Chilo sacchariphagus Bojer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a sugarcane stalk borer indigenous to South East Asia, and the nearby Indonesian Islands, was identified from African sugarcane in Mozambique in 1999. Prior to a classical biocontrol programme being implemented against it, intensive pre-release surveys for the presence of any indigenous natural enemies on life stages of the borer were completed. Negligible parasitism of larval and pupal stages was recorded. In contrast, egg batches found were heavily parasitised. Parasitoid adults emerging from the eggs were found to be only the indigenous Trichogramma bournieri Pintureau & Babault (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Aspects of the impact of T. bournieri on C. sacchariphagus eggs in Mozambican sugarcane are presented, and the potential of using this egg parasitoid against C. sacchariphagus in an augmentation biocontrol programme is discussed.

The phototaxis of insects is closely related to light source factors, such as spectrum and light intensity. The cane grub, Exolontha castanea Chang (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae), is an important underground pest of sugarcane in Guangxi province of China. To clarify the effect of spectral sensitivity and light intensity response on the phototactic behavior of E. castanea, the phototactic behavior responses of male and female adults to 13 monochromatic lights in the wavelength range of 365–630 nm and different light intensities were measured. We found that both male and female adults had positive phototaxis to 13 monochromatic lights. The phototactic response rate of males and females at ultraviolet and violet light was the highest in the wavelength range of 365–420 nm. Among them, the most sensitive spectrum of females and males was at 365 nm and 420 nm, respectively. From the intensity response of phototactic behavior to different spectrum, the G1 (strong phototaxis) response rates of females at 365 nm and males at 420 nm were the highest. In addition, the phototactic response rate of females and males increased with the light intensity, showing a significant positive correlation. This study showed that the spectrum and light intensity were the key factors affecting the phototactic behavior of E. castanea. The sensitive spectrum of males and females were different, with a similar trend in phototaxis.