Biocontrol of lepidopteran pests in sugarcane, maize and rice crops

摘要

Sugarcane, maize and rice are the most important kharif crops in Punjab. For the eco-friendly management of lepidopteran insect pests in these major crops, the augmentative releases of egg parasitoids, Trichogramma chilonis and T, japonicum have beenrecommended (Table 1). These egg parasitoids can be released at farmers' field through laboratory prepared tricho-cards (Fig. 1), which contain parasitized eggs of rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica. The Trichogramma adults emerging from these parasitized eggs use chemical and visual cues to locate host eggs for parasitization. It lays its eggs inside the host egg and completes its development within the host. The larva of this parasitoid feeds internally on host egg contents and finally kills the host. A brief description of lepidopteran pests in sugarcane, maize and rice crops and their management through bioagents is given below:Three species of borers, namely early shoot borer, top borer and stalk borer are very serious in sugarcane crop under Punjab conditions.This article gives a brief description of lepidopteran pests in sugarcane, maize and rice crops and their management through bioagents.