Despite all the positive exponents, regarding the rational and economic exploitation of sugarcane, this crop is attacked by several species of pests: an important factor in the decrease in the quality of the raw material, productivity and longevity. Among the numerous insect pests that cause serious damage to sugarcane, Sphenophorus levis can be highlighted, known for its high destructive potential and wide distribution.

Economic damage

The larvae open galleries in the rhizomes, causing symptoms of yellowing and drying of leaves and tillers. The damage is reflected in the number, size and diameter of final culms for harvest, and the economic losses can be estimated in relation to the reduction in the expected tons of cane per hectare. Thus, in some places, 50 to 60% of attacked tillers have been detected, causing reductions of 20 to 30 tons per hectare, thus making the continuity of this sugarcane cycle unfeasible.

Pest control

So far, even though expressive results have not been obtained through some methods used in isolation, control measures must be adopted, preferably together, at the appropriate time, to provide the fight against the pest. Thus, the methods used are:

1. Sampling: The Sphenophorus levis Integrated Management program requires accurate and rapid determinations of the percentage of existing damage, as well as the biological forms present in the area. If this sampling is not carried out correctly and within the recommended dimension, there will always be the risk of wrong decisions being taken, thus increasing the cost of production.

2. Destruction of stumps:

Chemistry: Fundamental practice for the elimination of “tigueras” in the reform area. Operation that precedes the mechanical elimination of ratoons, and not used in isolation.

Physical: The physical elimination of ratoons must be carried out immediately after the sugarcane is cut for industrialization or, at least, 5 days after its chemical destruction. The populational acme of larvae occurs between the months of April and August, which is the most favorable time for the use of this practice, thus contributing to drastically reduce its population.

3. Total bar: Ten days after the mechanical ratoon destruction operation, the elimination of remaining adults is necessary, through the use of total bar with specific chemical insecticide.

4. Soil Preparation: Soil preparation aims to complement the elimination of biological forms of Sphenophorus levis remaining in the area, in addition to improving the physical and chemical conditions to ensure sprouting, root growth and crop establishment.

5. Crop rotation: Unfortunately, crop rotation used properly to deal with problems related to Sphenophorus levis has been neglected. The choice of the crop to be implanted is fundamental, giving preference to peanuts and soybeans, which will use insecticides throughout their development, avoiding in areas with the presence of the pest, sunn hemp, which will not contribute to the population reduction of the pest.

6. Planting:

Nursery: sugarcane intended for seed, either via stalks or pre-sprouted seedlings, which must be handled differently. The use of specific insecticides occurs at planting and during the development of the culture, both in the form of beds, as well as in meiosi.

Commercial: the use of insecticides in planting is necessary in areas with a history of the presence of Sphenophorus levis. This modality aims to maintain the health of the stalks being planted.

7. Chemical Control: The maintenance of the Sphenophorus levis population at acceptable levels is closely linked to chemical control, which should only be used in areas that have the control level defined by sampling and that the culture has high productive potential. Thus, some points of attention must be considered in this operation:

Sampling: This basic and indispensable procedure aims at the recognition of all plots, through the survey of 4 points per hectare in 30% of the area of ??each plot. Reaching the control level in 60% of the stands, it is recommended to stop the survey and carry out the application in the entire area. Below this percentage, the control will be carried out field by field.

Unraveling: this operation, which aims to remove the straw that is deposited on the crop line, greatly contributes to the reduction of biological forms and eliminates the effect of the physical barrier for future chemical control, through the ratoon cutter 70/30.

Stump cutter 70/30: This modality aims to inject 70% of the insecticide from 10 to 15 centimeters inside the ratoon and 30% of it on the clumps, after unraveling. Such application technology aims to reach all phases of the pest's biological cycle, especially adults.

Molecules: Their technical knowledge is essential, considering that applications occur immediately after cutting, which coincides with the dry period of the year. Products registered for this target, in the correct dosage, combined with application technology, provide a marked reduction in the pest.

Spray volume: The performance of the defined molecule is closely linked to the volume of spray used per hectare. At a minimum, registered products must be used with 300 liters of spray per hectare.

Stump cutting period: The cutter operation 70/30 must be carried out after unraveling the straw remaining from the crop over the lines. Thus, regardless of the time of year, this action aims to break the pest cycle, reducing it to acceptable levels.

8. Biological control: The use of entomopathogenic fungi to control Sphenophorus levis is a complementary alternative that has proven to be viable. Some experiments, using the fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, show promising results of these microorganisms in the control of this pest, especially of adults in the wet season. This is because the soils of the sugarcane agroecosystem, due to their moderate temperature, humidity and presence of organic matter, may represent a favorable environment for the development of these fungi.

9. Regionalization: The smart management of Sphenophorus levis must be carried out in a regional and organized way, executing all joint actions.

10. Awareness: The collective awareness is the fundamental point for success in living with Sphenophorus levis in sugarcane. The involvement of employees from different areas within the production process, from renovation to harvesting, is vital for excellence in this management.

Final considerations: In view of the seriousness of the damage caused by drastically reducing the production and longevity of the cane fields, due to the difficulty in controlling it, with results not always satisfactory, there is a need for certain precautions to avoid the propagation of Sphenophorus levis to areas where yet it does not occur. As the insect has a low dispersal capacity, its main form of dissemination is with the help of humans, due to carelessness in transporting sugarcane from infected areas to other locations. Its presence can be confined to infested areas as long as preventive care is taken. Thus, transporting sugarcane from attacked areas must be carried out safely to avoid sugarcane falling along the way and, above all, not to use sugarcane to change areas known to be under attack by Sphenophorus levis, unless they are purged with insecticide before leave these places. In infested areas, the use of technologies to keep the pest population low, in times of greater presence of adults (October to March), complemented with mechanical control, at the appropriate time (April to August), allows coexistence with the pest at bearable levels from the point of view of economic damage to the crop.