MATING DISRUPTION OF MEXICAN RICE BORERS (LEPIDOPTERA-PYRALIDAE) IN LOWER RIO-GRANDE VALLEY SUGARCANE

Mating disruption of Mexican rice borers, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), by s ynthetic pheromone applications in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) was inve stigated in large-scale field studies. Mating disruption was assessed using pheromone trapping, mating tables, stalk dissections, and noctur nal collections of adults. Pheromone traps were inappropriate for moni toring mating disruption. Mating tables supplied useful information bu t overestimated effects of pheromone applications on mating activities of feral rice borer populations. Adult collections and dissections su pplied the least ambiguous assessment of mating activities, but were i nterpreted most easily in the presence of other substantiating data. P heromone applications formulated in rubber ships or microporous beads and applied in a polybutene-based adhesive did not result in appreciab le levels of mating disruption, and did not control rice borer populat ions or reduce associated stalk injury levels.