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Abstract
This paper reviews the biological control program for the sugarcane mothborer Diatraea saccharalis (F.) in Barbados over the period 1999-2002. The data for this period were analyzed, fitting infestation level to variety, crop, rainfall zone, and year, assuming a logistic regression model with a Poisson distribution of all main effects (variety, crop, rainfall zone, and year). The results showed that all first order interactions were highly significant (p<0.001) and that the overall joint infestation levels remained below the Economic Threshold Level (ETL) of 5% joints bored. This finding suggests that the pest is continuing to be effectively controlled by its two parasitoids Cotesia flavipes and Lixophaga diatraeae.