Domain:                Eukaryota
Kingdom:               Animalia
Phylum:                 Arthropoda
Class:                     Insecta
Order:                     Lepidoptera
Family:                   Crambidae
Genus:                    Chilo
Species:                 C. auricilius
Binomial Name:   Chilo auricilius (Dudgeon, 1905)
Synonyms:
                                Chilo popescugorji (Bleszynski, 1963)
                                 Chilo auricilia

Restricted. South and Southeast Asia, Oceania. It is recorded from Papua New Guinea [2]. It is found in India, Taiwan, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, as well as on Sulawesi, Borneo, Sangir Island and the Moluccas [1].

Host Range
The larvae feed on several members of the grass family Poaceae; these include rice (Oryza sativa), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and maize (Zea mays). On young sugarcane, the larvae kill the leaves and cause the shoots to die. In older cane there may be no noticeable symptoms until the leaf sheaths are stripped off, when the gallery entrances become apparent. On rice, the symptoms are similar to those caused by other stem borers, with death of the central tissue and failure of the flowerhead to develop properly, with the emerging panicles whitish and empty [1]. Rice, sugarcane, sorghum, maize, and wild grasses are common hosts.

• Egg: Eggs are creamy-white, slightly flattened, scale-like, laid in 2-5 rows; they turn black later.

• Larva: Larvae are white, growing to 25-30 mm long with five bluish-purple lines along the body, and brown heads.

• Adult: The forewings of the adult are rather variable, being yellowish or brownish with silvery dots, either scattered or arranged in two transverse bands. The fringe round the margin of the wings is golden yellow. The forewing length is 8 to 13 millimetres (0.3 to 0.5 in) and the width 3 to 4 millimetres (0.12 to 0.16 in). The hindwings are pale brown [1].

Another species, Chilo suppressalis (the Asiatic stem borer, or striped stem borer), occurs in Australia, but not in the rest of Oceania. It is also similar to Chilo polychrysus, which occurs in India, Indonesia and Thailand. A moth in the Crambidae [2].

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Eggs are creamy-white, slightly flattened, scale-like, laid in 2-5 rows; they turn black later. Larvae are white, growing to 25-30 mm long with five bluish-purple lines along the body, and brown heads. Female pupae are 13-14 mm, males slightly shorter, and they are brown. Adult forewings are yellowish or brownish with silvery dots and a marginal golden fringe; hindwings are light brown. The moth is nocturnal [2].

The gold-fringed rice borer is considered to be primarily a pest of sugarcane, and only attacks rice occasionally. Another species, the striped stem borer, Chilo suppessalis, is considered to be a far more important species on rice, known to destroy entire fields.

The larvae do the damage by feeding on the stems and causing similar symptoms to other rice stem borers. The larvae tunnel into the stems, through the internodes towards the base of the plant, causing stems to wilt and die, a condition known as ‘deadheart’. The stems are easily pulled out (Photo 3). Feeding at the base of the panicles may prevent emergence or result in white unfilled grain of those that have emerged, a symptom called ‘whitehead’). On sugarcane, damage by C. auricilius early in growth kills leaves and may produce ‘dead hearts’. In older cane there may be no obvious external symptoms, but if leaf sheaths are stripped away, bore holes in the internodes may be apparent. Damaged internodes may show reddening of tissues and may emit a rancid odour. Otherwise it may be necessary to split canes to find the galleries that have been eaten out by larvae.On rice, symptoms are similar to those of other stem borer species with ‘dead hearts’ appearing early in crop development and ‘white heads’ later when normal development of the inflorescence is prevented.

