Abstract:
This study aimed at determining the role of graminae refugia in push – pull management of stem borer
species of Zea mays L. and Sorghum bicolor L. and refugia graminae. It involved two growing gramineous
crops: maize Zea mays L. and Sorghum bicolor L. and three gramineous forages: Napier grass
Pennisetum purpureum Schumach, Sudan grass and giant Setaria grass. These were planted both in pure
and mixed stands and sampling for the borer infestation done throughout the phenology of crops .Field
and laboratory bioassays were conducted to determine biophysical efficacies of the control strategy from
stem borer fecundities. P.purpruem was the most effective gramineous forage refugia with the potency of
being utilized in the push – pull management strategy of the stem borers. It reduced damage caused by
stem borers to 2.02% and 5.77% in maize and sorghum respectively. This implies that it has desirable
traits attractive to the stem borers especially the great devastating B. fusca as chemical and biophysical
morphology and stem diameter The gramineous biocontrol agent had a significant (F = 46.29*; p < 0.05)
effect on the damage caused by stem borers to maize and sorghum. The Napier grass was the most
preferred forage refugia. However, more research should be conducted to determine the augmention of
Napier grass as the appropriate “push crop “when utilized in a push – pull management strategy.