Effect of Sugarcane Borer Infestation on the Yield and Grade of Corn

Abstract

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), is a pest of sugar cane in portions of Louisiana. It was studied in an effort to determine the effect of infestation on the yield and grade of corn. Various degrees of borer damage were obtained by applying endrin granules on different schedules to corn growing in an area having a previous history of severe sugarcane borer infestation. High infestations of this insect caused a reduction in yield and grade of corn. Differences in yield resulted from (1) reduction in the number of primary ears which contained whole kernels, (2) a reduction in ear size and (3) a lowering of the weight per bushel of grain.