A study to assess the infestation of stem borer larvae on local sorghum varieties was conducted in the Raya district of northern Ethiopia. The main objective of this study was to assess the infestation levels of stem borer larvae on sorghum in Raya Azebo, Raya Alamata and Raya Kobo Woredas and also to determine the species composition, extent of damage and the spatial distribution of stem borer larvae on sorghum. Data were collected from 15 sites of three Woredas of Raya district. At each sorghum field, 10 infested sorghum plants were sampled. Destructive sampling was conducted, plants cut at ground level and their height was measured and recorded. Then length of the tunnels, number of damage holes and larvae were dislodged and recorded per plant basis. Total borer abundance was significantly different among woredas, sampling dates but not in study sites. Two stem borer species, namely Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were found to have more larval density and more damage (holes and tunneling) per plant in Raya Kobo woreda compared to other study woredas. Chilo partellus and Busseola fusca were found in everywhere of the Raya district of Ethiopia. The results give information about the importance of stem borers in the study area and the need for management so that these pests may be prevented and sorghum yield increased. Key words: Sorghum, stem borer larvae, temporal variation, distribution