Cane borers

• Significant yield loss including total crop destruction can occur.
• Damage depends on the borer species and cane variety grown. Most severe losses occur with:
  – Top borer (Scirpophaga excerptalis)
  – Ramu shoot borer (Sesamia grisescens)
  – Stalk borer (Chilo sacchariphagus)
  – Stalk borer (Chilo terrenellus)

Description and symptoms

• Adults are medium sized grey or white moths.
• Larvae create tunnels in the stem.
• Feeding may cause damage to the growing point and causes the formation of dead heart in young plants.
• Small holes may be visible on infested stalks.

Spread

• Adult moths are able to fly over short distances.
• Larvae can be spread inside infested planting material.