Overview of the use of biocontrol agents in the control of Indonesian sugarcane borers

Abstract

Sugarcane-borers complex in Indonesia consists of a shoot borer (Scirpophaga excerptalis) and four stem borers (Chilo sacchariphagus, C. auricilius, Sesamia inferens and Tetramoera schistaceana). Control of these borers is carried out biologically through the release of egg parasitoid Trichogramma spp. There are four species of mass-produced egg parasitoids and are used in the borer control program, namely Trichogramma japonicum, T. chilonis, T. nanum, and T. minutum. During this time, to measure the level of effectiveness of egg parasitoid releases was through the level of stalk damage. The effectiveness of the release of egg parasitoid should be measured through the mortality rate of borer eggs or parasitization level by the parasitoid. The observations in sugar cane plantations with release and without release of the Trichogramma spp. showed that releases of T. japonicum and T. chilonis were not effective in causing borer egg mortality. The level of parasitization of the borers’ eggs in both plantations was not significantly different, and the parasitization of sugarcane borer eggs was observed mostly due to natural egg parasitoid species, such as Tetrastichus sp., Telenomus sp., and T. chilonis. Biological control of the sugarcane borer complex by mass release of egg parasitoid needs to be reviewed.