First report of Elaphria agrotina and E. deltoides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Elaphriini) feeding on maize and a possible misidentification of Striacosta albicosta

The objectives of this work were to identify the owlet moth species from the family Noctuidae whose larvae were collected on different maize tissues, and to describe feeding injury. The specimens were collected in maize fields during the crop season of 2012/2013 in three municipalities in Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Larvae were collected while feeding at the ear base, which often resulted in ears dropping to the ground. Larvae also were observed feeding on kernels in fallen ears. The morphological analysis of the moths indicated they were Elaphria agrotina (Guenée, 1852) and E. deltoides (Möschler, 1880) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Voucher specimens of both species were deposited in the Embrapa Cerrados Entomology Collection, Planaltina, Distrito Federal (Brazil).  A previous report of Striacosta albicosta feeding on maize in Brazil was probably a misidentification of an E. agrotina male, which has wing pattern and coloration similarities with S. albicosta.