Parasa bicolor

Parasa bicolor, the green rice moth, is a moth of the family Limacodidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1855.^[1] It is found in Sri Lanka,^[2] India, Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar, Laos, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Java, China and Taiwan.^[3][4][5]

Parasa bicolor
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Limacodidae
Genus:	Parasa
Species:	P. bicolor
Binomial name
Parasa bicolor (Walker, 1855)
Synonyms
Monema virescens Matsumura, 1915 Neaera bicolor Walker, 1855 Latoia oryzae Cai, 1983

Biology and control

Its wingspan is 13–19 mm. Head, thorax and forewings greenish. Abdomen and hindwings brownish. Caterpillar yellowish. The caterpillar undergoes eight larval instars. The female lays eggs on the undersides of leaves. Eggs hatch after 6 to 10 days. Early instars feed on leaves and leaving brownish white leaf epithelium. Late instars completely eat the leaf tissue. Pupation occurs in a cocoon within the soil.^[6]

Larval host plants are Oryza,^[7] Phyllostachys, Bambusa, Sinobambusa, Arundinaria and Pleioblastus species. Adults can be controlled by light traps. Soil turning in winter can kill overwintering caterpillars and cocoons.