PRIMEIRA OCORRÊNCIA DE Telchin licus (DRURY, 1773), A BROCA GIGANTE DA CANA-DE-AÇÛCAR, NO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO

The occurrence of the giant sugarcane borer, Telchin licus (Drury, 1773), was restricted to the North and Northeast regions of Brazil. On July 2007, this pest was identified on sugarcane in Limeira, Sao Paulo State. This is the first registered occurrence in Southern Brazil and it is very important to alert sugarcane producers about the risk of dissemination of this pest and the damages it causes to the sugarcane crop. Because there are many nurseries of ornamental plants in this region, one suggests that it was introduced via ornamental species, either Musaceae or Orchidaceae plants, brought from North or Northeast Brazil. The subsequent migration to nearby sugarcane fields was only a question of time. It is important to mention that no efficient natural enemies of Telchin licus are known up to this date in Brazil. Control measures have been taken, in the area of occurrence in the State of Sao Paulo, including the anticipation of harvesting infested fields and the subsequent mechanical elimination of sugarcane stubbles. The elimination of plant material has been repeated weekly, with the purpose of exposing the insect to the sun.