Introduction. Du fait des conditionstropicales humides, le contrôle des adventices est un poste importantet permanent dans les dépenses d’un producteur de fruits aux Antilles.La pratique du désherbage chimique est à ce jour la plus économique,mais l’utilisation récurrente d’herbicides dans les vergers de laMartinique conduit à une érosion des sols et à une pollution des eaux.Pour pallier l’usage d’herbicides, nous avons testé l’associationde volailles à un verger productif afin d’en contrôler l’enherbement. Matériel et méthodes. Le dispositif a été installé surune parcelle de 700 m2 subdivisée en sept placettes de 100 m2. Deux placettes ont constitué les traitements témoins ;elles ont été fauchées à la débroussailleuse. Chacune des cinq autresplacettes a été soumise au pâturage de 5 oies pendant une semaine, puisau pâturage de 20 poulets pendant la semaine suivante, puis laisséesans volailles pendant trois autres semaines. Trois cycles de tellesrotations ont été observés. La production de biomasse par groupebotanique (poacées, cypéracées et autres) dans les placettes expérimentales aété mesurée chaque semaine pendant les trois cycles (4 mois). Unefois par mois l’indice de recouvrement par groupe botanique a étérelevé. Résultats. La biomasse totale de la strateherbacée a diminué sur les placettes pâturées, ce qui a permis lecontrôle biologique des adventices pendant quatre mois. La diversitéfloristique a diminué à cause de la sélection opérée par les volailles pourleur alimentation et le couvert s’est homogénéisé par l’augmentationdu pourcentage de la biomasse des cypéracées dans la biomasse totale.Cette famille peu appétible pour les volailles s’est ainsi étenduesur toutes les placettes pâturées. Discussion. Le pâturagedes volailles, des oies en particulier, s’est révélé être une méthodeefficace pour la maîtrise de l’enherbement en verger. Cependant, dansle cas d’une forte proportion d’espèces non appétibles dans la strateherbacée, d’autres méthodes de désherbage devront être combinées.L’installation d’une couverture herbacée composée d’un mélange deplantes de couverture adaptées à l’association verger et volaillesainsi qu’une meilleure gestion de la rotation des animaux devrontêtre envisagées pour optimiser cette technique.

Introduction. In the water-savingand income-generating agroforestry cropping systems developed andpromoted by the ICRISAT in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa, particularlyin Niger, fruits of domesticated Ziziphus mauritiana (“applesof the Sahel”) are severely damaged by fruit flies (Carpomya incompleta),and chemical pesticide application poses economic, environmentaland human health problems. In the Bio-reclamation of Degraded Lands (BDL)system, apple of the Sahel is the main high-value crop, while inthe Dryland Eco-Farm (DEF), it is grown alongside watermelon. Sclerocaryabirrea (marula plum) is presently being investigated asa dryland tree species for fruit and oil production, either in orchardsor such systems as BDL. Materials and methods. To completepreliminary results of earlier studies published elsewhere, we collectedand incubated in 2010 ripe fruits of marula plum and watermelonin Sadoré, Niger, where the above-mentioned agroforestry systemsare developed, and we recorded emerging fruit flies. We also conducteda spot-spraying experiment (using GF-120) in an apple of the Sahel orchardin Niamey in 2010; we recorded undamaged and damaged fruits and incubatedthe latter. In the same orchard, we set up in 2011 a fruit fly trappingsurvey targeting the invasive species Bactrocera invadens (Chempac®traps using methyl eugenol as the attractant). Results and discussion.The results showed that only Ceratitis cosyra emergedfrom marula plums, and only Dacus spp. from watermelon.The GF-120 spot-spraying experiment showed that C. incompleta was notattracted / intoxicated, contrary to Ceratitis spp.and Dacus spp.; the sprayed trees yielded significantly moremarketable fruits than unsprayed ones; only C. incompleta emergedfrom damaged fruit. Detection trapping revealed for the first timethe presence of B. invadens in the Sahelian zone ofNiger, including at the time of apple of the Sahel fruit production. Conclusion. This, alongside results of earlier studies,suggests a repellent effect of GF-120 on the monophagous C. incompleta species(Trypetinae), while it is attractive to oligophagous/polyphagousDacinae fruit flies; some of them (e.g., Dacus spp.)damage watermelon, which is part of the DEF system, and producefruit at the same time as the jujube tree. The prospects for harnessingthese two opposite regulation pathways are discussed.

