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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #288192
Title: Integrated pest management of the Pyralid stalkborers, Eoreuma loftini and Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera)

Author
item Legaspi, Jesusa

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/26/2012
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sugarcane represents an important commodity crop in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The primary insect pest of sugarcane is the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini followed by the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera) which cause substantial economic damage. We quantified the relationships between stalkborer damage and sugar yield and quality. We also compared damage estimates and sugar quality between the important sugarcane varieties in the region. Several control methods were evaluated such as biological and chemical control, and host plant resistance as part of an integrated pest management strategy against the pyralid stalkborers. These included native and exotic parasites, nematodes, pheromones, entomopathogens, biorational insecticides, and conventional resistant and transgenic sugarcane varieties. We found that the most promising compatible control methods against E. loftini and D. saccharalis were the use of biological control and host plant resistance.