AN INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR ELDANA SACCHARINA IN THE MIDLANDS NORTH REGION OF KWAZULU-NATAL

Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) infestation in sugarcane in the Midlands North region of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa was first found in 1988 on six farms in the Table Mountain/Bishopstowe area, when a maximum of 19 E. saccharina/100 stalks (e/100) was recorded. Since then, E. saccharina has been found in this area every year. In 1993/94 infestation peaked, with populations being found on 32 farms; and a maximum of 114 e/100 being recorded. During 2003/04 E. saccharina was found on 14 farms, with a maximum of 129 e/100 being recorded in the worst infected field. Surveys in wetland areas and along river lines in the Midlands North region in 2001/02 showed E. saccharina to be present in the sedges Cyperus dives C.B.CL. and occasionally in Cyperus latifolius Poir. Encouragingly, while doing these surveys, parasitoids were found on E. saccharina larvae. Using this knowledge, the already well known management practices to control E. saccharina and resistant varieties, an environmentally friendly integrated pest management system (IPMS) was developed to reduce populations of E. saccharina to below economic threshold levels. This paper describes the principles used in the development of the IPMS, so that it aligns with the environmental management system currently in place and complies with the best management practice (BMP) for sugarcane farming adopted by growers in the area. The IPMS will use a local farm with a long history of E. saccharina infestations as a case study, to show how preventative management practices can influence pest numbers and subsequent spread.