Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2009
Sugar-cane is subject to the attack of a number of insect pests of which the moth borers—Diatraea sticticraspis, Hmps., D. venosata, Walk., Scirpophaga auriflua, Zell. and S. rhodoproctalis Hmps.—are the most serious. During the course of our investigations on Scirpophaga, seven larval parasites, viz., Elasmus zehntneri, Ferr., Stenobracon nicevillei, Bingh., S. deesae, Cam., Iphiaulax famulus, Bingh., Goniozus sp. n., Rhaconotus scirpophagae, Wilkn., and a new species of Rhaconotus have been noted. A paper on “ Studies on Elasmus zehntneri, Ferr., a parasite of the sugar-cane moth borer (Scirpophaga) ” by the authors has already been published. The present paper gives detailed information on the habits and life-history of Stenobracon nicevillei and its efficacy in controlling the pest.