Biocontrol strategy for the management of sugarcane insect pests

Sugarcane is a perennial crop harbors number of natural enemies. These natural enemies play important role for maintaining pest population. Physical growth of the crop and availability of insect pests round the year give ample scope for the exploitation of biocontrol agents in the managements of sugarcane insect pests.

In India Trichogramma chilonis, an egg parasitoid has been in use against sugarcane borers since long. This parasite is being mass multiplied and released in large number against cane borers. Later on other larval parasitoids like Cotesia flavipes, Isotima javensis etc., and nymphal and adult parasitoid, Epiricania melanoleuca  has been used against different target pests. In recent past, shoot borer granulosis virus and muscardine fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana have been used in management of sugarcane insect pests.

The following table gives methodology of managing insect-pests of sugarcane through bioagents.

Crop stage	Pest covered	Management practice
March to June	Shoot borer	1.  Release of egg parasitoid, Tricogramma chilonis @ 50, 000/ha at 7 days interval in southern India
		2. Foliar spray of shoot borer grainulosis virus (G. V. ) 107 - 109­ IB/ml in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
		3. Release of Sturmiopsis inferens @ 125 gravid female/ha in coastal Tamil Nadu
	Pyrilla	Conservation  of  nymphal and egg parasite, Epricania melanoluca in endemic pockets
July to October	Root borer, stalk borer, internode borer, Gurdaspur borer	Release of egg parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis @ 50,000/ha at 10 days interval
July to August	Top borer	Release of Isotima javensis @ 125/ha
July to September	Pyrilla	1.  Redistribution of Epiricania melanoleuca from heavily parasitized field to low parasitized field or
		2. Foliar spray so Metrhizium anisopliae @ 107  spores/ml or
		3. Release of 250/ha adults of pyrilla loaded with Metrhizium anisopliae spore dust.
November onwards	Stalk borer	Foliar spray 107  spores/ml of Beauveria bassiana
	Black bug	Release of black bug adults loaded with spores of Beauveria bassiana @ 5000 adults/ha.