Introduction. In-package biofumigation with the volatile-producing fungus Muscodor albus was tested to control fungal decay in organic table grapes stored at a commercial packinghouse. Materials and methods. Sachets containing two different amounts of activated M. albus culture were inserted into shipping boxes containing approximately 4.5 kg of ‘Thompson Seedless’ or ‘Red Seedless’ table grapes. The volatiles were contained inside the boxes either by wrapping pallets of the boxes externally with plastic film after pre-cooling (pallet wrapping) or by using a modified atmosphere liner inside each box. Decay incidence was evaluated after 7 weeks of storage at 0 °C. Results. The M. albus sachets reduced decay incidence among ‘Red Seedless’ table grapes in both wrapped pallets and boxes with liners. In this cultivar, the modified atmosphere liner alone reduced decay incidence by about 70% and the M. albus treatment in the liner further reduced decay incidence, regardless of the amount of M. albus used. The combination of the M. albus sachet and the modified atmosphere liner proved to be the most effective decay control treatment. Decay incidence was lower among ‘Thompson Seedless’ table grapes and a significant decay control was only observed after the grapes had been allowed to warm up after storage with the 50-g rates applied inside the liner. No adverse effects were associated with the treatment or the liners. Discussion. Based on our results, biofumigation with M. albus sachets is compatible with the commercial handling of organic table grapes and could provide significant improvement in their shelf life.

Introduction. In Mali, mango annual production is estimated at 100 000 t. Because of structural and plant sanitary problems mainly related to the actions of fruit fly, seldom more than 1% of this production is exported. The principal aim of this study was to develop an integrated control of the Tephritidae using spot treatments. One of the preconditions was to identify the species responsible for the damage in the three principal Mali production zones (Sikasso, Bougouni and Bamako). Materials and methods. Mangos belonging to the principal exported varieties were collected from the beginning of April up to the beginning of October 2000 and were observed to identify the Tephritidae species present in the fruits. The installation of sex attractant or of foodstuff attractant traps allowed us to follow the evolution and constitution of the fruit fly population in the orchards of the three selected sites. The effectiveness of a spot treatment to control Ceratitis sp. was tested. Results and discussion. Starting from adult observations and determination, six species of Tephritidae were identified. Among them, Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), C. quinaria (Bezzi) and C. silvestrii Bezzi were earliest and are thus most prejudicial. C. cosyra represented 86% of the total recovered flies. The species C. anonae, C. quinaria, C. fasciventris and C. ditissima were identified for the first time in Mali. The damage due to Tephritidae in the middle of the harvest period bordered on 50% of the crop for the varieties Kent and Keitt and exceeded 60% for that of Brooks. The 180 traps installed on the three studied sites allowed us to capture 128 998 Tephritidae adults belonging to thirteen species; the six species linked to the mango tree represented 99% of this total. The spot treatments carried out on the three experimental sites gave encouraging results, with a reduction in damage of approximately 50% in the treated orchards compared with the control orchards. Conclusions. To prolong the action undertaken, it will be interesting to confirm and look for further results obtained during the years to come. The installation of a regional project for controlling mango tree Tephritidae in West Africa would be fundamental in the medium term to limit such an insect pest which itself prevails on the sub-region scale.

