Integrated management schedule for sugarcane pests

P. MAHESH
Insect pests are one of the major factors influencing sugarcane production.
Sugarcane is attacked by a number of insect pests during different growth stages.
They build up to large numbers, feed on the leaves, stems and subsequently damage
the underground portion of the stalk. Early detection, correct identification and their
management are key to prevent the pest build-up because they have the potential to
cause 100 per cent yield loses.

S.N
o
NAME OF
THE PEST
DESTRUCTIVE
STAGE
MANAGEMENT
1 Early shoot
borer Chilo
infuscatellus
Snellen
(Crambidae:
Lepidoptera)
Larva Early planting is
helpful in checking
serious damage by
shoot-borer.
Light earthing up of
the tillers at the early
stages of the crop
during May and June
reduces the incidence.
Mulching with cane
trash in the early stages
also reduces the
incidence.
Removing the affected
tillers as close to the
ground as possible and
destroying them.
Use of sex pheromone
traps @ 25/ha
Release of Sturmiopsis
inferens @ 125 gravid
females/ha
Drenching application
of chlorpyriphos
5ml/lit
2 Internode
borer Chilo
sacchariphagu
s indicus
(Kapur)
(Crambidae:
Lepidoptera)
Larva Detrashing the crop
from August through
October at monthly
intervals.
Removal of late and
water shoots.
Burning trash and left
over dry canes.
immediately after
harvesting
Use of sex pheromone
traps @ 25/ha
Inundative release of
the egg parasitoid
Trichogramma chilonis @
50,000 parasitoid/ha/
week from the 4
th
up to
11
th

month after
planting affords
protection.
3 Top borer
Scirpophaga
excerptalis
Walk.
(Pyraustinae:
Lepidoptera)

Larva The egg masses and the
infested portions of
plants may be collected
and destroyed during
the brood emergence
period
Use of sex pheromone
traps @ 50/ha
Release of Isotima
javensis Rohw against
third and fourth
broods of top borer.
Soil application of
carbofuran at 1 kg a.i.
/ha for the third brood.

4 Root borer,
Emmalocera
depressella
Larva The canes should be
harvested just below
the ground level in
order to kill the larvae.
After harvesting
stubbles should be
destroyed and
ratooning be avoided
in endemic areas.
Flooding of fields
during July-January
reduces infestation.
Light-trapping of adult
moths between June-
October can reduce the
borer population.
Heavily infested field
may be rotated with
paddy crop for two
seasons to reduce the
population.
Releases of egg
parasitoid,
Trichogramma chilonis
from July to October at
10 days interval also
reduce the borer
infestation
Application of fipronil
0.3 G or 5 SC at 75 g
a.i/ha was found
effective.
5 Termites,
Odontotermes
obesus
(Termitidae:
Isoptera)

Adult (workers) Destroy the termite
bunds in and around
the field and kill the
queen.
Remove plant stubble
and other debris of the
previous crop from the
field.
Flood irrigate the
furrows to avoid
termite attack in the
furrows at the time of
planting.
Plough the field to
destroy the termites
nests, runways, and
tunnels and expose
them to predators, such
as ants, birds, etc.
Setts treatment with
imidacloprid or
chlorpyriphos for
5 min for early
protection.
Drenching of 20 EC
chloropyriphos @ 5 lit
in 1000 lit of water/ha
at the time of sowing.
6 WHITE
GRUB,
Holotrichia
consanguinea,
H. serrata
(Scarabaeida
e:
Coleoptera)

Both adults and
grubs
Deep ploughing after
summer showers
would expose the
pupae and beetles to
their natural enemies.
Flooding the field for
24-48 hours during
June- September
minimises grub
population.
Practice crop rotation
to reduce grub
population, especially
with sunflower or
paddy.
Collection and
destruction of adults
beetle from host trees
immediately after
receiving summer
showers around the
field.
Set up light traps
immediately after
receiving summer
showers to attract adult
beetles and kill them.
The fungal pathogens
Beauveria brongniartii
attacks all stages of
white grub.
7 Sugarcane
Leaf hopper
Pyrilla
perpusilla
Walker
(Lophopidae:
Homoptera)
Adult and
Nymph
Removal and
destruction of two
lower most leaves
bearing egg-masses
during April/ May
Avoid excessive use of
nitrogenous fertilizers
Release of 4000-5000
cocoons and 4 to 5
lakhs eggs of Epiricania
melanoleuca per hectare
during July-August.
8 Sugarcane
woolly
aphid,
Ceratovacuna
lanigera
Zehntner
(Pemphigida
e:
Homoptera)
Adult and
Nymph
Paired or wider row
planting of sugarcane.
Multiply the natural
enemies Dipha
aphidivora or Micromus
igorotus in shade net
cages (5m x 5m) @
50/cage and allow
them to develop and
disperse by removing
the cages.
Release of D. aphidivora
larvae @ 1000/ha and
M. igorotus larvae @
2500/ha.
9 Scale Insect
(Melanaspis
Glomerata)


Adult and
Nymph
Seed material should
preferably be taken
from a healthy crop.
Avoid ratooning in low
lying areas and avoid
water logging.
9 Whitefly
Aleurolobus
barodensis
(Aleyrodidae
: Homoptera)
Adult and
Nymph
Discourage ratooning
in low lying areas and
avoid water logging.
Remove lower leaves
containing pupae
periodically.
Avoid excessive use of
nitrogenous fertilizers
10 Black bug
(Cavelerius
sweeti)
(Lygaeidae:
Hemiptera)
Adult and
Nymph
After harvesting
stubbles should be
destroyed and
ratooning be avoided
in endemic areas.
Use of systemic
insecticides