Morphological Characteristics and Control Techniques of the Rice Skipper (Pelopidas mathias)

The straight-lined skipper belongs to the order Lepidoptera, family Hesperiidae. Adults have a body length of 17-19 mm and a wingspan of 36-42 mm. The body and wings are both dark brown with a golden sheen, and the antennae are club-shaped. The forewings have 8 white semi-transparent markings arranged in a semi-ring; the hindwings also have 4 white markings arranged in a straight line. The egg is hemispherical, slightly depressed at the top, with a hexagonal reticulated surface pattern; it is light green when first laid and purplish-red before hatching. Larvae generally have 5 instars. Newly hatched larvae have a black head and a grayish-green body; after the 2nd to 3rd instar, the head color gradually fades to light brown. Mature larvae have a body length of 36-40 mm, are green and spindle-shaped, with a light brown or reddish-brown head. The head is large, and the prothorax narrows into a neck-like shape. There is a "mountain"-shaped marking in the center of the front of the head, and a dark brown transverse stripe on the prothoracic dorsum. When mature, there are white powdery substances on both sides of the 4th to 7th abdominal segments. The pupa is light yellowish-brown, with a smooth vertex, and each of the 5th and 6th abdominal segments has an inverted V-shaped marking in the center.