Introduction. Damage of citrus fruits by the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata Weid. results in economic losses in Nigeria. The majority of the citrus producers are small-holders who are yet to adopt standard citrus production practices. A trial was therefore established in a savannah zone of Nigeria with a Southern Guinea agroecology to evaluate simple fruit fly control practices. Materials and methods. The efficacy of combining cultural practices such as removal of dropped fruits, changes of harvest period, and three applications of dimethoate/cypermethrine mixture in controlling fruit fly damage was tested on sweet orange Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck var. Valencia Late in 2000 and 2001. Results. Fruits attacked by C. capitata increased with fruit maturity and were positively correlated with the number of dropped fruits. Insecticide applications and removal of dropped fruits significantly reduced the number of fruits attacked by the fruit flies. Similarly, early harvesting at 50% fruit ripening significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the number of fruits attacked by the fruit flies when compared with the late harvesting at 90% ripening. The interactive effects of insecticide applications and the period of harvest significantly (P < 0.05) reduced attacks on fruits. Discussions. Judicious use of insecticides, periods of harvest and removal of fallen fruits reduce fruit fly damage. Late harvest and non-removal of fallen fruits constitute fruit fly reservoirs for the re-infestation of other clean fruits. Since the tested control methods were simple, they can be adopted by small-holders for the control of fruit flies.

Introduction. Au Mali, la production annuelle de mangues est estimée à 100 000 t. Du fait de problèmes structurels et phytosanitaires principalement liés à l'action des mouches des fruits, rarement plus de 1 % de cette production est exporté. L'objectif principal de cette étude a été de mettre au point une lutte raisonnée contre les Tephritidae du manguier au Mali à l'aide de traitements par taches. L'un des préalables a été d'identifier les espèces responsables des dégâts dans les trois zones principales de production (Sikasso, Bougouni, Bamako). Matériel et méthodes. Des mangues appartenant aux principales variétés exportées ont été collectées de début avril à début octobre 2000 et mises en observation afin d'identifier les espèces de Tephritidae présentes dans les fruits. La pose de pièges à attractifs sexuels ou alimentaires a permis de suivre l'évolution et la constitution des populations de mouches des fruits dans les vergers des trois sites choisis. L'efficacité d'une méthode de traitement par taches pour lutter contre les cératites a été testée. Résultats et discussion. À partir des observations et de la détermination des adultes, six espèces de Tephritidae ont été mises en évidence. Parmi elles, Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), C. quinaria (Bezzi) et C. silvestrii Bezzi ont été les plus précoces et sont donc les plus préjudiciables. C. cosyra a représenté 86 % de l'effectif total des mouches. Les espèces C. anonae, C. quinaria, C. fasciventris et C. ditissima ont été identifiées pour la première fois au Mali. Les dégâts dus aux Tephritidae en milieu de campagne ont avoisiné 50 % de la production des variétés Kent et Keitt et dépassé 60 % de celle de Brooks. Les 180 pièges mis en place sur les trois sites suivis ont permis de capturer un total de 128 998 Tephritidae adultes appartenant à treize espèces ; les six espèces inféodées au manguier ont représenté 99 % de cet effectif. Les traitements par taches effectués sur les trois sites expérimentaux ont donné des résultats encourageants, avec une réduction des dégâts d'environ 50 % sur les parcelles traitées par rapport aux parcelles témoins. Conclusions. Pour prolonger l'action entreprise, il sera intéressant de confirmer et approfondir les résultats obtenus au cours des années à venir. La mise en place d'un projet régional de lutte contre les Tephritidae du manguier pour l'Afrique de l'Ouest serait fondamentale à moyen terme pour limiter un tel ravageur qui sévit lui-même à l'échelle de la sous-région.

