57-63.
Yepez, F. (2000). Grass-chewing lepidoptera importance and management. Medellín: Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
Alarcón, L.; Cortiñas, J.; Jiménez, S.; Laguna, D.; Castro, J.; Carbonell, M. and Rodríguez, M. (2004). Zoning of Mocis latipes (lepidoptera: noctuidae) in the livestock companies of the province of Las Tunas, Cuba. Rev. Plant health, 8 (2), 17-20.
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