Pest status and dynamic of sugarcane stemborer (Eldana saccharina) in sugarcane plantations of Nyabugogo tropical Wetland, Rwanda

Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date (Issue Year)

2025

Journal Name

International Journal of Tropical Insect Science

Abstract

Lepidopteran species richness and composition are influenced by complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors that operate on different spatial scales. This study investigated the diversity and population structure of sugarcane stemborers across three phenotypically distinct sugarcane varieties: green, red, and white-powdery (CO 421) within the Nyabugogo Tropical Wetland ecosystem. Additionally, seasonal variation and the effects of gradual removal of older leaves-an important sanitation practice on stemborer population dynamics were evaluated between May and November 2023. During the investigation, 899 stemborer individuals were recorded from 601 infested stems out of 5400 examined stems. The results revealed that Eldana saccharina Walker (1865) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was the predominant species. Infestation levels were highest during the dry season, accounting for 31.4% (July) and 23% (August). This species showed a clear preference for green sugarcane (55.5%) compared to red (37.59%) and CO 421 (6.91%) varieties. The analysis indicated a strong negative correlation between E. saccharina and rainfall (r = -0.80, P <  0.05) across both treated (removal of older leaves) and untreated sugarcane (r = -0.83, P <  0.05). Conversely, there was a positive correlation with temperature (r = 0.76, 0.82; P <  0.05). In conclusion, this study highlights the significant influence of rainfall, temperature, and the sanitation practice of removal of older leaves on population dynamics of E. saccharina and the overall levels of infestation in the sugarcane plantation

Keywords

Pest status, sugarcane stemborer (Eldana saccharina), sugarcane plantations, Nyabugogo tropical Wetland, Rwanda

Grantee Name(s)

Elie Ntirenganya

Type of Grant

DOCTAS (JIRA) – Carnegie Grant

Funding Statement

This work was funded by the Partnership for Applied Skills in Sciences, Engineering and Technology-Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (PASET-Rsif) and Carnegie Corporation of New York.

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