Management of Economically Important Insect Pests of Millet

Grain of various species of millet is a staple food of rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and China. In addition, millet is used as poultry and cattle feed in the United States, and the foliage is fodder for cattle in India. The crop is damaged by at least 150 insect pests during its growth and development. Although the current status of all of these pests is not known, shoot flies, stem borers, leaf-sucking, and the panicle-attacking insects are considered economically important. Control measures include the application of synthetic pesticides (as both seed treatment and foliar applications) and cultural methods (timing of planting and field sanitation). Host plant resistance (screening of genotypes and breeding of pest-tolerant/resistant cultivars), and biological control (conservation of natural enemies and periodical releases of the larval parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor) have received much attention in recent years. Integrating available pest control options has been recommended, along with further adoption of new crop cultivation technologies by small and resource-poor farmers.