ASSESSMENT OF INVASIVE FRUIT FLY FRUIT INFESTATION AND DAMAGE IN CABO DELGADO PROVINCE, NORTHERN MOZAMBIQUE

Fruit flies are among the most important pests of fruits and vegetables in the world. The invasive fruit fly Bactrocera invadens (Diptera: Tephritidae) was first detected in Africa in 2003 in Kenya. In Mozambique, it was first recorded in 2007 in Niassa Province. Direct damage due to B.invadens attack in African countries varies between 30-80%, but in Mozambique such information is lacking. This study aimed at assessing fruit damage and B. invadens infestation levels in different fruits in Mozambique. Four fruit fly species emerged from the collected fruits: Bactrocera invadens, Ceratitis rosa , Ceratitis cosyra and Ceratitis capitata . Bactrocera invadens was the most abundant species (97%), followed by C. rosa (1.8%), C. cosyra (1.1%) and C. capitata (0.1%). The highest damage was observed in guava (92.5% of fruits) followed by tropical almond (67.3%) and mango (56.5%). Mean number of pupae/fruit and per kg was also higher in guava with 10.10\ub10.57 and 217.33\ub13.93, respectively. Tropical almond had the highest number of B. invadens/fruit (6.63\ub11.35) and per kg (157.24\ub17.35). The severity of damage was high in all economically important hosts.Les mouches des fruits sont parmi les peste les plus importantes des fruits et legumes \ue0 travers le monde. La mouche invasive Bactrocera invadens (Diptera: Tephritidae) de fruits \ue9tait d\ue9tect\ue9e en Afrique en 2003 au Kenya. Au Mozambique, elle y avait \ue9t\ue9 trouv\ue9e pour la premi\ue8re fois en 2007 dans la Province de Niassa. Le d\ue9gat direct d\ufb \ue0 l\u2019attaque du B. invadens dans des pays africains varie entre 30-80%, mais au Mozambique une telle information est manquante. Cette \ue9tude a \ue9valu\ue9 le niveau de d\ue9gat et l\u2019infestation de diff\ue9rents fruits au Mozambique. Quatre esp\ue8ces des mouches de fruits issues de fruits collect\ue9s: Bactrocera invadens, Ceratitis rosa , Ceratitis cosyra et Ceratitis capitata . Bactrocera invadens \ue9tait l\u2019esp\ue8ce la plus abondante (97%), suivie de by C. rosa (1.8%), C. cosyra (1.1%) et C. capitata(0.1%). Le d\ue9gat le plus \ue9lev\ue9 \ue9tait observ\ue9 dans guava (92.5% des fruits) suivi par \u201ctropical almond\u201d (67.3%) et mangue (56.5%). Le nombre moyen de nimphe par fruit et par kg \ue9tait aussi plus \ue9lev\ue9 dans guava avec 10.10\ub10.57 et 217.33\ub13.93, respectivement. Le \u201cTropical almond\u201d avait le nombre le plus \ue9lev\ue9 de B. invadens par fruit (6.63\ub11.35) et par kg (157.24\ub17.35). La s\ue9v\ue9rit\ue9 du d\ue9gat \ue9tait \ue9lev\ue9e \ue9lev\ue9e dans tous les h\uf4tes \ue9conomiquement importants

Cereal stemborer distribution and abundance, and introduction and establishment of Cotesia Flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Mozambique

Field surveys carried out in Mozambique showed that two indigenous cereal stemborers, Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and one exotic stemborer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), are the main pests of maize and sorghum in the country. Busseola fusca was abundant at high altitudes (> 800 m) and Ch. partellus was abundant at low altitudes ( 800 m) and Ch. partellus est abondant à basses altitudes (< 800 m). Sesamia calamistis est présent à toutes les altitudes mais en faible nombre. Parmi les trois foreurs des tiges, Ch. partellus est le ravageur le plus largement répandu et le plus abondant suivi par B. fusca. Aussi, un programme a été lancé pour introduire le parasitoïde exotique Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) afin d'augmenter la régulation naturelle des populations de Ch. partellus. Cotesia flavipes a été introduit dans le sud du Mozambique pour la première fois en novembre 1996. Des lâchers supplémentaires ont été par la suite réalisés dans plusieurs localités du sud et du centre du Mozambique entre 1998 et 2000. Le parasitoïde a été retrouvé dans toutes les localités échantillonnées 1 et 3 ans après son introduction, indiquant qu'il s'est établi dans les régions du sud et du centre du Mozambique