Introduction. Le ravageur A. aurantii ou pou de Californie, non contrôlé, est capable d'entraîner en deux à trois années le dessèchement complet d'agrumes contaminés. Au Maroc, le nombre d'interventions pesticides, contre cette cochenille, par cycle de produc- tion, n'a cessé de croître depuis les années 1960. Dans ces conditions, une lutte raisonnée s'impose. Le travail entrepris a eu pour objectif de tester conjointement trois techniques d'avertissement agricole. Matériel et méthodes. Les expérimentations effectuées ont étudié la génération printanière du ravageur au cours de deux années pendant lesquelles les dégâts qu'il a entraînés ont été très importants. Onze biotopes répartis dans la zone agrumicole du périmètre irrigué du Tadla (Maroc) ont été étudiés. Le biotope 1, non traité, a servi de réfé- rence. Les trois méthodes d'avertissement utilisées conjointement ont été le piégeage des adultes mâles d'A. aurantii, le suivi de l'évolution de la dynamique des populations larvaires du ravageur et de son principal parasite Aphytis melinus, l'utilisation de la notion de degrés jours. Pour chacune de ces méthodes, un seuil d'intervention a été défini. Résultats et discussion. L'utilisation des trois techniques d'avertissement agricole et la considération des seuils requis par chacune d'elles ont permis de déterminer une période d'intervention précise et d'adapter le traitement préconisé (insecticides, huiles minérales ou aucun traitement, selon les cas) aux risques d'infestation. Par ailleurs, le parasitisme de A. aurantii par A. melinus a réduit significativement les populations du pou de Californie dans les parcelles non traitées. Conclusion. La méthode du calcul de degrés jours combinée au dénombrement des mâles du ravageur par piégeage peut constituer une base d'avertissement agricole efficace et à la portée des producteurs d'agrumes marocains. L'activité naturelle de A. melinus dans les con- ditions du Tadla reste insuffisante pour contrôler l'incidence économique de la cochenille.

Introduction. Pour la mise en place de mesures à promouvoir dans le cadre d'une protection intégrée, celles concernant un aménagement des abords des cultures deviennent un objectif principal. Cependant, jusqu'à présent, cet aménagement s'est fait sans véritable critère. La présente étude montre comment il est possible de raisonner le choix des espèces végétales. Matériel et méthodes. L'entomofaune de 44 espèces ligneuses dont celle du poirier cultivé a été observée, pour chacune de ces espèces, à raison de 30 arbres par mois, pendant 10 mois de l'année 1998. La collecte de l'entomofaune a été réalisée par la méthode du battage de Fauvel. Résultats et discussion. Des recherches fondamentales ont été conduites sur la composition et la structure des communautés animales hébergées par les feuillus et comparées à celles d'un verger de poiriers. Le peuplement de 43 espèces ligneuses a ainsi été étudié. Après avoir montré la spécificité des peuplements, des corrélations de rang de Spearman entre le peuplement d'auxiliaires des 43 essences et celui du poirier ont été mises en évidence et montrent une ressemblance entre l'entomofaune utile du poirier et celle de certaines essences végétales. Conclusion. Les résultats obtenus permettent de raisonner le choix des essences pouvant servir de réservoir à une entomofaune prédatrice dans le cadre de la protection intégrée du verger de poiriers. Cette méthode est applicable à d'autres types de culture.

Termites (Isoptera: Termidae), white grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and millipedes (Myriapoda: Odontopygidae) are the major groups of soil pests that are widespread and of economic importance in groundnut production in sub-Saharan Africa. Other Coleopteran pests such as wireworms (Elateridae) and false wireworms (Tenebrionidae) are found to be of occasional importance. Farmers' cultural practices such as improper application of organic manure, leaving crop residues in farms, delay in planting and harvesting, and abiotic factors such as rainfall and soil texture also influence soil pest occurrence and damage. Groundnut farmers in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa seldom apply effective control measures against soil pests. This paper reviews the major soil pests of groundnuts and their damage, and discusses adopted control practices and their applicability in integrated pest management (IPM) modules, with an emphasis on the use of resistant groundnut varieties, cultural practices, botanicals and minimal application of synthetic insecticides.

