Occurrence and Distribution of Maize Stem Borers in Some Selected Local Government Areas of Niger State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Maize is one of the cereal crops cultivated for food, feed and as industrial raw materials. Stem borers have been the most damaging group of insect pests in maize cultivation worldwide. Feeding by borer larvae on maize plants usually results in crop losses as a consequence of death of the growing point (dead heart), early leaf senescence, reduced translocation, lodging and direct damage to the ears. To ascertain this, a survey of maize stem borers was conducted in selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Niger state (Bida, Bosso, Chanchaga, Gbako, Paikoro, Wushishi) from June to August 2017. Three farms were surveyed in each LGAs for stem borer larvae, the larvae obtained were caged differently based on LGAs and reared to adults, then taken to Insect Museum at Department of Crop protection, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State for identification. The results showed that species of Sesamia calamistis were found to be prevalent in the maize fields in the six LGAs of Niger state. Also result of Analysis revealed that Gbako local government area had the highest incidence and severity of maize borer infestation.