Sugarcane Stem Borer: Characters and Control Measures

Sugarcane Stem Borer

• Scientific name: Chilo tumidicostali.  
• Family: Pyralidae.   
• Order: Lepidoptera.  

Pest characters of Sugarcane Stem borer  

Adults are pale brown in color with the white hind wing.  

Nature of Damage of Sugarcane Stem borer 

• A female adult lays eggs in masses, usually on the undersurface of the leaves.   
• Sometimes, they lay the egg on leaf sheath.
• After hatching the egg, the larvae collectively bore into the stem and feed inside.   
• Depending on the age of the plant, two times symptoms are developed when the plant is attacked at the early stage (Just after cane formation).
• The affected plant may die, and the symptom may be called the “dried top” symptom.  
• But when the plants are attacked later, plants usually do not die but suffer from severe damage.  
• The larvae feed inside, making a tunnel, and secondarily fungal infection may occur. As a result, the attacked tissues decomposed, and the sugarcane becomes unfit for human consumption.  

Sugarcane Stem borer Management/Control Measure 

Non­chemical control of Sugarcane Stem borer

• Collection and destruction of egg masses and infected plants.  
• Planting of borer-free setts.  
• Removing the dried tops.  
• Avoid ratoon crop.  
• Use a light trap.  

Chemical control of Sugarcane Stem borer 

• Sett treatment with coal and Agben 50 EC @ 1 ml/L of water.  
• Application with Diazinon/Diginol 60 EC @ 3 ml/L of water.  
• Application of Sevin 85 SP @ 1.7 kg/ha.
• Application of Lebacid 50 EC @ 1 L/ha.