A review on pink stem borer, Sesamia inferens Walker: A threat to cereals

Abstract

Cereals are the edible seeds or grains of the grass family, Gramineae. A number of cereals are grown in different countries including rice, wheat, maize, rye, oats, barley, triticale, millet and sorghum. Cereals are staple foods and are important sources of nutrients in both developed and developing countries. Cereals and cereal products are an important source of energy, carbohydrate, protein and fibre as well as containing a range of micronutrients such as vitamin E, some of the B vitamins, magnesium and zinc. Due to the insect pests there were severe damage into seed yield as well as seed quality during various crop stages. Among different species of insects attacking cereals, stem borers are most damaging insects. Pink stem borer Sesamia inferens assumed major pest status in recent time in cereals and has known to cause dead hearts, earheds and reduction in yield losses. The grain yield losses due to S. inferens in maize cultivars vary from 25.7 to 78.9%. The authors tried here to collect the information about taxonomic position, distribution, host range and crop losses, seasonal abundance, nature of the damage as well as control measures including IPM strategies.