UPDATES

Published by the SRA-La Granja Agricultural Research and Extension Center La Granja, La Carlota City Negros Occidental, Philippines ? 0973-222-810
Vol. 3 No. 3 February 1999

SRA-LGAREC

TRICHOGRAMMA: BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT AGAINST SUGARCANE STEMBORERS

MELANIE C. ALBA & ROSENIE G. ENTIMA

Trichogramma is a potential biological control agent against sugarcane stemborers in the Philippines. It is an egg parasitoid that kills the pest before it can cause any damage to the plant.

There are four species of Trichogramma against sugarcane stemborers. These are T. chilonis, T. chilotraeae, T. bactrae and T. nana. It takes 7-9 days for Trichogramma to complete its life cycle.

FIELD APPLICATION OF TRICHOGRAMMA a. Rate of Application: ? ? Start application on 1 month old canes. ? ? Apply 5 strips per hectare/application for 8 applications. ? ? The first 4 applications are made at 2+ days interval (ex. If 1st application is Monday, next will be Thursday and so forth). ? ? The 5th to the 8th applications are made at weekly intervals. b. Method of application Prior to field application, allow the parasite (Trichogramma) to emerge in the container (any glass container with cover). In releasing the adult parasite, open and slightly tap the container to free the parasite while going around the field. While at the center of the field, remove the strips from the container and randomly distribute them by clipping the strips on the plants. The recommendation for Trichogramma application should be followed to get positive result in the control of sugarcane stemborers. This is more of prevention than control measure. There is no danger of the parasitoid becoming a pest of crops in the future. c. Precautions ? ? Do not place the Trichogramma strips in an open container near hot places and keep it away from ants. ? ? Refrigerate the strips (in the vegetable crisper only) if not applied on the day indicated. ? ? Remove the Trichogramma strips from the refrigerator a day before field application. ? ? Ask the distributing center for the date of application. /glr ECONOMICS Cost of application in one cropping season is estimated at P240.00 per hectare.