Since the introduction of irrigation in the early 1950s major changes in the crop regime have taken place in Israel. These changes had greatly influenced the populations of the four species of corn borers found in Israel. Chilo agamemnon, which was the main pest during the 1960s decreased and the numbers of Sesamia nonagrioides increased. The reduction in the sorghum acreage, caused a decrease in the numbers of Sesamia cretica. In 1981 an increase in the numbers of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, was observed. At present S. nonagrioides and O. nubilalis are the main corn pests in Israel.

Chilo agamemnon was first recorded in Israel in 1959 near the Gaza strip. In the course of 2–3 years it became a very serious pest in the southern parts of the country. Later, the spread of the pest continued throughout the country. Since 1973 a drastic decrease in the populations of C. agamemnon was recorded. The probable reasons for the decrease in the populations of this pest in Israel are:

(1) The relative increase of the areas of sweet corn, which is not its preferable host plant.

(2) Rice and sugar-cane, which are very important host plants in Egypt, are not grown in Israel.

Field experiments against C. agamemnon, carried out when populations were high, showed that dust applications were more effective than sprays.