Perspective of the use of biological control agents against important lepidopterous stem borers of tropical cereals

摘要

Lepidopterous stem borers are major pests of rice, maize, sorghum and millets cultivated in the tropical regions. Stem borers are managed by growing pest resistant genotypes, adopting appropriate cultural practices and by applying insecticides. It has been ascertained that misuse/overuse has created several secondary problems in cereal agroecosystems, particularly on the survival and augmentation of natural enemies (predators, parasitoids, pathogens) in their usual habitats. Biological control (BC)is on important component of Integrated Pest Management for stem borers but only recently has it received the attention of scientists, policy makers and farmers. In this review, available information on potential BC agents is gathered and discussed so that future research and development activity in biological control of stem borers can gain momentum and would be widely applied in cereal growing zones.