Status and control of Chilo spp. on cereal crops in Southern Asia

Abstract

In southern Asia, Chilo auricilius Dudgeon, Chilo infuscatellus Snellen, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe), Chilo polychrysus (Meyrick), Chilo suppressalis (Walker), Chilo suppressalis simplex (Butler), Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Kapur), Chilo supermain and Chilo tumidicostalis Hampson are recorded as pests of cereal crops. Chilo partellus causes severe losses in maize, sorghum and rice; Chilo suppressalis, Chilo polychrysus and Chilo supermain are major pests of rice; Chilo auricilius causes damage on both rice and sugar-cane; and Chilo infuscatellus and Chilo sacchariphagus indicus are serious pests of sugar-cane. Chilo suppressalis simplex and Chilo tumidicostalis are minor pests of maize and sugar-cane, respectively. Some of these pyralid borers are minor pests of other cereal crops. The life and seasonal histories of these stem borers and various control measures against them practised in various countries of southern Asia are discussed. The natural enemies of various Chilo species in this region are also listed.