In Reunion Island, insect and mite pests are significant limiting factors to the development of market crops. Several studies have been carried out on some families of pests during the last 40 years, but no comprehensive survey has been undertaken on the arthropods of vegetable crops on this island. During 1997/1998, we studied the arthropod complex on eight main families of crops, namely Solanaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Liliaceae, Asteraceae, Apiaceae and Rosaceae. During a complete year of collection, we gathered 123 species of pests, including 114 species of insects and 9 of mites. We also identified a total of 128 species of beneficials, including 51 species of parasitoïds and 77 species of predators and consisting of 101 species of insects, 14 of mites and 13 of arachnids. Our data constitute the first step for the implementation of strategies for pest monitoring and integrated pest management in an important sector for the island's insular economy.

Three field trials were conducted to determine the effect of various levels of resistance of South African sorghum hybrids on follow-up generations of Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). In one trial, plants were artificially infested with B. fusca larvae while the other trials were subjected to natural infestation of C. partellus. The number of damaged internodes and moth exit holes per stem were used to calculate a relative survival index which estimates the survival of larvae to the adult stage. A moth production index was calculated to estimate the role of a hybrid in area-wide suppression of stemborer populations. In the B. fusca trial, resistant and susceptible experimental hybrids produced 40 000 and 113 000 moths per hectare respectively, compared to 80 000 and 83 000 moths per hectare produced by the commercial hybrids. Larval damage to whorl leaves, assessed on a 1 to 9 scale, indicated leaf-feeding resistance of commercial hybrids to B. fusca ranging from susceptible to intermediate. Yield losses suffered by the hybrids in the B. fusca trial were greater than that suffered by a susceptible experimental hybrid, indicating susceptibility of South African hybrids to B. fusca. The evaluation of sorghum varieties for their potential to reduce stemborer populations should indicate their usefulness in integrated pest management systems.

Studies were conducted using a water-based trap baited with the synthetic female sex pheromone to gain further understanding on the effect of trap height and spacing in relation to crop height on catches of males of the millet stemborer, Coniesta ignefusalis (Hampson) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Regardless of crop height, catches were greatest at trap heights of 0.10 and 0.50 m when the traps were stacked vertically. When traps were sited singly at 50 m spacing there was no significant difference in catches at the different heights. When trap spacing was varied from 50,15, 5,1 to 0 m, male moth catches in traps increased at lower trap heights, regardless of crop height. Comparison of catches in light traps and pheromone-baited traps showed a significant positive correlation. These findings have implications for both monitoring and development of millet stemborer control systems through mating disruption and mass trapping.

Recent studies on the identification and evaluation of the millet stemborer Contesta ignefusalis female sex pheromone have shown that pheromone technology is promising as a management component. A review of research shows that an effective pheromone trap has been developed and successfully tested in eight countries in West Africa, through the West and Central African Millet Research Network (WCAMRN/ROCAFREMI). A regional wide-scale stemborer monitoring network has been developed and is being implemented. Studies on mass trapping and mating disruption indicate that the two techniques have much potential in C. ignefusalis management. Prospects for the implementation of pheromone technology to manage C. ignefusalis in the context of an IPM scheme are discussed.

Several species of stemborers attack sorghum and pearl millet in Africa and Asia. The commonest species on sorghum are Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) and Busseola fusca (Fuller) and on pearl millet, Contesta ignefusalis (Hampson). This paper discusses control options and the extent to which farmer perceptions of stemborers and associated crop losses have been considered. Examples of research aimed at developing IPM strategies are presented in the context of their impact or lack of it, on the farming community. Research efforts have traditionally focused on the development of resistant cultivare and only recently are they being targeted towards a combination with cultural and biological tactics. Conventional breeding procedures have not produced adequate levels of resistance to stemborers and natural enemies are not effective in regulating borer populations. The prospects of applied biological control and improved intercropping configurations are discussed. Reference is also made to progress in the role of semiochemicals in parasitoid activity on Ch. partellus and sex pheromones in the control of Con. ignefusalis. Unless resistance levels to stemborers are increased through biotechnological approaches, optimisation of the yield potential in existing cultivars requires that IPM research should focus on the improvement of cultural and biological components and should incorporate farmers' perceptions and an assessment of traditional pest management practices.

