Featured Insect
Sugarcane Borer (Diatraea saccharalis)
The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis, is one of the
most important of the above-ground pests of sugarcane in Florida.
Although this insect's principal host is sugarcane, other grasses
including rice and corn have been reported as alternative hosts.
It causes damage by tunneling within the stalk, which reduces
stalk weight and sucrose yield. Also, the borer's tunneling into
the stalk allows secondary invaders like fungal, bacterial, and
viral disease organisms to enter. One investigation showed that
plants with bored internodes produce 45% less sugar than undamaged
ones. Additionally, the weakened stalks are more subject to breaking
and lodging.
Identification
The life cycle of the sugarcane borer includes four main stages
of development - the egg, larval, pupal and adult stages. The larvae
molt 5 to 7 times depending upon climatic conditions during their
of growth. The adult is nocturnal a straw-colored moth that is about
one inch across its spread wings.The forewings are marked with black
dots in a V-shaped design.
Females lay approximately 200 to 300 creamy white eggs in clusters
of 25 to 30 on on the undersides of a leaves in the upper half of
the sugarcane plant canopy. Yellowish-white, brown-spotted caterpillars
(larva) are the most familiar stage and cause the damage to sugarcane.
Control
An integrated pest management (IPM) program consisting of several
well-balanced components will provide effective borer control and
increase profits without harming the environment.
The most important part of an IPM program for sugarcane borers
is regular scouting. Suggested control options include biological
agents, planting varieties that exhibit resistance to infestation
and damage, planting borer-free seed pieces and insecticides
Summarized from EDIS document '' for more information please refer
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