Sugarcane Borer Control, 1977

Insecticide sprays were applied biweekly in a block of first stubble crop sugarcane (variety CP 61-37) located at Fredrick Brothers Farm near Theriot, Louisiana to determine season-long control of sugarcane borer (SCB) infestations. A randomized complete block experimental design was employed with treatments replicated 4 times. Individual plots were three 24.2 ft rows spaced 6 ft apart (0.01 acre). Each spray concentrate was applied to the sugarcane plant canopy in water at 30 psi with a compressed air knapsack sprayer that delivered 25 gallons of finished formulation per acre, per application. Insecticide applications were begun after internodes were first visible above ground and when 5% of the stalks contained small SCB larvae in leaf sheaths. Four applications of each insecticide were applied; application dates were July 5, 19, Aug 16, 30. The efficacy of individual insecticide treatments was determined at harvest time by comparing the percent internodes bored in treated plots to that bored in untreated plots. Twenty stalks were selected at random from the center row of each plot on September 8 and examined for external signs of SCB entrance and exit holes.