Plants/Whole plant/dead heart
Plants/Stems/odour
Plants/Stems/stunting or rosetting
Plants/Stems/internal feeding
Plants/Stems/dead heart
Plants/Leaves/external feeding
Plants/Leaves/abnormal forms
Plants/Growing point/odour
Plants/Growing point/internal feeding; boring
Plants/Growing point/dwarfing; stunting
Plants/Growing point/dead heart

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A naturally occurring parasitoid fly, Sturmiopsis inferens, has been used to control this stem borer. It can be raised in the laboratory and released where needed. It has been found that the fly is active for most of the year; from March to June it mainly targets the sugarcane shoot borer (Chilo infuscatellus) and the pink borer (Sesamia inferens). Subsequently, from July to October, it targets the Gurdaspur borer (Bissetia steniellus), and between November and January, it mainly attacks the gold-fringed rice stemborer [1].
BIOSECURITY
Countries not yet infested by the gold-fringed stem borer should consider all likely pathways for entry, and apply quarantine measures accordingly. Many countries throughout Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania are at risk. Pathways of introduction are likely to be via produce contaminated by pieces of stem of the hosts infested with larvae or pupae.
Pheromonal Control
Studies on mating disruption by release of artificial pheromones indicate that this may be a feasible method of controlling C. auricilius. (Campion et al., 1987) reported the results of small-scale trials of mating disruption with pheromones in India.
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
On rice and sugarcane, control of C. auricilius will usually be incidental to IPM of the major pest species of Chilo (C. suppressalis and C. sacchariphagus, respectively). For sugarcane in India, Chaudhary and Sharma (1986) have suggested an IPM approach based on a list of eleven elements, including one chemical and ten non-chemical methods. On sugarcane in China, a programme of control was described by Liu et al. (1996).
PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
In the past, the main spread of stem borers within and between countries and continents was probably in infested planting material, especially sugarcane setts. Further spread is now limited by phytosanitary regulations controlling the transfer of such material.

Chilo auricilius usually occurs with other rice stem borers, e.g., Scirpophaga and Sesamia species and is controlled by the same measures applied to them.
Before planting:
Prepare the land thoroughly ensuring vigorous plant growth when planted, and to destroy larvae and pupae from a previous crop.
Plant at high density to compensate for damage that may occur.
Rotate rice with non-host crops, e.g., legumes.
During growth:
Try to synchronise planting in any area so that crops do not overlap, to prevent pest populations moving from harvested to standing crops.
If irrigating, raise the level of the water from time to time to submerge the eggs on the lower parts of the plant.
If the crop is seasonal, plant early.
Weed as soon as required to promote good crop growth.
Cut out the stems with deadhearts and remove from the field. Destroy the larva or burn the stalk. Note this is labour intensive and not very effective as the pest may already have left.
Apply nitrogen fertilizer in split applications: check local recommendations for rates and timing.
After harvest:
Harvest crops at ground level to remove the larvae in the stubble.
Plough remaining rice stubble into the soil to kill larvae and pupae, and avoid leaving unharvested plants. Alternatively, irrigate the field, if that is possible.
Remove or plough in weeds (grasses and sedges), which may be alternative hosts.

Classical biological control of C. auricilius by the introduction of exotic agents has been attempted on a number of occasions on sugarcane in India and Java; biological control by conservation, augmentation and release of indigenous natural enemies has also been attempted.In India, Chaudhary and Sharma (1986) reported that trials with Trichogramma spp. and with the exotic tachinid Lixophaga diatraeae had failed to give effective control of C. auricilius. Of the indigenous parasitoids, the tachinid Sturmiopsis inferens and the braconid Pycnobracon mutator may parasitize more than 50% of larvae; mass-rearing techniques were being developed to augment natural populations. Varma et al. (1991) reported that the inundative release of Trichogramma chilonis on sugarcane in India reduced C. auricilius infestation from 61 to 12.6% in treated areas. Brar et al. (1996) also found it successful in Punjab. Varma and Nigam (1989) reported the successful establishment of the exotic braconid parasitoid, Allorhogas pyralophagus, at two locations in India.In Java, Samoedi (1989) reported that mass releases of Diatraeophaga striatalis effectively controlled C. auricilius on sugarcane.Work on rice in India to assess the effectiveness of 14 indigenous and exotic egg, larval and pupal parasitoids indicated that strains of Trichogramma japonicum from India or the Philippines and a native Telenomus sp. were the most effective egg parasitoids; the exotic nematode Neoaplectana carpocapsae showed promise as a larval parasitoid and the native Tetrastichus ayyari was an effective pupal parasitoid (Rao and Rao, 1980).

