Biological Control of Sugarcane Top-borer, Scirpophaga excerptalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) through Different Release Levels of Telenomus beneficiens (Zehntner) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

Authors
I. Khan 1
H. Zada 2
S. K. Khalil 3
M. Sharif 4
Z. Mahmood 5
1 The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan
2 Eco-Conservation initiatives, Shahpur, Sargodha, Pakistan.
3 Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
4 Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
5 Department of Maths, Stats and Computer Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Abstract
Telenomus beneficiens is a common egg parasitoid of sugarcane top borer Scirpophaga excerptalis; however, in winter time the incidence of the parasitoid on top borer eggs is extremely low. T. beneficiens adults were released at various time durations into sugarcane plots to evaluate the parasitic potentiality of the parasitoid against sugarcane top-borer. The egg parasitoid T. beneficiens of sugarcane top borer Scirpophaga excerptalis (Walker), was released into four sugarcane plots as once, twice, thrice and quadruple time treatments to compare its parasitic potential as a biological control agent. The four releases of the adult parasitoid were made within a time interval of one month and at a rate of 500 adults per plot. Results revealed a significant control of the pest through all the four treatments. The highest mean parasitism of 42.36±10.84% and lowest mean infestation of 12.05±0.99% was recorded for the treatment of quadruple releases, followed by the triple release plot, where 41.38±10.07% of mean parasitism and 12.61±0.78% of mean infestations were observed. As for the double release plot, 26.56±3.72 and 14.46±1.92% mean parasitism and infestation were recorded respectively, whilst in the single release plot, the corresponding figures equaled to 21.94±2.98 and 16.82 ±2.38% as compared with the check plots (15.71±3.03 and 16.82±2.55 %). It is evidenced that triple release results almost coincide with the quadruple release ones, and hence the triple release of the adult parasitoid is effective enough and recommended for the control of sugarcane top borer, S. excerptalis.

Keywords

1. Anwar, M. S., Ali, H. W., Ahmad, T. and Chatta, A. A. 2004. Integrated Management of Sugarcane Insects. Pak. Sugarcane J. 6: 28-31.
2. Chu, Y. I. 1979. Some Notes on Lepidopterous Rice Insect Pests at Ntu Nava Timor Indonesia (National Taiwan University). Phytopathol. Ent., 6: 38-43.
3. Hamed, M. and Nadeem, S. 2012. Effect of Cereals on the Development of Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and Subsequent Quality of the Egg Parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Pakistan J. Zool., 44(4): 923-929.
4. Hassan, S. A. 1984. Guidelines of the Side Effects of Plant Protection Products on Trichogramma chilonis. In Guideline for Testing the Effect of Pesticides on Beneficial Organisms of 10 BC/ WPRS. Bull. XV3, PP. 18-39.
5. Hikim, I. S. 1979. Egg Parasites of the Yellow Stem Borer in West Bengal. Int. Rice Res. Instit. News Letter, 4: 19.
6. Mohyuddin, A. I., Mohammad, A. and Hamid, A. 1986. Biological and Cultural Controls of Sugarcane Stem Borers in the NWFP. 22nd Ann. Conven. Pak. Soc. Sugarcane Techn., 19-22 September 1986, Peshawar, PP. 251-266.
7. Nadeem, S. and Hamed, M. 2011. Biological Control of Sugarcane Borers with Inundative Releases of Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in Farmer Fields. Pakistan J. Agric. Sci., 48(1): 71-74.
8. Rajapakse, R. H. and Kulasekera V. L. 1980. Egg Parasites of Yellow Stem Borer in Southern Sri Lanka. Int. Rice Res. Instit. News Letter, 5: 18.
9. Ram, P. and Ram, L. 2002. Egg Parasitoids of Yellow Stem Borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) Infesting Basmati in Haryana. J. Insect Sci., 15(1/2): 63-64.
10. Rothschild, G. H. L. 1970. Parasites of Rice Stem Borer in Sarawak (Malaysia, Borneo). Entomophaga, 15: 21-51.
11. Saxena, A. P. 1977. Role of Egg Parasites in the Control of Sugarcane Borers (Lepidoptera). Zet. Angew. Ent., 84(3): 299 – 30.
12. Sithanantham, T. H., Abera, T. H., Baumgaryner, J., Hassan, S. A., Lohr, B., Monje, J. C., Overholt, W. A., Paul, A. V. N., Wan, F. H. and, Zebitz, C. P. W. 2002. Egg Parasitoids for Augmentative Biological Control of Lepidopteron Vegetables Pest and Needs. Insect Sci. Appl., 21(3): 189-205.
13. Thornton, I. W. B., Marshall, A. T. and Kwan, W. H. 1975. Studies on Lepidopterous Pests of Rice Crops in Gong Kong with Particular Reference to the Yellow Stem Borer, Tryporyza incertulas (Walk). Pest Articles News Summaries, 21(3): 239-252. (www.Trophort.com)
14. Vu Quang, G. and Nguyen van, S. 1987. The Effectiveness of Egg Parasites and Types of Egg Mass in Lepidopterous Rice Pests. Zoologicheskn Zhurnat, 66: 60-65.
Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume 16, Issue 3
May and June 2014
Pages 497-503