

136 PESTS OP CANE, MAIZE, AND SORGliUfli. 



Within this scale it completes its larval life, transforms to the pupa, 

 and finally emerges as a tiny moth-like flying insect ; there are now two 

 pairs of wings, and both sexes are to be found. These mate, eggs are 

 laid and the life history recommences. 



This pest is common on cane in widely separated parts of India. 

 Like other sucking insects, it is more numerous on weak cane, proving a 

 serious pest if it once becomes abundant. The plant steadily loses vigour 

 as the result of the constant drain of sap, and unless it is growing freely 

 becomes stunted and yellow. 



Parasites attack the scales and it is not uncommon to find a large 

 percentage destroyed. The pest cannot be treated once it becomes well 

 established, and everything possible should be done to prevent infection of 

 the young canes, either from the plant canes used or from neighbouring 

 fields of uncut canes. 



If the pest appears on young canes, the infested leaves should be 

 removed. Poor canes that are not growing vigorously are sure to suffer 

 from such pests ; a vigorous healthy cane may become infested but suffers 

 little from the insect. In most cases the insect is a sign of a poor cane, 

 just as lice and ticks are of an unhealthy bullock, and the radical course 

 is to grow a better cane or manure it more highly. 



The cultivators of Gujarat regard this disease (most) as a very serious 

 one and state that it decreases the yield from 100 maunds to 30 and renders 

 the cane unfit for seed. They adopt no remedy but withhold irrigation in 

 the belief that if the plant's growth is checked that of the pest will be checked 

 also. This is probably erroneous. They also state that mist and damp kill 

 the pest. The Behar cultivator has a similar belief in the destructiveness 

 of the pest (lahi) but appears to adopt no remedy against it. 



Minor Pests of Sugarcane. 



The Rice Grasshopper (page 119) is reported as attacking sugarcane 

 but is not generally a pest of this crop. The Rice Leptispa (page 201) is 

 also reported as feeding on sugarcane leaves, and the Sugarcane Hispa is 

 actually found on cane but does no harm. 



Termites or white-ants are serious enemies especially to young cane. 



Three borers have been found by Mr. M. Mackenzie in Behar, and 

 these are as yet little known. The larva of the Gold-fringed Moth * attacks 

 cane much as the moth-borer does ; the Green Borer 2 attacks the portion 

 of the cane below the soil, and a third borer 8 is found in the stalk. 



1 122. Chilo auricilia. Ddgn. (Pyralidse.) | 2 146. Anerastia allutella. Zell. (Pyralidge.) 

 :i 149. Polyocha saccharella. Ddgn. (Pyralidse.) 



