Survey of some major insect pests of sugarcane ecosystem from Tumsar tehsil of Bhandara district, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Sugarcane is known as cash crop and soul of sugar industry. Maharashtra is one of the vital states in which sugarcane production is main source of earning to the farmers. More than 200 species of insect and non-insect pests have been reported for causing damage to the sugarcane crop in India. This paper deals with study of sugarcane pests diversity from Tumsar Tehsil of Bhandara District, Maharashtra, India during 2024-25 to 2025-26. In this field survey we found 22 various insect pests which attacks on sugarcane crop. Among these 12 pests were major while 10 were minor pests belong to seven orders of class Insecta. Most of the observed insect pests belong to the order Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Isoptera, Orthoptera, Odonata and Rodentia (Non-insect). Due to their infestation the quality and yield of sugarcane get reduced. The diversity of insect pest on sugarcane crops, nature of pests and their damage were evaluated. This study strengthens in future for the application of species-specific biological control in sugarcane crops field that will lead towards sustainability of agro-ecosystem.