Moth Borers of Sugarcane with Colored Illustrations

Contents: Preface. 1.  Introduction. 2. Brief history, identification and naming of moth borers of sugarcane in India. 3. An overview of sugarcane moth borers in India. 3a. List of plates on an overview of sugarcane moth borers in India. 4. Top borer, Scirpophaga excerptalis (Walker). 4a. List of plates on Top borer, Scirpophaga excerptalis (Walker). 5. Root borer, Emmalocera depressella (Swinhoe). 5a. List of plates on Root borer, Emmalocera depressella (Swinhoe). 6. Green borer, Raphimetopus ablutella (Zeller). 6a. List of plates on Green borer, Raphimetopus ablutella (Zeller). 7. Pink borer, Sesamia inferens (Walker). 7a. List of plates on Pink borer, Sesamia inferens (Walker). 8. Early shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus Snellen. 8a. List of plates on Early shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus Snellen. 9. Stalk borer, Chilo auricilius Dudgeon. 9a List of plates on Stalk borer, Chilo auricilius Dudgeon. 10. Internode borer, Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Kapur). 10a. List of plates on Internode borer, Chilo sacchariphagus indicus (Kapur). 11. Gurdaspur borer, Acigona steniellus (Hampson). 11a. List of plates on Gurdaspur borer, Acigona steniellus (Hampson). 12. Plassey borer, Chilo tumidicostalis (Hampson). 12a. List of plates on Plassey borer, Chilo tumidicostalis (Hampson). 13. Maize or Sorghum borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe). 13a. List of plates on Maize or Sorghum borer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe). 14. Keys to the identification of sugarcane moth borers (Based on larval and pupal characters). 14a. List of plates on keys to the identification of sugarcane moth borers (Based on larval and pupal characters). 15. Important bio-agents of sugarcane moth borers. 15a. List of plates on important bio-agents of sugarcane moth borers. 16 Selected References. Appendices.

In India, in the overall insect pests' scenario of sugarcane, moth borers alone account for around 55-60% of the total crop loss. The book Moth borers of Sugarcane is a visual treat of photographs that unfolds the borer complex of sugarcane in a lucid manner spanning 649 pages. In fact, it is a cornerstone publication on Sugarcane Entomology. The first Technical Bulletin on this subject "Identification of the striped moth borers of sugarcane in lndia" (20 pages) was published by Mr. B. D. Gupta in 1958. It was felt that a revision with the current knowledge would be appropriate to cater the present needs. The author fervently took up this challenge to develop an identification manual of the important moth borers of sugarcane that even a nonprofessional could use with confidence. The present publication, in addition to the striped borers, encompasses other important moth borers of sugarcane. Moreover, it also contains information on symptoms of infestations, different life stages of the moth borers and key identifying characters for each stage of the life cycle. It is often axiomed that "A picture is worth a thousand words". Obviously, a good colour photograph speaks volumes and often leaves an indelible impression on the mind of the reader that words and explanations cannot do. This publication bridges the longstanding gap of a comprehensive publication detailing the easily identifiable characters of moth borers of sugarcane with suitable and vivid colour photographs of symptoms of infestations as well as different life stages of the pest. To be honest, it is not a scientific treatise on moth borers of sugarcane written for the use and training of Entomologists. Rather it is intended to serve the more humble but useful purpose of a manual of practical information for the use of the farmers, extension personnel and cane development workers who are interested to learn about the moth borer pests of sugarcane. At the end, a chapter on the identification of important bio-agents that are commonly used to contain these borer pests has been added.