Sheckles Farm in the
context of Stalk Borer
control in Jamaica
T Falloon
SIRI
Kendal Road
Mandeville
Background
Sugar Cane Stalk Borer – Diatraea
saccharalis; Lepidoptera: Pyralidae
Damage
Tunnels into stalks
Allows entry of red rot fungus
Causes economic loss mainly by
breakdown and loss of sucrose
May foster stalk breakage
May allow entry of other pests eg weevil
borer
Background
Stalk Borers
Distribution of D. saccharalis: Jamaica and the
New World
Some 20 other borer species in the Americas eg:
D. crambiboides - Fla
D. minimifacta – Trin, Venezuela, Cayenne
D. considerata – Mexico
D. tabernella – Panama
D. centrella – Guyana
D. guatemalella – Guatemala
Castniomera licus – Guyana
Eoreuma loftini - Mexico, Texas
etc
Borer Control
Biological control practiced
throughout the Americas
Exchange of parasites between
countries
Introduction of parasites from
outside the region – eg. Cotesia
flavipes from Pakistan
Florida – biological and chemical
control
Stalk Borer Killed in Field by
Cotesia flavipes
Background
Jamaican Distribution
Borer in all cane growing areas
Heavier damage in arid southern
plains of Clarendon & St Catherine
Borer Damage Levels in Jamaica
Decade % Internodes
Bored
1930s 3.9
1940s 3.6
1950s 4.8
1960s No data
1970s 5.6
1980s 8.2
1990s 9.0
2000s 9.7
Borer Surveys
Caution
Changed geographical configuration of the
Industry
Disappearance of Grays Inn, Serge Island,
Richmond Llandovery, Barnett, United
Estates etc
Surveys often not random but carried out
in response to concerns, or used as
monitoring tool for specific purposes
1980s onwards - bias towards irrigated
areas
Borer Damage – New Yarmouth,
Recent Years
Year % Internodes
Bored
2002
2003 13.0
2004 8.5
2005 8.7
2006 17.8
2007 11.0
2009 13.4
2010 13.6
4.7
Borer Control - New Yarmouth
Site of Cotesia establishment in 1983
Heightened concerns since 1990s
8 -13% internode damage typical
Forced resumption of rearing &
release of Cotesia
Estate set up its own rearing lab in
2004
Discontinued project after 2 years
with no change in damage levels
Cotesia flavipes in Laboratory
Culture Tube
Bio-control Challenges
Antagonism noted between local and
imported species
High levels of local parasite, the
Cuban fly, coinciding with low levels
of Cotesia and vice versa
Very little net gain in total parasitism
High borer populations seem to
coexist with high levels of parasitism
Borer Control - New Yarmouth
2010 – Unexpected turn of events
Borer collection suddenly became difficult
Areas which for years guaranteed a quick
catch were suddenly devoid of borers
Survey results confirmed observations
Damage levels had plummeted to 4.7% -
below the economic damage threshold
Bio-control success? Time will tell.
Expanded Survey Results, 2011
Bernard Lodge % Internodes
Farms Bored
Caymanas South 4.2
Caymanas North 5.0
St Helens 4.3
Salt Pond 4.3
March Pen 5.1
Warwick Castle 4.8
Windsor 5.3
Expanded Survey Results
Monymusk Farms % Internodes
Bored
Exeter 5.4
St Jago
8.2
Expanded Survey Results
Wet West Farms % Internodes
Bored
Appleton 4.5
Raheen
Holland 4.5
6.9
Expanded Survey Results
Wet West Farms % Internodes Bored
Frome, Frome 4.0
Frome, Albany 4.7
Frome, Blue Castle 4.5
Private Farm
**Pinkney’s, Bull 15.5
Head
** Farm showing atypical damage in the Wet West
Extraordinary Damage - Sheckles
farm, 2010
Field Variety % Internodes
Bored
Block 1 BJ78100 16.5
Block 2 BJ7015 27.6
Block 3 BJ7465 13.5
Average 19.2
Unusual susceptibility of BJ7015 exposed. Not observed elsewhere
Sheckles Farm, Clarendon
Borer Parasitism - Sheckles
Unusual mix of parasites noted
Unlike rest of Industry, where Agathis
accounts for less than 1% of parasitism,
at Sheckles this parasite enjoys equal
prominence with the Cuban fly
(Lixophaga):
Agathis 9%; Cuban fly 10%; Cotesia 3%
Borer Parasitism, Sheckles, 2010 &
2011
25.0
% Internodes Bored 20.0
15.0
2010
10.0 2011
5.0
0.0 Tot
Lixophaga Agathis Cotesia
Agathis stigmaterus Cocoon
Agathis stigmaterus - Adult
Sheckles
Isolated cane farm north of Four
Paths
Area totally harvested in 2 weeks
With harvest – sudden removal of
food for the borer
Drop in borer population leads to
drop in associated natural enemies
Lag time between borer
reappearance and parasite build up
leads to explosion in borer
population
Sheckles Isolated from Other Cane
Fields
Proposed Solution
Establish plots of cane to serve as
reservoirs for parasites when fields
are harvested
Reservoirs to be cut out of sync with
the farm ensuring the presence of
standing cane at all times
Intensify parasite release in the area
(tens of thousands released so far in
2011)
Parasite Reservoir Established
Parasite reservoir
Pinkney’s Bullhead Farm
15% Internode damage unusually
high, especially for the Wet West
Frome experiencing <5% damage
Focus of Cotesia releases
Conclusions
The Industry now largely within
acceptable damage levels
Results a vindication of the biological
control programme
Against this trend, there is a major
challenge at Sheckles and to a lesser
extent, Bullhead
Ultimately, these also will be
controlled by biological methods