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, Chilo infuscatellus, Crambidae,
Lepidoptera
1
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Symptom of damage
Deadheart in 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 greyish brown 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 Daincha recorded 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
(unfavourable condition for the multiplication of early shoot borer).
Partial earthing up 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 granulosis virus 1.5 x 13 5 granules / ha (750 diseased
larvae/ha) along with teepol twice on 35 and 50 DAP.
Release 125 gravid females of tachinid parasitoid, Sturmiopsis
inferens per ac
Apply Carbaryl + Sevidol 4% G 12.5 kg, Carbofuron 3G 33 kg (Soil
application)
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

7. Internode borer, Chilo sacchariphagus indicus,
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
stripes and 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.
Detrash the 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, Trichogramma chilonis at 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, Scirpophaga excerptalis, 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 coloured with a red mid-dorsal line
Pupation takes place within the
larval tunnel with an exit hole
White coloured moth (female with anal tuft)
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

12. Management
Use resistant variety CO 419, CO 745 and CO 6516 and tolerant varieties Co 859, Co 1158
and Co 7224
Small earthing up followed by trash mulching
Do not undertake maize, sorghum as intercrops
Prefer paired row system for planting
Remove the dead heart plants and destroy them
Collect and destroy the egg masses
Collection of egg masses on campaign basis once in 4 days initiating the collection from
the day of moth emergence
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

13. Release Ichneumonid larval and prepupal parasitoid, Gambroides (Isotima) javensis @ 100
pairs / ha
Selective destruction of unparasitized eggs by placing the egg masses in 30 mesh nylon bags
that permit escape of adult parasitoids while containg the neonate larvae hatching from
unparasitized eggs
Application of Carbofuran 3G 1 kg a.i/ha or Thimet (Phorate) 10G 3 kg a.i/ha ten days before
the commencement of 3rd brood in sub tropical india
Application is done by opening a small furrow near the root zone, placing the granule
followed by a light irrigation
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

14. Subterranean pests

15. Termites, Odontotermus obesus, Termitidae, Isoptera
4
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Odontotermus obesus
Native to India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Vietnam
The damaged plants dry
up completely and are
easily pulled out. The
plants damaged at later
stages give rise to white
ears.
White cream colored with dark
head

16. White grub, Holotrichia consanguinea,
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 in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh

17. Root aphid, Tetraneura javensis, 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, Camponotus compressus, 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, Aleurolobus barodensis, 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 instar being 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, Neomaskellia bergii, 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, Pyrilla perpusilla, 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 coloured with 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, Kiritshenkella sacchari (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 colour and occurs underneath leaf
sheaths on sugarcane
Management
Use resistant varieties like CO 439, CO 443,
CO 720, CO 730 and CO 7704
Drain excess water from the field.
Detrash the crop on 150 and 210 DAP
Avoid excess usage of Nitrogen fertilizers

25. Scale insect, Melanaphis glomerata, Diaspididae,
Hemiptera
10
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Serious sugarcane pest in Maharashtra, Gujarat and in certain pockets of Andhra
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh
The leaves of infested canes show signs
of tip drying and unhealthy pale green
colour and with continued infestation
these turn yellow.
Desapping leads to non-opening of
leaves also, which also turn yellow and
finally dry up.

26. Use resistant varieties like CO 439, CO 443, CO 453, CO 671, CO 691 and CO 692
Select and plant the scale insect free setts.
Keep the fields and bunds free from weeds.
Avoid water stagnation in the field for the longer period.
Avoid repeated ratoons.
Detrash the crop at 150th and 210th day of planting.
Release Chilocoris nigritus (or) Pharascymnus horni.
Presoak the setts in 0.1% solution malathion.
Spray dimethoate 0.06% or 120th and 150th after detrashing.

27. Sugarcane woolly aphid, Ceratovacuna lanigera,
Aphididae (Pemphigidae), Hemiptera
11
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
East and Southeast Asia
Symptom
Congregation of large number of white coloured nymphs
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 predators viz., Diapha aphidivora , Ishchiodon
scutellaris, Episyrphus baleatus, Chrysopa sp., Schymnus sp., Cheilomenes
sexmaculata, Coccinella septempunctata, Synnonycha grandis, Brumus
sp. and Dideopsis aegrota
Pathogens like Cladosporium oxysporum, Metarhizium anisopliae, Verticillium
lecanii and Beauveria bassiana
Release Encarsia flavoscutellum
Chemical method
Dip the seed sets in Chlorpyripos 20 EC solution (2 ml / lit) before planting
Spray Malathion 50 EC 2 ml / lit

30. Black winged bug, Proutista moesta, 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 disease caused by
Cadidatus Phytoplasma

31. Aphid, Melanaphis sacchari, Aphididae, Hemiptera
13
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Tropical Africa, Asia, the Far East and South America
Transmits Yellow Leaf disease in a semi-
persistent manner.
Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus (SCYLV) is a
member of the Luteoviridae family.
The virus is localized within the phloem cells
of the plant.

32. Skipper, Telicota augias, Hesperiidae, Lepidoptera
14
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
It is found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Indonesia and the Philippines
Symptom of damage
Leaves folded into tubular cells.
Nature of damage
Larva folds the leaves into tubular cells by
binding the tow edges together. It feeds
on the leaves from margin inwards leaving
behind the midrib intact.

33. Gurdaspur borer, 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, Oxya velox, Acrididae, Orthoptera
16
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Global Distribution. Pakistan, Nepal, China: Hainan, Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore,
Srilanka, Thailand, Bangladesh etc.
It's inappropriate feeding habits on leaf blades
and shoots gradually damage the plant

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

36. Sugarcane mite, Schizotetranychus andropogoni,
Tetranychidae, Acari
18
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
India, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand
Propargite 57% EC @ 0.5 ml/lit
Dicofol 18.5% EC @ 2.5ml/lit