A Detailed Explanation of the Occurrence Patterns and Control Methods of the Ginger Stem Borer

The ginger stem borer (also known as the corn borer, belonging to Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) is a major pest harming ginger. It has a very mixed diet; when causing damage, the larvae bite and feed on the tender stems, then bore into the stem (with frass and insect droppings accumulating at the entry hole), blocking the transport of water and nutrients, causing the stems and leaves above the bore hole to turn yellow and wilt, and they break very easily under external force.

1. Occurrence patterns. The ginger stem borer generally occurs 3-4 generations per year in our area, and the concentrated damage period coincides exactly with the vigorous growth period of the ginger plants. The larvae move from plant to plant causing damage, and finally the mature larvae overwinter inside the host stems.

2. Control measures. For agricultural control, strengthen field management: after harvest or before land preparation, clean up and centrally destroy leftover materials such as broken borer-damaged plants and dead leaves; during the field growing period, after discovering damaged plants, the relevant leaves or aboveground stems can be peeled off and destroyed. The key period for chemical control is after egg hatching and before the newly hatched larvae bore in. Spray dichlorvos or malathion or kuishaling or deltamethrin and other liquid pesticides on the leaf surface, or inject the above liquids into the bore holes to seal and kill them.