Featured Insect
Lesser Cornstalk Borer
Elasmopalpus lignosellus
The
of the lesser cornstalk borer (Figure 1) is a slender brown worm
with creamy white to bluish-green bands 3/4 to 1" long when
full grown The larvae bore into young plants at or below the soil
surface and usually cause a "dead-heart" similar to the
sugarcane borer or wireworms. When they feed at or below the growing
point, damage above the growing point appears as rows of holes in
emerging leaves.
The larvae construct a tubular burrow in the soil extending outward
from the cane plant. The burrow consists of soil particles which
the borer webs together with silk. The larva pupates in this burrow
and transforms into a small moth. The presence of these silk tubes
and/or a small circular entrance hole distinguishes deadhearts caused
by lesser cornstalk borers from those caused by wireworms.
The life cycle of the lesser cornstalk borer ranges from 38 to 65
days. There is considerable overlapping of generations with no sharp
seasonal breaks in populations, although infestations during late
summer may be uncommon.
Most damage from this pest occurs to young plants during warm, dry
periods. Ratoon cane usually recovers better from lesser cornstalk
borer attack than young plant cane.
Although there are parasites of the lesser cornstalk borer, the
protection given by the silk tube may make these inefficient as
biological control agents.
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Control:
Carbofuran (Furadan 4F) has recently become available for use on
lesser cornstalk borer in sugarcane. A commercial pheromone is available
which can be used in traps to identify when and where populations
of the lesser cornstalk borer are building up.
Adapted from
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