Population dynamics of insect pests of sugarcane in Punjab.

Regular surveys were conducted in the 16 sugar mills located in nine districts of Punjab state from 2001 to 2004 to develop survey schedule for recommending control measures and to determine the spatial pattern and intensity of different sugarcane pests. Among the various pests, stalk borer, top borer, Pyrilla and black bug can be considered as key pests, while early shoot borer, root borer, while grub and whiteflx as localized pests. The third brood of top borer can be controlled on the basis of incidence of second brood. The surveillance can be conducted in the months of April for black bug, Pyrilla, thrips and mite, in June for top borer (II brood), shoot borer and termite in September for top borer (III brood), root borer, gurdaspur borer, whitefly, and Pyrilla and at the time of harvesting for stalk borer.