It lays its eggs in batches of about 100 which are covered with silky greyish hairs. Incubation period is about 8 days. The larva is similar to yellow borer larva, except that it is white and reaches full growth in about 30 days. Pupation is completed in about 8 days. The adult lives for about 7 days. It is white and slender. It resembles the yellow rice borer, but does not have a black spot on the forewing. The abdominal tip of the female is pink. The life cycle of the white stem borer is completed in about 53 days. Scientific name: Scirpophaga innotata.