NATURAL ENEMIES
In general, the gold-fringed rice borer is parasitised and predated by the same natural enemies as other rice stem borers. In India, the tachnid fly, Stumiopsis inferens, and the wasp, Pycycnobracon mutator, are useful larval parasites, and Trichogramma japonicum and a Telenomus sp. the most effective egg parasioids.

RESISTANT VARIETIES
Modern rice varieties that are relatively thin-stemmed, short, high tillering, and early maturing, may result in less damage from stem borers generally. This aspect is important as well-grown, vigorous crops can withstand 20% deadhearts and 10% whiteheads before yeild is affected.
Plant breeding for host-plant resistance against sugarcane and rice stem borers is in progress in most countries where these crops are grown. Madan et al. (1981) reviewed varietal resistance in sugarcane against stem borers and noted that genotypes that are comparatively resistant include Co 1007, Co 1236, Co 7302, Co 7303, S-5/75, S-38/76, E 92 and E 168. Kanwar and Srivastava (1999) in Indian Punjab tested the varieties CoJ64, CoJ83, CoS8436, CoS88230, CoJ82 and CoJ84. Varieties CoJ83, CoS88230 and CoS8436 were most susceptible to the borer.

As the stem borer is thought to be a minor rice pest, chemical control is likely to be unnecessary. There is also the risk of destroying natueral enemies if it is used. If chemicals are needed [2]:
Use abamectin, a natural fermentation product from a bacterium.
In Fiji, diazinon and bifenthrin are recommended for (unspecified) stem borers.
Chlorpyrifos and fipronil, have also been recommended (for all stem borers), but note that chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide, and is a potent nerve agent; the World Health Organization (WHO) considers chlorpyrifos to be moderately hazardous (Class II). The use of fipronil is under review in Australia by the APVMA because of environmental concerns. A report is expected in 2020. Reviews on the use of chlorpyrifos are on-going in Europe, USA and Australia.
All synthetic products are likely to reduce the impact of natural predators and parasitoids against this moth, and can only be recommended as a last resort.
Various chemical control measures against C. auricilius and other sugarcane stem borers have been devised, including soil applications of granular systemics and foliar sprays of a wide range of insecticides. Spraying mature sugarcane crops is now considered to be neither feasible nor effective and non-chemical control measures are favoured. Some chemical controls, such as soaking sets in insecticide for a few hours before planting, may be useful in some circumstances. Bacillus thuringiensis formulations were tested in the laboratory by Shenhmar and Varma (1997).The same applies to this species on rice.

A recent study provides a basis for future investigations into the mechanism of OP (OrganoPhosphate) resistance in C. auricilius , as well as a guidance for C. auricilius control with reasonable choice of pesticides [5].

No information found

No information found

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378111914008282

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12633-023-02508-1

https://www.indianjournals.com/ijor.aspx?target=ijor:asd&volume=34&issue=2&article=013

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Chilo+AND+auricilius&filter=years.2010-2023

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilo_auricilius#:~:text=Chilo%20auricilius%2C%20the%20gold%2Dfringed,Sangir%20Island%20and%20the%20Moluccas.

https://apps.lucidcentral.org/ppp/text/web_full/entities/rice_goldfringed_borer_410.htm

https://plantwiseplusknowledgebank.org/doi/full/10.1079/pwkb.species.18759#image-23175

https://plantwiseplusknowledgebank.org/doi/full/10.1079/pwkb.species.18759

https://academic.oup.com/jee/article-abstract/108/3/1289/2379949

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12633-023-02508-1