Acetylcholinesterase is the target for insecticides belonging to organophosphorus and carbamate group. Organophosphates act upon the nervous system of the pests interfering with the passage of impulse. Due to the negative effects of synthetic insecticides, there is need to develop cheaper and safer insecticides.
The Chilo partellus (spotted stem borer) is one of the major constraints in maize and sorghum production worldwide. The yield losses reported due to stem borers vary greatly. Melaku reported 49% grain yield losses due to stem borers in northern Ethiopia but on average yield losses can be estimated between 20% and 50%. C. partellus is very invasive and once it invades an area it displaces native species and is widely distributed. In coastal Kenya, there is evidence that C. partellus has partially displaced the indigenous stem borer, Chilo orichalcociliellus.
The distribution of C. partellus now includes Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, and Bostwana. Different conventional insecticides have been used to control stem borer resulting in high productivity but there are shortcomings in their application, including the high residue levels of pesticides in agricultural produce, pest resistance as well as environmental pollution. The management of C. partellus has been typically carried out by synthetic insecticides, which are non-biodegradable and not environmentally safe.
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