Hop Vine Borer – Hydraecia immanis

Written by Amisha on October 27, 2021.

Hop Vine Borer (Hydraecia immanis) Latin Name: Hydraecia immanis Common Name: Hop Vine Borer Appearance: The hop vine borer moth, Hydraecia immanis, belongs to the Noctuidae family of moths. Eggs:

The eggs are flattened and in an oval shape.
When originally laid, they are white or golden in hue, becoming reddish-pink after 1-3 days.
Parallel rows of dry grass were laid down in a grid pattern.
In mid-spring, the overwintering stage hatches.

Larva/nymphs

With black eyes and an orange or reddish-brown head.
Purple or Brown Square patches with contrasting dirty white lines on the belly, back, and sides.
To survive, the first few instars feed on grasses and weeds, and later instars migrate to hops and corn.
In July, a puppy is born.

Adults:

Adult moths are a drab brown hue.
Forewings are pale yellow, while the hind wings are white.
Late July/early August is when they first appear.
Every year, one generation

Host plants: Hops, corn, orchard grass, quackgrass, foxtail, woolly cupgrass, and wire stem muhly Territory: Native to North America. Damage caused by Hydraecia immanis: The only stage that causes harm is the larvae. They build hollow tunnels upward from the plant’s base and feed on roots, causing the hop vines/corn stems and roots to wilt, eventually killing the plant. Above-ground tissues may become stunted and discolored, and feeding sites may become bloated and dulled.