ABSTRACT

Maize is a host crop for a complex of pests that may cause economic injury throughout the growing season. Management of pest populations on maize requires a combination of preventive and timely responsive actions based on the risks associated with various cultural practices and pest activity observations collected by periodic field inspections. Busseola fusca (Fuller) causes damage by destruction of the growing point in the whorl, loss of photosynthetic leaf area due to foliar feeding, lodging due to burrowing in the stem and extensive damage to young kernels due to feeding of larvae from the second and third generations. Exposing crop residue to direct sunlight or using crop residue for livestock feed or compost can reduce the incidence of diapausing larvae. Sesamia inferens (walker), Noctuidae, Lepidoptera infestation is serious in peninsular region. In Northern part of India, it is prevalent in Rabi season. The larvae feed under the leaf sheath and remaining there in the early stage of growth.