Distribution of Major Stem Borers of Maize, Sorghum, Rice and Pearl Millet

Lepidopteran cereal stem borers in Africa typically occur as complexes of species, with notable regional variation in their distributions. The noctuids Busseola fusca Fuller and Sesamia calamistis Hampson, and the pyralid Eldana saccharina (Walker), are present throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa, but there are important regional differences in the ecozones they inhabit, and their pest status. In eastern and southern Africa, B. fusca is a major pest of maize and sorghum at medium and high elevations (greater than 1,000 m), while in West Africa, it is considered to be important from sea level to 2,000 m. Sesamia calamistis generally is not a major pest in eastern and southern Africa, whereas in West Africa, this species is one of the most damaging to maize, sorghum and rice. Eldana saccharina is primarily a pest of sugar cane in South Africa, while in West Africa, E. saccharina is a major pest of maize, and attacks sugar cane to a lesser degree. In some areas of East Africa, E....