Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T15:18:02.946Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A Three-Year Partial Life Table Study of the Stemborer Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Sorghum in the Highlands of Eritrea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Adugna Haile*
Affiliation:
University of Asmara, College of Agriculture and Aquatic Sciences, P. O. Box 1220, Asmara, Eritrea
Trond Hofsvang
Affiliation:
The Norwegian Crop Research Institute, Plant Protection Centre, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Hogskoleveien 7, N 1432 Aas, Norway
Get access

Abstract

The population dynamics of busseola fusca (Fuller) was studied from 1997 to 1999 at Halhale and Halhal Begos, located at altitudes of 1960 and 1850 m above sea level respectively in the highlands of Eritrea. Sowing was done in early April in Halhale and late June in Halhal Begos throughout the study period. All agronomic practices recommended for sorghum production in the two areas were followed to ensure good crop stand, except for application of pesticides. A total of 15 generations, nine in Halhale and six in Halhal Begos were observed during the study periods. Busseola fusca had three and two generations per year in Halhale and Halhal Begos, respectively. Peak egg laying at Halhale was in early May, July and early September, while at Halhal Begos it was in July and early September. The study revealed that stage-specific mortalities of B. fusca were caused by infertility, disappearance (predation by ants and earwigs, lack of suitable host, abiotic factors), residuals and parasitoids. The key mortality factor was disappearance of small larvae (35–66 % mortality). The mortality of the other stages was low but had a composite effect on the overall generation mortality. The mortality of small larvae was density-dependent and density-independent at Halhale and Halhal Begos, respectively. The changes in population between generations were due to small larval mortality of B. fusca from one generation to the next. The life table study showed that mortality due to natural factors did not reduce B. fusca population below the damage level. Integrated management strategies are discussed to reduce the damage caused by B. fusca on sorghum.

Résumé

La dynamique des populations de Busseola fusca (Fuller)a été étudiée entre 1997 et 1999 à Halhale et Halhal Begos, 2 localités situées dans les hautes terres d'Erythrée, à des altitudes respectives de 1960 et 1850 m au dessus du niveau de la mer. Les semis ont été pratiqués début avril à Halhale et fin juin à Halhal Begos pendant la période d'étude. Toutes les pratiques culturales recommandées pour la production du sorgho dans les 2 localités ont été suivies afin d'assurer une bonne récolte, à l'exception des traitements insecticides. Un total de 15 générations, neuf à Halhale et six à Halhal Begos a été observé pendant la période d'étude. Busseola fusca présente 3 et 2 générations par an respectivement à Halhale et Halhal Begos. On observe le pic de ponte début mai, en juillet et début septembre à Halhale, alors qu'à Halhal Begos on l'observe en juillet et début septembre. L'étude indique que les principaux facteurs de mortalité de B. fusca sont la stérilité, la disparition (prédation par les fourmis et les perce-oreilles, absence de plante hôte convenables, facteurs abiotiques), les résidus de pesticide et les parasitoïdes. Le facteur clef de mortalité est la disparition des jeunes larves (35–66% de mortalité). La mortalité des autres stades est faible mais a un effet composite sur la mortalité de toute la génération. La mortalité des jeunes larves est densité dépendante et densité indépendante respectivement à Halhale et Halhal Begos. Les différences de niveau de population entre générations sont dues à la mortalité des jeunes larves d'une génération à l'autre. L'étude de la table de vie montre que la mortalité causée par les facteurs naturels ne réduit pas le niveau de population de B. fusca en dessous du seuil de dommage économique. On discute des méthodes de lutte intégrée permettant de réduire les dégâts causés par B. fusca sur sorgho.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 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

