Influence of Egg Parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis Ishii on Sugarcane Stem Borer (Chilo infuscatellus Snellen) in Pakistan

Sugarcane is one of the major cash crops in pakistan,which is attacked by borers. among all sugarcane stem borer,chilo infuscatellus snellen (lepidoptera: pyralidae) is a major pest of cane while trichogramma chilonis ishii. (hymenoptera: trichogrammatidae) is well known egg parasitoid used as management tool for the control of borers in ipm. the study was conducted on the efficacy of different release rates of t. chilonis against sugarcane stem borer and to check the infestation level of sugarcane stem borer and their management by release of t. chilonis egg cards. correlation of abiotic factors,percent infestation and reduction were recorded on low and high numbers of egg parasitoids. t. chilonis cards were installed monthly while percent infestation was calculated after 4,8 and 12 days interval. results revealed that all the treated plots significantly reduced borers infestation compared to check plots. among low to high treatments minimum infestation (3.45±0.13%) was recorded in highest parasitized egg cards treated plot t5 (75,000 parasitized eggs/acre). reduction in infestation was release-rate dependent. t5 showed maximum reduction 5.37%,4.40% and 4.38% in the months of july,august and september,respectively. results indicated that application of t. chilonis egg cards is effective,cheap and environment friendly substitute for the chemical control in managing the sugarcane borers. copyright 2016 zoological society of pakistan.