Integrated management of canegrubs in Australia: current situation and future research directions

Nineteen species of scarab larvae, collectively known as canegrubs, attack the root system of sugarcane in Australia. Thousands of hectares of sugarcane were damaged before the introduction of organochlorine insecticides in 1948. A controlled-release formulation of chlorpyrifos (suSCon Blue) and a non-residual formulation of ethoprophos (Mocap) replaced the organochlorines in the 1980s. Recent failures of both these products in some fields have intensified the search for alternative controls. This review covers the current knowledge of canegrub biology, ecology and control in Australia. An outline of research required to develop sustainable pest management for canegrubs is given. Knowledge of the population dynamics of canegrubs will be integrated with cultural, chemical and biological controls as appropriate for each pest in each region. A decision-support system will help pest managers to make appropriate choices.