Pests of sugarcane_Binomics_IPM_Dr.UPR.pdf

PESTS OF SUGARCANE - BORERS
BORERS
1. Early shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus, Crambidae, Lepidoptera
Symptom of damage: Deadheart in 1-3 month old crop, which can be easily pulled out, rotten portion of the straw coloured dead-heart emits an offensive odour. A number of bore holes at the base of the shoot just above the ground level.
Nature of damage: Caterpillar bores into the central shoot and feeds on the internal tissue. This cause interference in the translocation of plant sap and damage the sugar storing tissues.
Egg: Flat-scale like eggs are laid in 3-5 rows on the lower surface of leaves in masses of 4-100. The masses are slightly overlapping like tiles.
Larva: Larva is dirty white with five dark violet longitudinal stripes and dark brown head.
Pupa: Pupation takes place within the tunnel. Caterpillar before pupating makes a large exit hole in the stem and blocks the opening with silken discs.
Adult: Pale greyish brown moth with black dots near the costal margin of the forewings and with white hindwings.
2. Internode borer, Chilo sacchariphagus indicus, Crambidae, Lepidoptera
Symptom of damage: Internodes constricted and shortened, with a number of boreholes and fresh excreta in the nodal region. Affected tissues reddened.
Nature of damage: Caterpillars attack sugarcane plants after 3 months of planting. They bore into the canes near the nodes; entry holes are plugged with excreta. Entry is generally confined to the first five internodes.
Egg: Scale-like white eggs are laid by female moths in batches of 9-11, near the midribs, on leaf sheaths or on stem.
Larva: White larva with four violet longitudinal stripes and light brown head.
Pupa: Pupation takes place in semi-dried leaf sheath.
Adult: Pale brown with white hind wings.
3. Top borer, Scirpophaga excerptalis, Pyralidae, Lepidoptera
Symptom of damage: Deadheart in grownup canes, which cannot be easily pulled; deadheart reddish brown in colour; parallel row of shot holes in the emerging leaves and red tunnels in the midribs of leaves; bunchy tip due to the growth of side shoots.
Nature of damage: Caterpillars are mainly found in the apical portion of the canes, boring through the growing point and down the upper joints until it reaches the sappy portion of the stem, there it feeds on the tissues and destroys the cane. They also bore into the unfolded leaves preferably into the midrib, mining its way to the base.
Egg: Eggs are laid on the lower surface of top leaves in clusters particularly near midribs. The clusters are covered with buff coloured hairs.
Larva :Smooth, white or cream coloured with a red coloured mid-dorsal line and yellow head.
Pupa: Pupation takes place within the larval tunnel in a chamber with an exit hole constructed by the caterpillar.
Adult: White coloured moth (with a buff coloured anal tuft in the abdominal tip of female).

1. Pests of sugarcane
By
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD.
Assistant Professor (Entomology)
JSACAT
Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

2. Borers

3. Early shoot borer, Chiloinfuscatellus, Crambidae,
Lepidoptera
1
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Symptom of damage
Deadheartin 1-3 month old crop, rotten
portion emits an offensive odour.
bore holes at the base of the shoot.
Nature of damage
Caterpillar bores into the central shoot
and feeds on the internal tissue.
Distribution:India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thiawan, Philippines, Korea, Afghanistan and Burma

4. Flat-scale like eggs laid in 3-5 rows on
leaf lower surface in masses of 4-100
Dirty white with five dark violet longitudinal stripes
and dark brown head
Pupation takes place within the
tunnel. Caterpillar before pupating
makes a large exit hole in the stem
Pale greyishbrown moth with black dots near the costal
margin of the forewings and with white hindwings
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

5. Management
ETL: 15% dead heart.
Use resistant varieties like CO 312, CO 421, CO 661, CO 917 and CO 853
Early planting during December –January escapes the early shoot borer incidence.
Sugarcane intercropped with Daincharecorded the lowest early shoot borer incidence.
Trash mulching along the ridges to a thickness of 10-15 cm 3 days after planting.
Ensure adequate moisture to bring down the soil temperature and increase humidity
(unfavourablecondition for the multiplication of early shoot borer).
Partial earthingup on 45 days after planting reduces the incidence.
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

