Cymbopogon citratus (DC. ex Mees.) Stapf. known as “limoncillo”, is commonly used as a living barrier to protect soil against erosion and is also appreciated for its medical and aromatic properties. In 1996, in Pereira (Risaralda), Armenia (Quindio) and Chinchina (Caldas), plants were found with the damage known as “dead heart”, caused by Diatraea sp. The life cycle was stu- died at Cenicafe's entomology laboratory under envi- ronmental conditions of 22.6±1.5°C and relative hu- midity of 81.9±6.9%. Life cycle duration depended on sex and instar number. For males with five instars the duration was 56.25±4.50 days and for females with six instars 63.95±2.46 days. For females with seven instars the duration was 70.90±3.66 days and for males with seven instars 66.00±2.00 days. The setal map obser- ved is rather similar to that of D. saccharalis (F) regar- ding setae disposition on the head, protorax, metato- rax and on the fourth abdominal segment. The adults show sexual dimorphism. Females have a lighter color and thin lines on wings and are bigger than males. The reared specimens showed a sex ratio female to male of 1.08:1.0. (Jnder field conditions the egg parasite Te- lenomus sp. (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was found; larvae were detected to be infected by a nematode be- longing to the family Diplogasteridae and pupa by an Ichneumonid wasp.