Biological Control of Chilo sacchariphagus on the Indian Ocean Islands and Africa

Over 150 years ago, C. sacchariphagus was introduced from Java to the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius, Réunion and Madagascar in cane cuttings. The biology of this insect is similar to that of other sugarcane borers like Eldana saccharina in Africa or Diatraea saccharalisin the A mericas. Damage is caused by the larvae, which penetrate into the stalk internodes where they feed until pupation. In terms of economic losses, damage results in a significant lowering of cane tonnage and, to a lesser extent, in a loss of sugar due to the inversion of saccharose, and to impurities in the juice. On a susceptible variety, the loss in cane weight is estimated to range from 10 to 30 tons per hectare, depending on the growing conditions. This pest has been increasing in some cane producing areas of the island due to the adoption of new varieties, and since 1994 it has been the subject of research to devise an integrated control program. Recent results from field experiments suggest new...