Recommendations for the management of major arthropod pests of sugarcane and corn

Issue Date

10-2002

Abstract

The most recent management recommendations for arthropod pests of sugarcane and corn was discussed and summarized. In sugarcane, the most dominant and most destructive insect pests are the white grubs, Leucopholis irrorata (Chevrolat) and the sugarcane borers namely: Tetramoera schistaceana Snellen and Chilo infuscatellus Snellen. On the other hand, the Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenee) is still the major hindrance to successful corn production in the Philippines. For white grubs in sugacane, community-wide campaign on beetle collection for about three weeks starting from the onset of beetle emergence significantly reduces the number of adults that will lay eggs for the next season. Collection and subsequent destruction of white grubs during tillage operations will help reduce white grub infestation. In addition, thorough cultivation of cane fields exposes white grubs to general predators like birds, earwigs and fire ants and also inflicts physical damage to the grub. The use of insecticides is the most common method employed by sugarcane growers against the insect. Proper timing of insecticide application is highly necessary to coincide with the abundance and susceptible stage of the grubs to ensure effective and efficient control. In areas in Luzon where grubs are known to be abundant, the recommended granular insecticides are applied along the furrows if planting is done in June. If planting is done earlier, insecticides are still applied in June to coincide with the susceptible stage of the pest. For sugarcane borers, the most practical and cheapest method of control is through the field releases of Trichogramma chilonis Ishii. Trichogramma are generally released in the field when cane plants are about 1-3 months old. Releases are carried out eight times at the rate of 60-80 cards per hectare (96,000-120,000 parasitoids). trichogramma are released twice a week for the first four releases and weekly intervals for the last four releases. At present, Trichogramma cards are available in the seven rearing laboratories of the Philippine Sugar Research Institute (PHILSURIN) and given free to growers who are members of the mill district development centers. In corn, research is primarily focused on the management of ACB, the most destructive insect pest of corn. The most widely practiced cultural method of control is synchronized planting. Higher yields were obtained when corn is planted early in the season and any delay in planting caused a corresponding marked yield reduction. The field releases of Trichogramma evanescens Westwood based on ACB egg mass monitoring is the major management strategy employed against the pest. If there are 3-5 ACB egg masses per 100 plants at 20-25 days after planting, 70-100 Trichogramma cards are released per hectare. If percentage egg mass parasitism is less tahn 20%, field releases of Trichogramma are continued at weekly intervals for 2-3 times. if 40% of the plants showed symptoms of ACB damage, then granular/ systemic insecticides are applied directly into the whorl or plants are sprayed with microbial insecticide like Bacillus thuringiensis. The earwigs, Euborellia annulata (Fab.) which prey on ACB egg mass, larvae and pupae can be released 2-3 times at weekly intervals starting at 25-46 days after planting. Likewise, the flower bug, Orius tantillus (Motschulsky) which is also being mass reared in the laboratory, is voracious feeder on egg mass and small larvae. The population of Orius can be enhanced in the field by planting spiny amaranth, Amaranthus spinosus along the periphery of the corn field. Successful management of ACB hinges on the mass production of biocon agents namely: the trichogramma, Orius and earwigs. If these biocon agents could be made available to farmers at rearing laboratories located throughout the major growing regions, then ACB will no longer be a menace in corn production.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

16

Issue

2

Page

129-145

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Physical Description

illustrations ; tables

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

OSTRINIA FURNACALIS; WHITE GRUBS; TRICHOGRAMMA; TRICHOGRAMMA EVANESCENS; BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS; MASS REARING; PEST MANAGEMENT

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