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Plantwise is a CABI-led global initiative. www.plantwise.org
PEST MANAGEMENT DECISION GUIDE: GREEN AND YELLOW LIST
Maize Stem Borer
Busseola fusca, Chillo partellus, Chillo orichocellelus, Sesamiacalamistis
Stem damage on maize stalk
by African Maize Stem Borer
(Anne Bruntse BioVision)
Stalkborer larvae (about 8
mm) feeding inside maize
stem. Notice brown frass
deposits (Anne Bruntse
BioVision)
Prevention Monitoring Direct Control Direct Control Restrictions
Immediately after harvest of previous
crop practise early land preparation
during dry season to expose the pupa
to heat and the predators.
Use plant tolerant varieties like;
KDH4SBR, KDH5, KEMBU 214, EMB
0702, KATEH 2007-3, MTPEH 0703
varieties for mid altitude, H614 D for
higher altitude
Crop rotation with either root crops or
legumes other than sorghum and pearl
millet. Rotating with legumes improves
soil nutrients and maize plants’ ability
to tolerate stem borers
Plant early in rainy periods
Intercrop with legumes
Use push-pull strategy: Plant
Desmodium in between maize rows to
repel stalk borers from the maize.
Plant Napier grass along the borders
of the maize as a trap crop to pull stalk
borers away from the maize.
After harvest, destroy crop
residues(e.g. old stalks) in order to kill
larvae and pupae in stems OR chop
the plants and feed to livestock or
make silage, incorporate into the soil.
This kills the pupae in the old stems to
prevent carry over population the
following season
Three weeks after
planting, begin
inspecting maize
plants two times
per week.
Continue
inspecting plants
until flowering
Observe plants
for holes in leaves
and dead hearts
Consider carrying
out early controls
when 3 – 10% of
young plants in
population are
damaged
In the later stages
of the infestation,
larvae bore into
upper maize
stalks and dead-
heart symptoms
appear. At this
stage, control
measures are too
late because
larvae are
protected inside
the stalks
Early control of
young larvae that
have not yet entered
stalks
Put handful of soil
onto into leaf funnel
of infested plants-
this suffocates the
larvae as rain seals
the soil
Put one bottle cap of
ash dust into leaf-
funnel of young plant
Grind Tephrosia and
put one pinch at the
funnel of the plant
Apply ground Neem
powder – a pinch per
plant onto the funnel
of young plants
Apply hot pepper +
Ash – rate 50gm/2kg
ash and put a pinch
per funnel onto
young plants at knee
height
Deltamethrin 25g/L Deltamethrin (WHO Class II).
Toxic to aquatic organisms.
Do not spray near water
sources.
High risk to bees and other
arthropods. Do not spray to
flowering plants.
Bacillus thuringiensis WHO III (slightly hazardous)
Trichlorofon 2.5%
m/m
WHO II (moderately hazardous)
Mode of action:
Organophosphates
Chlorpyrifos 480g/L or
40.8% m/m)
WHO II
Mode of action:
Organophosphate
Pre- harvest interval 21days
MRL 0.02mg/kg
Always use PPE and follow the
instructions on the product label
(dosage, timing of application
and Pre- Harvest Interval)
Kenya
CREATED/UPDATED:July 2013
AUTHOR/S:Margaret Mulaa (CABI), Miriam Otipa (KARI), MaryLucyOronje (CABI), Eunice K. Ringera (KEPHIS)
EDITED BY:Erica Chernoh (CABI-CH) and Melanie Bateman (CABI-CH)
LOSE LESS, FEED MORE
Plantwise is a CABI-led global initiative. www.plantwise.org
PEST MANAGEMENT DECISION GUIDE: GREEN AND YELLOW LIST
