INTRODUCTION
Maize
stalkborers are serious insect pests in Kenya. Every year
they destroy a great deal of the maize crop. Plants that
are 3 to 5 weeks old are at risk of attack by the stalkborer
caterpillar.
HOW
DOES THE CATERPILLAR GET TO THE CROP?
Moths fly at night and lay eggs on maize plants between
the leaf sheath and the stem on the youngest fully unfolded
leaf. Eggs hatch into caterpillars, which move into the
growing points, where they start to feed.
WHAT
DAMAGE DOES THE PEST CAUSE?
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Death of growing point
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Damage to developing seeds in the cob
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WHAT
CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?
There
are many things you can do. Choose from the list below:
Cultural
control
- Cut
maize stalks after harvest to ground level and leave to
dry.
- Clear
all remains of the previous maize crop after harvest if
the field was heavily attacked by stalkborers.
- Plough
deeply, then harrow.
- Plant
early, at the beginning of the rains or in the next 2 two
weeks.
A pinch per pland in the funnel
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- Start
looking for signs of damage when plants are 2 to 4 weeks
old, depending on the area. If you find damage holes in
the leaves then use any of the following chemicals:
Chemical
control
- Thiodan
3% G - a pinch into the funnel of each plant (1.2 - 1.6
kg/acre).
- Dipterex
2.5% G - a pinch into the funnel of each plant (1.2 - 1.6
kg/acre).
- Bulldock
0.05% G - one shake in the funnel of each plant (3-4 kg/
acre).
- Ambush
0.05%G - one shake per plant in the funnel (3 - 4 kg/acre).
- Pymac
(the residue from pyrethrum processing) - a spoonful of
Pymac should be applied into the funnel of each plant.
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One shake per plant
in the funnel
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Making a mixture
of ash and dried ground pepper
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NATURAL
PRODUCT
You
can make your own control mixture by adding 2 kg ash (2
kg Kimbo tin or one gorogoro) to 50 gm (2 match boxes)
of dried ground pepper. Apply a pinch of the mixture into
the funnel of each plant.
WHEN
DO YOU APPLY CONTROL MEASURES?
Apply
the above products when damage symptoms are noticed
-
4
weeks after planting in high-altitude areas of Western
Kenya, Rift Valley and Central Provinces.
-
2
to 3 weeks after the crop has germinated in the low-altitude
areas.
PROTECTIVE
CLOTHING
Always ensure you wear gloves or plastic bags on your
hands when you are applying these chemicals.
If
you use these simple methods you will not lose your maize
to stalkborers.
For
more information, contact:
Compiled by M Macharia, S Njihia, M Mulaa, JM Songa
MORE INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED FROM
KARI/NJORO PO NJORO
LEAFLET SUPPORTED AND FUNDED BY
GOVT. OF KENYA, DFID & GOVT. OF THE NETHERLANDS
PRODUCED BY
KARI'S PUBLICATIONS UNIT & DEVCOM
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