Buseola fusca is a major pest of maize and sorghum .Discuss its biology, damage and management in regard to these cereal crops.

      

Buseola fusca is a major pest of maize and sorghum .Discuss its biology, damage and management in regard to these cereal crops.

  

Answers


Jim
-Is a major pest maize and sorghum.
-Young caterpillar feed on young shoots in the funnel and tender shoot and cause symptoms called dead hearts.
- The stage of the plant attacked is critical to production of dead hearts.
-Larval feeding on the leaves produces x-ristic windows on folding leaves.
-In the 3rd instar the caterpillar leave the funnel and eat in the lower part of the stalk where they feed and pupate.
-2nd generation occurs when the plant in nearing maturity where caterpillar eat on the cob of maize or upper part of sorghum.
-1st generation causes yield loss i.e reduction of size of the crop.
-2nd generation feeds on the cob and the grain formed.
- Greater yield loss is caused by the 1st generation and is more in maize than sorghum. Sorghum produces tillers to compensate.
-The adults are moth wing span of 35mm . Forewing are darkish brown while hind wings are reddish brown.
-Lays up to 400 eggs.
-1st generation lays eggs beneath the shealth, which hatch in 10 days
-2nd generation lays eggs on the fold leaves and developing cobs.
-Hatch as small caterpillars which are light to dark violet to pinkish white, with dark spots on the sides.
-Larval development takes 35-40 days with 5 – 6 instars.
-Pupa in the stalk takes 14 days and are brown in colour.
-Life cycle takes 70 days.

In the 2nd generation larval stages goes into diapose in the stalk during dry season. The diapose is broken on the onset of the rains and comes out in 14 days.

Management.
-Use of chemicals.
-Destruction of crop residues.
-Early planting in a large area at the same time.
-Elimination of grasses within the vicinity.
-Enforcement of closed season for at least 2 months.

jim items answered the question on March 11, 2019 at 15:53


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