REFERENCES

Berger, H. and Cock, M. J. W. (1993) Stage specific mortality of Helicoverpa armigera in three smallholder crops in Kenya, J. Appl. Ecol. 30, 640653.Google Scholar
Bonhof, M. J., Overholt, W. A., van Huis, A. and Polaszek, A. (1997) Natural enemies of cereal stemborers in East Africa: A review. Insect Sci. Applic. 17, 1935.Google Scholar
Haile, A. and Hofsvang, T. (2001) Survey of lepidopterous stem borer pests of sorghum, maize and pearl millet in Eritrea. Crop Prot. 20, 151157.Google Scholar
Harcout, D. G. (1969) The development and use of life tables in the study of natural insect populations. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 14, 175196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, K. M. (1962) Lepidopterous stem borer of cereals in Nigeria. Bull. Entomol. Res. 53, 139171.Google Scholar
Hawkins, B. A., Cornell, H. V. and Hochberg, M. E. (1997) Predators parasitoids and pathogens as mortality agents in phytophagous insect populations. Ecol., 78, 21452152.Google Scholar
Ingram, W. R. (1958) Lepidopterous stalk borers associated with Gramineae in Uganda. Bull. Entomol. Res. 49, 367383.Google Scholar
Jepson, W. F. (1954) A Critical Review of the World Literature on the Lepidopterous Stalk Borers of Tropical Graminaceous Crops. Commonwealth Inst. Entomol. 127 pp.Google Scholar
Johansen, N. S. (1996) Partial life tables for the cabbage moth, Mamestra brassicae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in white cabbage in south-eastern Norway. Agricultural University of Norway. Doctor Scientarium Thesis 1997. p. 18.Google Scholar
Kfir, R. (1997) Natural control of the cereal stemborers Busseola fusca and Chilo partellus in South Africa. Insect Sci. Applic. 17, 6167.Google Scholar
Knutson, A. E. and Gilstrap, F. E. (1990) Life tables and population dynamics of the south-western corn borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Texas corn. Environ. Entomol. 19, 684696.Google Scholar
Mally, C. W. (1920) The maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller). Bull. Dept. Agric. S. Africa No. 3, 35 pp.Google Scholar
Metcalfe, J. R. (1972) An analysis of the population dynamics of the Jamaican sugar cane pest Saccharosydne saccharivora (Wests.) (Hom. Delphacidae). Bull. Entomol. Res. 62, 7385.Google Scholar
Mohyuddin, A. I. and Greathead, D. J. (1970) An annotated list of the parasites of graminaceous stem borers in East Africa, with a discussion of their potential in biological control. Entomophaga 15, 241274.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morris, R. F. and Miller, C. A. (1954) The development of life-tables for the spruce budworm. Can. J. Zool. 32, 283301.Google Scholar
Ngi-Song, A. J., Overholt, W. A. and Ayertey, J. N. (1995) Suitability of African Gramineous stemborers for development of Cotesia flavipes and Cotesia sesamiae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Environ. Entomol. 24, 978984.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nye, I. W. B. (1960) The insect pests of graminaceous crops in east Africa. Colon. Res. Stud. no. 31. H.M.S.O., London. 48 pp.Google Scholar
Onyango, F. O. and Ochieng'-Odero, J. P. R. (1994) Continuous rearing of the maize stem borer Busseola fusca on an artificial diet. Ent. Exp. Appl. 73, 139144.Google Scholar
Overholt, W. A., Ngi-Song, A. J., Kimani, S. K., Mbapila, J., Lammers, P. and Kioko, E. (1994) Ecological considerations of the introduction of Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) for biological control of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in Africa. Biocontr. News Info. 15, 1924.Google Scholar
Overholt, W. A., Ngi-Song, A. J., Omwega, C. O., Kimani-Njogu, S. W., Mbapila, J., Sallam, M. N. and Ofomata, V. (1997) A review of the introduction and establishment of Cotesia flavipes Cameron in East Africa for biological control of cereal stemborers. Insect Sci. Applic. 17, 7988.Google Scholar
Podoler, H. and Rogers, D. (1975) A new method for the identification of key factors from life table data. J. Anim. Ecol. 48, 85115.Google Scholar
Smithers, C. N. (1959) Some recent observations on Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lep: Noctuidae) in southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). Bull. Ent. Res. 50, 809819.Google Scholar
Southwood, T. R. E. (1978) Ecological Methods with Particular Reference to the Study of Insect Populations. Chapman and Hall, London, 524 pp.Google Scholar
Stiling, P. (1988) Density-dependent processes and key factors in insect populations. J. Anim. Ecol. 57, 581593.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Swaine, G. (1957) The maize and sorghum stalk borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller) in peasant agriculture in Tanganyika (Tanzania). Bull. Entomol. Res. 48, 711722.Google Scholar
Usua, E. J. (1968) The biology and ecology of Busseola fusca and Sesamia species in south-western Nigeria. I. Distribution and population studies, J. Econ. Entomol. 61, 830833.Google Scholar
Usua, E. J. (1970) Diapause in the maize stem borer, J. Econ. Entomol. 63, 16051610.Google Scholar
Usua, E. J. (1973) Induction of diapause in the maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca. Ent. Exp. Appl. 16, 322328.Google Scholar
Unnithan, G. C. (1987) Development and reproductive biology of the maize stemborer, Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lep: Noctuidae). J. Appl. Entomol. 63, 16051610.Google Scholar
Van Rensburg, J. B. J., Walters, M. C. and Giliomee, J. H. (1987) Ecology of the maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lep: Noctuidae). Bull. Entomol. Res. 77, 255269.Google Scholar
Varley, G. C. and Gradwell, G. R. (1960) Key factors in population studies, J. Anim. Ecol. 29, 399401.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Varley, G. C. and Gradwell, G. R. (1968) Population models for the winter moth, pp. 132142. In Insect Abundance. Symposuim of the Royal Entomological Society, London (Edited by Southwood, T. R. E.). Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.Google Scholar
Varley, G. C. and Gradwell, G. R. (1970) Recent advances in insect population dynamics. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 15, 124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Varley, G. C., Gradwell, G. R. and Hassell, M. P. (1973) Insect Population Ecology. An Analytical Approach. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, 212 pp.Google Scholar
Way, M. J. and Heong, K. L. (1994) The role of biodiversity in the dynamics and management of insect pests of tropical irrigated rice-a review. Bull. Ent. Res. 84, 567587.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yitaferu, K. and Gebre-Amlak, A. (1994) Phenology and survival of the maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca in eastern Ethiopia. Insect Sci. Applic. 15, 177184.Google Scholar