Stem-borer

Scientific name: Sesamia inference Walker
Description A serious pest in peninsular India. Moth is medium sized stoutly built having straw coloured forewings with a mid longitudinal dark brown broad triangular streak. Hind wings are white. Moths lay eggs in clusters inside the leaf-sheaths. Nature of damage The larvae of stem borer, feed on leaf sheath for about a week and then bore inside the stem causing dead-hearts at the vegetative and reproductive phases and white ears at ripening, which could be easily pulled out.
Control Measures Hand picking of infested tillers and their destruction reduces borer attack.  Spray 1.4 liters of monocrotophos 36SL or 2.5 liters of chlorpyriphos 20EC or 2.0 liters of quinalphos 20AF in 250 liters of water per ha.