Concepts of areawide management of the Mexican rice borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

摘要

As the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), approaches the Louisiana sugarcane and rice areas, cultivar resistance, insecticides, and cultural practices are being studied as possible strategies for minimising the effects of infestation on cropyields and reducing areawide pest populations. Resistant sugarcane cultivars have shown potential in reducing E. loftini populations. Both salt and drought stress enhance injury and moth production on sugarcane; therefore, stress management is likely tobe important in controlling E. loftini when the insect reaches Louisiana. Oviposition on sugarcane occurs exclusively on dry leaves. Thus, the use of sugarcane cultivars with reduced numbers of dry leaves to minimise oviposition may provide a significantcontribution to reduce infestations on sugarcane. Insecticides can reduce injury, but require numerous applications at relatively high rates throughout the season and are likely not to become a major tool for controlling this pest. The most severely damaging pest problems occur on sugarcane, but areawide buildup of populations may be substantially enhanced with some rice cultivars. Our studies indicate the importance of incorporating a diversity of management tactics involving resistant cultivars and effective cultural practices to impact on the population dynamics of multi-crop pests in a given area.