Book Description

An assemblage of approximately twenty moth species belonging to the families Crambidae, Pyralidae and Noctuidae constitute the most important cereal pests in many parts of Africa. The caterpillars of these moths bore into the stems of maize, sorghum, millet and rice, often killing the plant, and are commonly known as stem or stalk borers. The cereals attacked are grown on small farms to feed the farmers and their families and are of great importance as the staple food for the population in most parts of Africa. Complex control measures, including the use of chemicals, are often inappropriate. This book provides the information necessary for pursuing integrated pest management of African cereal stem borers, in particular strategies using natural enemy components. The book begins by characterizing the economically important species by region and by their biology and host plants. The book then describes in detail the taxonomy and rearing techniques for the moths, their larvae and their natural enemies. It includes illustrated keys of species and lists of distributions and hosts, and it concludes with a summary of current control measures and those being investigated.