Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T19:49:59.867Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Evidence of the establishment of Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of cereal stemborers, and its host range expansion in Ethiopia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

E. Getu
Affiliation:
Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, PO Box 436, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
W. A Overholt*
Affiliation:
Indian River Research and Extension Center, University of Florida, 2199 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, Florida 34945, USA
E. Kairu
Affiliation:
Kenyatta University, PO Box 43844, Nairobi, Kenya
C.O. Omwega
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
*
*Fax: 1 772 468 5668 E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Three lepidopteran cereal stemborers, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Crambidae), Busseola fusca Fuller, and Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Noctuidae) were collected from maize and sorghum in Ethiopia. The noctuid stemborers are indigenous to Africa while C. partellus is an introduced species from Asia. In 1999, the Asian stemborer parasitoid, Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Braconidae) was found to be widespread in Ethiopia, even though it had never been released in the country. In addition to attacking Chilo partellus, Cotesia flavipes was reared from B. fusca and S. calamistis. The origin of C. flavipes in Ethiopia may have been Somalia where it was released in 1997 near the border with eastern Ethiopia. Percent parasitism of borers by C. flavipes was higher in eastern Ethiopia than other surveyed regions, and parasitism was higher in 2000 than 1999. Parasitism was higher when cereals were intercropped with other plants and when wild grass hosts of stemborers were present.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Corbett, J.D., Collis, S.N., Bush, B.R., Jeske, R.Q., Martinez, R.E., Zermoglio, M.F., Burton, Q.L.R., Muchugu, E.I., White, J.W. & Holdson, D.P. (2001) In Almanac Characterization Tool. A resource base for characterizing the agricultural, natural, and human environments for selected African countries. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station: Texas A & M University system.Google Scholar
CSA (Central Statistical Authority) (1997) In Agricultural sample survey 1996/97: report on area and production for major crops (private peasant holdings, Meher season). Statistical Bulletin No. 171. pp. 57. CSA, Addis Ababa: Ethiopia.Google Scholar
Cugala, D., Overholt, W.A., Giga, D. & Santos, L. (1999) Performance of Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) and Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as biological control agents against cereal stem borers in Mozambique. African Crop Science Journal 7, 16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute). (1992) ARC VIEW GIS software.Google Scholar
Getu, E., Overholt, W.A. & Kairu, E. (2001) Distribution and species composition of stem borers and their natural enemies in maize and sorghum in Ethiopia. Insect Science and its Application 21, 353359.Google Scholar
Hailemichael, Y., Schulthess, F., Smith, J.W. Jr. & Overholt, W.A. (1997) Suitability of West African gramineous stemborers for the development of Cotesia species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Insect Science and its Application 17, 8995.Google Scholar
Khan, Z.R., Chiliswa, P., Ampong-Nyako, K., Smart, L.E., Polaszek, A., Wandera, J. & Mulaa, M.A. (1997) Utilisation of wild gramineous plants for management of cereal stemborers in Africa. Insect Science and its Application 17, 143150.Google Scholar
Matama-Kauma, T., Kyamanywa, S., Ogwang, J.A., Omwega, C.O. & Wilson, H.R. (2001) Cereal stemborer species complex and establishment of Cotesia flavipes Cameron in eastern Uganda. Insect Science and its Application 21, 317325.Google Scholar
Mullugetta, N. (2001) Survey of parasitoids on lepidopterous stemborers attacking maize and sorghum in some localities of Ethiopia. Pest Management Journal of Ethiopia 5, 6975.Google Scholar
Ngi-Song, A.J., Overholt, W.A. & Ayertey, J.A. (1995) Suitability of African graminous stemborers for development of Cotesia flavipes and C. sesamiae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Environmental Entomology 24, 978984.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ngi-Song, A.J., Overholt, W.A., Njagi, P.G.N., Dicke, M., Ayertey, J.A. & Lwande, W. (1996) Volatile infochemicals used in host and host habitat location by Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), larval parasitoids of stemborers on Graminae. Journal of Chemical Ecology 22, 208214.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Overholt, W.A. (1998) Biological control. In African cereal stemborers: economic importance, taxonomy, natural enemies and control. pp 349362. [Polaszek A. (Ed.), editor]. Wallingford, Oxon: CAB International.Google Scholar
Overholt, W.A., Ngi-Song, A.J., Omwega, C.O., Kimani, S.W., Mbapila, J., Sallam, M.N. & Ofomata, V. (1997) A review of the introduction and establishment of Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) in East Africa for biological control of cereal stemborers. Insect Science and its Application 17, 7988.Google Scholar
Rische, S.J., Andow, D. & Altieri, M.A. (1983) Agroecosystem diversity and pest control: data, tentative conclusions, and new research directions. Environmental Entomology 12, 625629.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Root, R.B. (1973) Organization of a plant arthropod association in simple and diverse habitats: the fauna of collards (Brassica: Oleracea). Ecological Monographs 43, 94125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Skoroszewski, R.W. & van Hamburg, H. (1987) The release of Apanteles flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) against stalk borers of maize and grain sorghum in South Africa. Journal of the Entomological Society of South Africa 50, 249255.Google Scholar
Tams, W.H.T. (1932) New species of African Heterocera. Entomologist 65, 12411249.Google Scholar
Zhou, G., Baumgartner, J. & Overholt, W.A. (2001) Impact assessment of an exotic parasitoid on stemborer (Lepidoptera) population dynamics in Kenya. Ecological Applications 11, 15541562.CrossRefGoogle Scholar