BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF SUGARCANE BORERS WITH INUNDATIVE RELEASE OF TRICHOGRAMMA CHILONIS (ISHII) (HYMENOPTERA: TRICHOGRAMMATIDAE) IN FARMER FIELDS

Releases of Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), were made in farmer’s fields in Shorkot, District Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan on three sites covering eight locations for the biological control of sugarcane borers, (Scirpophaga nivella F.; Chilo infuscatellus Snellen; Emmalocera depressella Swin. and Acigona steniella (Hampson) in 2005. Perusal of data revealed that an average borer damage decreased to 43.1% at Chak 496/JB, 42.3% at Chak 701/43-GB and 35.1% at Chak 411/JB in biological control plots in comparison to check plots. Comparison of borer damage between bio-control and check fields in different sites showed effectiveness of T. chilonis to suppress the borer damage below to economic threshold level.