6. Remove and destroy dead hearts
Install pheromone traps @ 12 Nos. /ha for surveillance and
monitoring
Apply granulosisvirus1.5 x 13 5granules / ha (750 diseased
larvae/ha) along with teepoltwice on 35 and 50 DAP.
Release 125 gravid females oftachinidparasitoid, Sturmiopsis
inferensper ac
Apply Carbaryl+ Sevidol4% G 12.5 kg, Carbofuron 3G 33 kg (Soil
application)
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

7. Internodeborer, Chilosacchariphagusindicus,
Crambidae, Lepidoptera
2
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Distribution:India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Nature of damage
Caterpillars attack sugarcane
plants after 3 months of
planting
Entry is generally confined to
the first five internodes
Internodes shortened with
boreholes and excreta
Affected tissues
reddened

8. Scale-like white eggs are laid by female
moths in batches of 9-11, near the midribs,
on leaf sheaths or on stem
White larva with four violet longitudinal
stripesand light brown head
Pupation takes place in semi-dried
leaf sheath
Pale brown with white hind wings
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

9. Management
Use resistant varieties like CO 975,COJ 46 and CO 7304.
Detrashthe crop on 150th and 210th day of planting.
Detrashing dislodge the pupae that remain in the leaf sheath.
Install pheromone traps @ 10Nos. /ha for surveillance and monitoring,
change the septa/lure once in 45 days.
Release egg parasitoid,Trichogrammachilonisat the rate of @ 2.5 cc /
release / ha. Six release at fortnightly intervals starting from 4th month
onwards.
Avoid the use of excessive nitrogenous fertilizers.
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

10. Top borer, Scirpophagaexcerptalis, Pyralidae,
Lepidoptera
3
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Southern Asia from the Indian Subcontinent in the west to southern China in the east,
south to New Guinea, possibly Australia and the Solomon Islands
Symptom of damage
Dead heart reddish brown in colour
Parallel row of shot holes in the emerging
leaves
Bunchy top due to the growth of side shoots
Nature of damage
Caterpillars boring through the growing
point and reaches the stem, there it feeds on
the tissues

11. Eggs are laid near midribs on the
lower surface
White colouredwith a red mid-dorsal line
Pupation takes place within the
larval tunnel with an exit hole
White colouredmoth (female with anal tuft)
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

12. Management
UseresistantvarietyCO419,CO745andCO6516andtolerantvarietiesCo859,Co1158
andCo7224
Smallearthingupfollowedbytrashmulching
Donotundertakemaize,sorghumasintercrops
Preferpairedrowsystemforplanting
Removethedeadheartplantsanddestroythem
Collectanddestroytheeggmasses
Collectionofeggmassesoncampaignbasisoncein4daysinitiatingthecollectionfrom
thedayofmothemergence
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

13. ReleaseIchneumonidlarvalandprepupalparasitoid,Gambroides(Isotima)javensis@100
pairs/ha
Selectivedestructionofunparasitizedeggsbyplacingtheeggmassesin30meshnylonbags
thatpermitescapeofadultparasitoidswhilecontaingtheneonatelarvaehatchingfrom
unparasitizedeggs
ApplicationofCarbofuran3G1kga.i/haorThimet(Phorate)10G3kga.i/hatendaysbefore
thecommencementof3
rd
broodinsubtropicalindia
Applicationisdonebyopeningasmallfurrowneartherootzone,placingthegranule
followedbyalightirrigation
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

14. Subterranean pests

15. Termites, Odontotermusobesus, Termitidae, Isoptera
4
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Odontotermusobesus
Native to India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Vietnam
Thedamagedplantsdry
upcompletelyandare
easilypulledout.The
plantsdamagedatlater
stagesgiverisetowhite
ears.
White cream colored with dark
head

