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Distribution of cereal stemborers in Zambia and release of Cotesia flavipes Cameron, an exotic natural enemy of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

P. H. Sohati ,
E. M. Musonda  and
M. Mukanga
P. H. Sohati
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Mochipapa Research Station, P.O. Box 630090 Choma, Zambia
E. M. Musonda
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Mount Makulu Central Research Centre, P/B 7, Chilanga, Zambia
M. Mukanga
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Mount Makulu Central Research Centre, P/B 7, Chilanga, Zambia
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Abstract

Surveys of the cereal stemborers and their natural enemies in Zambia were initiated in 1997. The surveys verified the presence of three stemborer species on maize, sorghum and pearl millet. These were the maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), the spotted stemborer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and the African pink borer, Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Occasionally, the sugarcane borer, Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was also recovered especially around areas near the sugarcane plantation at Mazabuka, Southern province. Chilo partellus was the predominant stemborer in region I (areas with less than 600 mm of rainfall per annum). Three ‘hot spot’ areas, namely Luangwa, Buleya Malima and Kalobolelwa, were identified based on the abundance of Ch. partellus. The exotic parasitoid, Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was released in the three areas for the control of Ch. partellus. However, post-release surveys in these areas have not revealed any recoveries of Co. flavipes. Three indigenous natural enemies, namely Cotesia sp., Dentichasmias sp. and Dolichogenidea sp. emerged from the field-collected larvae.

Résumé

Des enquêtes sur les foreurs des tiges et leurs ennemis naturels ont été entamées en Zambie en 1997. Les enquêtes ont confirmé la présence de trois espèces de foreurs des tiges sur maïs, sorgho et millet chandelle. Ce sont le foreur des tiges de maïs, Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), le foreur ponctué, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) et le foreur rose africain, Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Occasionnellement, le foreur de la canne à sucre Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) a également été retrouvé en particulier près de la plantation de canne sucre de Mazabuka dans la province du sud. Chilo partellus est l'espèce dominante dans la région I (zone avec moins de 600 mm de pluies par an). Trois zones fortement infestées, à savoir Luangwa, Buleya Malima et Kalobolelwa, ont été identifiées sur la base de l'abondance en Ch. partellus. Le parasitoïde exotique Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) a été lâché dans les trois zones afin de contrôler Ch. partellus. Des enquêtes post-lâchers réalisées dans ces zones n'ont cependant pas permis de retrouver Co. flavipes. Trois ennemis naturels, à savoir Cotesia sp., Dentichasmias sp. et Dolichogenidea sp. ont émergé des larves récoltées au champ.

Keywords

classical biological controlparasitoidsCotesia flavipesstemborersBusseola fuscaChilo partellusSesamia calamistissurveyZambialutte biologique classiqueparasitoïdesCotesia flavipesforeurs des tigesBusseola fuscaChilo partellusSesamia calamistisenquêtZambie
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , December 2001 , pp. 311 - 316
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2001

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References

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