Spotted sorghum stem borer

Chilo partellus

Nature of damage

  • Leaves damaged by feeding
  • Growing point damaged, resulting in dead heart
  • Stems bored

Signs

  • On the young plants there are rows of oval perforations in the unfolding whorl.
  • Dead heart
  • Lodging

Factors favoring development

  • Mild, cool seasons
  • Continuous host presence
  • Zero-till agriculture
  • Lack of natural predators

Geographic distribution

  • Associated with Gramineaein Australia, Africa and Southeast Asia.

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