16. White grub, Holotrichiaconsanguinea,
Melolonthidae, Coleoptera
5
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Egg: White,
almost round
Grub: Young grubs are translucent,
whitish yellow in colour, fleshy‘C’ –
shaped (Scaraebiform)
Symptoms of damage
The grubs feed roots and damage pods.
Grubs feed on fine rootlets, resulting in pale
wilted plants, dying in patches.
Dark brown beetle. Beetles emerge
out of the soil within 3-4 days after
the onset of rain
Pre-dominant inRajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh

17. Root aphid, Tetraneurajavensis, Aphididae,
Hemiptera
6
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Nature of damage
Nymph and adult attack underground parts of
the plants. Plants become weak and may wilt.
Symptom of damage
Drying of plants in patches. Presence of black
ants, Camponotuscompressus, around the base
of the plants.
Nymph and Adult: Pinkish
globular aphids
Distribution: China, Japan, Korea, Georgia, Kazakhstan, southern
and south-east Europe and the USA, India

18. Whiteflies, Aleurolobusbarodensis, Aleyrodidae,
Hemiptera
7
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Firstly found in India in 1895, it had spread to 7 Asia countries
Nature of damage
Nymphs and adult suck the sap from
the leaves
Symptom of damage
Yellowing of leaves
Turn pinkish
Sooty mould on the honeydew

19. Stalked yellowish eggs
laid near the midrib on
leaf lower surface, which
turns black after 2hrs
Pale yellow neonate nymphs, flat and oval, later turn
shiny black, surrounded by fringes of wax
The fourth instarbeing the pupal
stage, possess ‘T’ shaped white
marking on the thorax
Pale yellow body with
hyaline wings dusted with
waxy bloom, exhibit brisk
fluttering movements
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

20. Whiteflies, Neomaskelliabergii, Neomaskellia
andropogonis, Aleyrodidae, Hemiptera
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Distribution. Widespread.Asia, Africa, Oceania
Nature of damage
Nymph and adult suck plant sap from the
lower surface of leaves
Symptom of damage
Black, grey or white dot like pupae on the
undersurface of leaves

21. Yellowish white eggs laid on
undersurface of the leaves
Oval in shape and brownish coloured,
surrounded by white wax
Pale brown with black bands on wings
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

22. Leaf hopper, Pyrillaperpusilla, Lophopidae,
Hemiptera
8
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Widely distributed in India including in Bihar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and
Madhya Pradesh than in peninsular India
Symptom of damage
Yellow leaves, covered with black sooty mould; top
leaves gets dried up and lateral buds germinate
Nature of damage
Nymphs and adults remain in groups on the lower
surface of leaves and suck the plant sap. They secrete
honeydew, which attract sooty mould development.
Severe attack results in loss of sugar content in the
canes, to the extent of 34% and growth is suppressed.

23. Eggs laid in clusters on the lower
surface of leaves and covered with
white fluffy waxy filaments
Soft pale brown
dorsally and pale
orange ventrally with
two characteristic anal
filaments
Soft, straw colouredwith the head pointing forward
as snout. Wings fold over the abdomen like hood;
they are densely veined and transparent
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

24. Mealybug, Kiritshenkellasacchari(Saccharicoccus
sacchari), Pseudococcidae, Hemiptera
9
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Geographical distribution:The pest occurs in warm regions wherever sugarcane is
grown.
Light pink in colourand occurs underneath leaf
sheaths on sugarcane
Management
UseresistantvarietieslikeCO439,CO443,
CO720,CO730andCO7704
Drainexcesswaterfromthefield.
Detrashthecropon150and210DAP
AvoidexcessusageofNitrogenfertilizers

25. Scale insect, Melanaphisglomerata, Diaspididae,
Hemiptera
10
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Serious sugarcane pest inMaharashtra, Gujarat and in certain pockets of Andhra
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh
Theleavesofinfestedcanesshowsigns
oftipdryingandunhealthypalegreen
colourandwithcontinuedinfestation
theseturnyellow.
Desappingleadstonon-openingof
leavesalso,whichalsoturnyellowand
finallydryup.

