Challenges and opportunities in handling stem borers, Diatraea spp.

Stem borers, Diatraea spp., are the most important pests of sugarcane in the Cauca River Valley.
Its level of damage, defined by the percentage of bored internodes in the total number of internodes evaluated, has been
increasing in the sugar region since 2012.

The increase is due to the appearance of two new species: D. tabernella, in the northern part of the valley, and D.busckella, In
central zone, which are characterized by being more aggressive than those known before, D. saccharalis y D.indigenella.

Coordinated actions are being taken to manage the outbreak, involving mills, growers, laboratories
producers of biological controllers and Cenicaña.

Damage assessment, the kind of Diatraea, the variety of sugarcane, the quality of the parasitoids released and the availability of nectar for the natural enemies that feed on the pest are the key aspects of control.