The efficiency and profitability of an integrated pest management system consisting of a phytosanitary survey and threshold interventions (based on levels of insect damage) was tested at the Vallée du Kou irrigated rice scheme in Burkina Faso, for two consecutive crop seasons in 1987. There was a considerable advantage in cost, number of insecticidal applications and yield of a threshold intervention-based system over arbitrary or routine insecticidal application methods. The proposed method is considered to be environmentally friendly.

Food production in Africa is declining, while her population is increasing rapidly. Some factors responsible for low food productivity are mentioned; special attention is given to the problem of agricultural pests. The hazards of overuse of pesticides in developed countries are cited to caution farmers in developing countries from getting drawn into a similar situation when attempting to solve pest problems. Integrated pest management (IPM), which aims to increase food productivity and profitability without endangering the environment, is recommended as a sustainable solution to the pesticide problem. The role of biological control agents, i.e., introduction, augmentation and preservation of natural enemies is emphasized. In developing sustainable agriculture through IPM, the importance of incorporating farmers' traditional methods of farming into an IPM package and of identifying farmers' overriding concerns, is recommended as a prerequisite to the acceptability and success of such packages.

The various methods of controlling tick infestation on livestock are reviewed, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. A framework for developing an IPM approach including socioeconomic considerations for ticks control is proposed. Efforts at practising IPM on ticks are highlighted.

The potential of plant genetics in the overall context of integrated pest control could be viewed simply as the potential of plant resistance in pest management. Genetic resistance in plants is one of the most effective and economic means of controlling plant pests. Resistant plants are the first line defence against pests. Successes in breeding for pest resistance depend upon the sound knowledge of the plant genes controlling resistance to pests.

Recent report on the existence of two nonatlelic and independent genes, Rac1 and Rac2 in cowpea cultivars ICV 10 and TVu 310, and ICV 11 and ICV 12, respectively, from the ICIPE has broadened the scope of cowpea breeding against aphid biotypes. Use of biotechnology as a plant breeding tool in transferring resistance genes into agronomically suitable cultivars appears to hold good promise for the future.

About 70 insects and five mites regularly or occasionally infest the cotton crop in subtropical Africa. The economic importance of these pests varies according to the climate and cropping pattern in the region. Cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover and yellow tea mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) as foliage feeders and three bollworms, Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders, Diparopsis watersi Roths, and Heliothis armigera Hbn., during boll formation and development, are major pests. Pesticides have been used extensively to suppress the pest populations and infestation levels in the crop. Natural enemies of certain pests occur in the region, nevertheless, their effectiveness in pest control is not well-known or fully exploited. Research on yield loss evaluation, pest ecology, varietal resistance and cultural practices is underway in several countries. Therefore, a global pest management in cotton is discussed in the context of local conditions and perspectives are highlighted.

Bruchid beetles cause high losses of stored legumes in the tropics. Chemical control is inappropriate for the small scale farmer and the use of alternative measures should be encouraged. Different biological methods of control such as cultural, physical, varietal, biological, biorational and genetic control are reviewed. Cultural control techniques such as timely and frequent harvesting, legumes planted away from granaries, crop hygiene and storage in pods, are within the technical and financial means of the small scale farmer. The use of inert substances, vegetable oils and repellent plants may be cheap and effective if properly managed. The use of controlled atmosphere, vacuum, heating, cooling and sterilizing, requires relatively advanced techniques. Growth regulators and pheromones are currently not available for control. Varieties resistant to bruchids have been identified, but incorporation of resistance into suitable varieties has proven to be difficult. Biological control of bruchids should receive more attention in particular research on the introduction and conservation of natural enemies. To effectively implement control measures at farmer's level socio-economic and cultural aspects should be taken into account. Proven appropriate techniques should be combined in an overall integrated pest management strategy.