Current status of natural enemies with special reference to parasitoids and predators of major stem borers of cereals

Stem borers are most destructive insects in the world and seriously lilmits the production of cereal grains. Large number of natural enemies of stem borers have been identified for their potential use in biological control programmes. However, further studies are needed before their effective use in biological control progrilmmes. Amongst the parasotoids, Braconids accounts 35 per cent of parasitoids recorded on sorghum stem borer, Chilo partellus and 45 per cent found on Diatraea spp. Attempts have been made to establish natural enemies of Chilo partellus in India and Africa. Besides parasitolds and predators few pathogens have also been tried against various cereal stem borers. This review provides. exhaustive details of parasitoids, predators and microbial agents recorded on stem borers of cereals.