An integrated pest management approach for the control of sugarcane weevil borer, Rhabdoscelus obscurus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract

Treatments with Regent alone and in combination with pheromone trapping of sugarcane weevil borers were assessed in field trials in the Mulgrave area. Results suggest that the combination of insecticidal treatment with pheromone trapping reduce the number of stalks infested as well as number of damage internodes. Rat infestation, however, was an important factor influencing the degree of infestation and biased our results. Weevil borer control can only be efficiently achieved in an Integrated Pest Management approach is implemented taking into consideration other control options. More work is needed to investigate the usefulness of chemical treatment against weevil borers and the economic return following application.