26. UseresistantvarietieslikeCO439,CO443,CO453,CO671,CO691andCO692
Selectandplantthescaleinsectfreesetts.
Keepthefieldsandbundsfreefromweeds.
Avoidwaterstagnationinthefieldforthelongerperiod.
Avoidrepeatedratoons.
Detrashthecropat150thand210thdayofplanting.
ReleaseChilocorisnigritus(or)Pharascymnushorni.
Presoakthesettsin0.1%solutionmalathion.
Spraydimethoate0.06%or120thand150thafterdetrashing.

27. Sugarcane woolly aphid, Ceratovacunalanigera,
Aphididae (Pemphigidae), Hemiptera
11
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
East and Southeast Asia
Symptom
Congregation of large number of white colourednymphs
and adults on the under surface of leaf.
Yellowing and drying of leaves from the tip along the
margins.
Leaves become brittle and dries completely.
Heavy secretion of honey dew leads to development of
sooty mold.
Deposition of wooly matter on ground / soil distinctly visible.

28. Management
Cultural method
Paired row system of planting.
Avoid excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers.
Use of organic fertilizers.
Rapping of canes all along the rows.
Infested tops should not be transported.
Infested canes should not be used as seed
material for planting.

29. Biological method
Encourage natural predatorsviz.,Diaphaaphidivora,Ishchiodon
scutellaris,Episyrphusbaleatus, Chrysopasp., Schymnussp., Cheilomenes
sexmaculata, Coccinellaseptempunctata, Synnonychagrandis, Brumus
sp.andDideopsisaegrota
Pathogens likeCladosporiumoxysporum, Metarhiziumanisopliae, Verticillium
lecaniiandBeauveriabassiana
ReleaseEncarsiaflavoscutellum
Chemical method
Dip the seed sets in Chlorpyripos20 EC solution (2 ml / lit) before planting
Spray Malathion 50 EC 2 ml / lit

30. Black winged bug, Proutistamoesta, Deribidae,
Hemiptera
12
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Native to the tropics of Asia but have spread into other parts of the tropics, Indonesia,
India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, China, Malaysia
Vector of root wilt(or) Kerala wilt diseasecaused by
CadidatusPhytoplasma

31. Aphid, Melanaphissacchari, Aphididae, Hemiptera
13
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Tropical Africa, Asia, the Far East and South America
TransmitsYellowLeafdiseaseinasemi-
persistentmanner.
SugarcaneYellowLeafVirus(SCYLV)isa
memberoftheLuteoviridaefamily.
Thevirusislocalizedwithinthephloemcells
oftheplant.

32. Skipper, Telicotaaugias, Hesperiidae, Lepidoptera
14
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
It is found inAustralia, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Indonesia and the Philippines
Symptomofdamage
Leavesfoldedintotubularcells.
Natureofdamage
Larvafoldstheleavesintotubularcellsby
bindingthetowedgestogether.Itfeeds
ontheleavesfrommargininwardsleaving
behindthemidribintact.

33. Gurdaspurborer, Donacoscaptes(Bissetia)
steniellus, Crambidae, Lepidoptera
15
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
India, Pakistan and Vietnam
The female moth lays a batch of 100 to
300 eggs on the midrib of a sugarcane
leaf.
The larvae hatch out after about a
week and make their way into the
stem by drilling holes just above a
node.
They excavate galleries inside the
stem, feeding voraciously.

34. Grasshopper, Oxyavelox, Acrididae, Orthoptera
16
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Global Distribution.Pakistan, Nepal, China: Hainan, Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore,
Srilanka, Thailand, Bangladesh etc.
It'sinappropriate feeding habits on leaf blades
and shoots gradually damage the plant

35. Spiny beetle, Asamanguliacuspidata,
Chrysomelidae, Coleoptera
17
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Minor pest in a few states of subtropical India
Leaf miner

36. Sugarcane mite, Schizotetranychusandropogoni,
Tetranychidae, Acari
18
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
India, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand
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