The sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a major pest of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) (Glumiflorae: Poaceae) in Brazil and has been controlled efficiently with the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Addition of a silicon source to the soil induces resistance to insect pests in the host plant and can be integrated with other pest-management tactics such as biological control. This study evaluated the effects of silicon on the tritrophic interactions among sugarcane, D. saccharalis, and its natural enemy C. flavipes. Sugarcane varieties (one resistant and one susceptible to the sugarcane borer) cultivated with or without silicon constituted the four treatments. IACSP 96–2042 (susceptible variety) benefited from silicate addition as the length of tunnels bored by D. saccharalis was reduced by 43%. Tunnel length in the resistant variety (IACSP 96–3060) did not change with silicon application. The fresh mass and larval body size of the sugarcane borer were not affected by the treatments. Parasitism by C. flavipes on the sugarcane borer and the morphometric parameters of this parasitoid were not affected by silicon addition, nor were cane yield and quality parameters of the two sugarcane varieties. Treatment with silicon in the management of D. saccharalis was compatible with the parasitoid C. flavipes. This study constitutes the first field evaluation of the performance of C. flavipes combined with the effect of silicon as a resistance factor in D. saccharalis control in sugarcane.

螟甘蔗蔗蔗（法氏囊）（鳞翅目：草螟科）是甘蔗的主要害虫（甘蔗属（Glumiflorae：禾本科）属）在巴西和已经与寄生有效地控制绒茧北美散白蚁（卡梅伦）（膜翅目：茧蜂）。在土壤中添加硅源可诱导寄主植物对害虫的抗性，并可与其他害虫管理策略（如生物防治）相结合。本研究评估了硅对甘蔗D. saccharalis及其天敌C. flavipes之间三营养相互作用的影响. 用或不用硅栽培的甘蔗品种（一种抗性和一种易感甘蔗螟虫）构成四个处理。IACSP 96-2042（易感品种）受益于添加硅酸盐，因为D. saccharalis 钻孔的隧道长度减少了 43%。抗性品种 (IACSP 96–3060) 的隧道长度不随硅的应用而改变。甘蔗螟的新鲜质量和幼虫体大小不受处理的影响。寄生由C.黄柄上的蔗螟和该寄生的形态参数没有受到硅此外，也没有甘蔗产量和两个甘蔗品种的质量参数。用硅治疗D. saccharalis与寄生蜂C. flavipes相容。该研究构成了对C. flavipes性能的首次实地评估，并结合硅作为抗性因素在甘蔗D. saccharalis控制中的作用。