Current status and research progress of sugarcane stem borers management

Sugarcane ( Saccharum spp. hybrid) is the primary sugar crop in China, which accounts for over 86 % of the nation’s total sugar output. However, sugarcane cultivation faces increasing threats from different insect species, among which the stem borers stand out as the most destructive pests for sugarcane yield. These pests undergo multiple generations per year, leading to escalating infestations. In the current review, we first introduced the occurrence patterns and economic losses caused by stem borers in China. Then, we compared current integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for stem borers including chemical communication, biological control, pesticides and resistant varieties domestic and international. In light of scientific advancements, emerging technologies such as transgenic insect-resistant sugarcane, RNA-based pesticides, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) and AI-driven intelligent control technologies show promise for future pest control efforts. This review specifically focuses on sugarcane stem borers management, providing insights into regional pest dynamics, climate-adaptive control strategies and emerging biotechnological solutions tailored to future sugarcane pest management practices. • Stem borers are the most destructive sugarcane pests in China sugarcane field. • Climate change altering stem borers outbreak pattern and population dynamics. • Current pesticide application is widely used for stem borer control. • The RNA-based pesticides are promising approaches for sugarcane stem borers control.