ASSESSMENT OF INVASIVE FRUIT FLY FRUIT INFESTATION AND DAMAGE IN CABO DELGADO PROVINCE, NORTHERN MOZAMBIQUE

Fruit flies are among the most important pests of fruits and vegetables in the world. The invasive fruit fly Bactrocera invadens (Diptera: Tephritidae) was first detected in Africa in 2003 in Kenya. In Mozambique, it was first recorded in 2007 in Niassa Province. Direct damage due to B.invadens attack in African countries varies between 30-80%, but in Mozambique such information is lacking. This study aimed at assessing fruit damage and B. invadens infestation levels in different fruits in Mozambique. Four fruit fly species emerged from the collected fruits: Bactrocera invadens, Ceratitis rosa , Ceratitis cosyra and Ceratitis capitata . Bactrocera invadens was the most abundant species (97%), followed by C. rosa (1.8%), C. cosyra (1.1%) and C. capitata (0.1%). The highest damage was observed in guava (92.5% of fruits) followed by tropical almond (67.3%) and mango (56.5%). Mean number of pupae/fruit and per kg was also higher in guava with 10.10±0.57 and 217.33±3.93, respectively. Tropical almond had the highest number of B. invadens/fruit (6.63±1.35) and per kg (157.24±7.35). The severity of damage was high in all economically important hosts.Les mouches des fruits sont parmi les peste les plus importantes des fruits et legumes à travers le monde. La mouche invasive Bactrocera invadens (Diptera: Tephritidae) de fruits était détectée en Afrique en 2003 au Kenya. Au Mozambique, elle y avait été trouvée pour la première fois en 2007 dans la Province de Niassa. Le dégat direct dû à l’attaque du B. invadens dans des pays africains varie entre 30-80%, mais au Mozambique une telle information est manquante. Cette étude a évalué le niveau de dégat et l’infestation de différents fruits au Mozambique. Quatre espèces des mouches de fruits issues de fruits collectés: Bactrocera invadens, Ceratitis rosa , Ceratitis cosyra et Ceratitis capitata . Bactrocera invadens était l’espèce la plus abondante (97%), suivie de by C. rosa (1.8%), C. cosyra (1.1%) et C. capitata(0.1%). Le dégat le plus élevé était observé dans guava (92.5% des fruits) suivi par “tropical almond” (67.3%) et mangue (56.5%). Le nombre moyen de nimphe par fruit et par kg était aussi plus élevé dans guava avec 10.10±0.57 et 217.33±3.93, respectivement. Le “Tropical almond” avait le nombre le plus élevé de B. invadens par fruit (6.63±1.35) et par kg (157.24±7.35). La sévérité du dégat était élevée élevée dans tous les hôtes économiquement importants

Performances of Cotesia sesamiae and Cotesia flavipes (hymenoptea: Braconidae) as biological control agents against cereal stemborers in Mozambique

(African Crop Science Journal 1999 7(4): 497-502

Perfomance Of Cotesia Sesamiae And Cotesia Flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) As Biological Control Agents Against Cereal Stemborers In Mozambique

Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Busseola fusca (Fuller) and Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are the most important stemborers of maize and grain sorghum in Mozambique. Of these, C. partellus is an exotic species which was accidentally introduced into Africa from Asia. Several parasitoids have been recorded from stemborers in Mozambique in previous studies, but the levels of parasitism were typically low. Based on the low parasitism, an exotic parasitoid of C. partellus from Asia, Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), was introduced at two locations in the southern region of Mozambique in 1996. Additional releases were made in 1999 in the southern and central regions of the country. Three years after the initial release of C. flavipes, it was recovered in the southern part of the country near one of the 1996 release sites, indicating that it has become established. However, percent parasitism was &lt; 1%. The exotic parasitoid was also recovered from release sites during the second release (1999). The native parasitoid, Cotesia sesamiae Cameron, was the most common natural enemy recovered in the 1999 samples. Parasitism of the native stemborer, S. calamistis, by C. sesamiae was higher than parasitism of C. partellus at all sites, even though C. partellus was the most abundant species. C. flavipes was recovered from B. fusca and the exotic stemborer, C. partellus.Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Busseola fusca (Fuller) et Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) sont des borers de tige les plus importants du ma\uefs et du sorgho au Mozambique. Parmi eux, C. partellus est une esp\ue8ce exotique qui a \ue9t\ue9 introduite accidentellement de l\u92Asie en Afrique. Plusieurs parasito\uefdes ont \ue9t\ue9 observ\ue9s chez les borers de tige au Mozambique dans des \ue9tudes pr\ue9c\ue9dentes, mais les niveaux du parasitisme \ue9taient faibles. Suite au parasitisme faible, un parasitoide exotique du C. partellus d\u92Asie, Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a \ue9t\ue9 introduit dans deux localit\ue9s dans la r\ue9gion sud du Mozambique en 1996. Des l\ue2cher suppl\ue9mentaires ont \ue9t\ue9 faits en 1999 dans les r\ue9gions sud et centre du pays. Trois ans apr\ue8s le l\ue2cher initial du C. flavipes, il a \ue9t\ue9 retrouv\ue9 dans la partie sud du pay tout pr\ueat de l\u92un des sites des l\ue2cher de 1996, montrant qu\u92il \ue9tait \ue9tabli. Cependant, le pourcentage du parasitisme \ue9tait &lt;1%. Le parasito\uefde exotique a \ue9t\ue9 aussi retrouv\ue9 dans les sites de l\ue2cher de 1999 pendant la deuxi\ue8me p\ue9riode de l\ue2cher. Le parasitoide natif, Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron),\ue9tait l\u92ennemi naturel commun retrouv\ue9 dans les \ue9chantillons de 1999. Le parasitisme du borer de tige natif, S. calamistis, par C. sesamiae \ue9tait plus \ue9lev\ue9 plus que le parasitsme de C. partellus dans tous les sites, bien que C. partellus \ue9tait l\u92esp\ue8ce la plus abondante. C. flavipes a \ue9t\ue9 retrouv\ue9 chez B. fusca et chez le borer exotique C. partellus

RELEASE OF COTESIA FLAVIPES CAMERON FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF CEREAL STEMBORERS IN TWO ECOLOGICAL ZONES IN MOZAMBIQUE

Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a gregarious larval endoparasitoid of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and other stemborers in the Indo-Australian region, was released in Mozambique for the first time in 1996. Before its release, countrywide surveys on stemborers and their natural enemies were conducted in several places. However, all led to the same conclusion: that Ch. partellus was the most abundant stemborer at the majority of locations, and that the rate of larval parasitism was very low (< 5 %). To evaluate the effect of stemborer species composition on the establishment of Co. flavipes, two releases were made at two agroecologically different sites during the 1998/1999 and 1999/2000 growing seasons. Cotesia flavipes was recovered from all the three stemborer species found at each site during the season of release and a year later. However, the rates of parasitism were very low, ranging from 0.6 to 1.9 % on Ch. partellus, 3.2 % on Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and 2.6 % on Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The native natural enemy, Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was the most common larval parasitoid at the two sites. The recoveries of Co. flavipes during the release period and a year later indicate that this exotic parasitoid has become established at the two locations in the southern and central regions of Mozambique, in spite of differences in stemborer species composition. However, it is too early to evaluate the impact of Co. flavipes on the stemborer populations. RÉSUMÉ Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), un endoparasitoïde larvaire grégaire de Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) et d'autres foreurs des tiges de la région Indo-Australienne, a été relâché au Mozambique pour la première fois en 1996. Avant d'être relâché, des enquêtes sur les foreurs des tiges et leurs ennemis naturels ont été menées à travers tout le pays dans différents endroits. Elles aboutissent toutes à la conclusion que Ch. partellus est le foreur des tiges le plus abondant dans la majorité des localités, et que le taux de parasitisme larvaire est très bas (< 5 %). Afin d'évaluer les effets de la composition en espèces de foreurs des tiges sur l'acclimatationt de Co. flavipes, deux lâchers ont été réalisés dans deux zones agroécologiques différentes pendant les saisons culturales 1998/1999 et 1999/2000. Cotesia flavipes a été retrouvé dans toutes les espèces de foreur des tiges rencontrées dans chacune des zones étudiées durant la saison du lâcher et l'année suivante. Cependant, les taux de parasitisme ont été très bas, compris entre 0,6 et 1,9 % sur Ch. partellus, 3.2 % sur Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) et 2.6 % sur Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). L'ennemi naturel indigène, Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) a été le parasitoïde larvaire le plus commun dans les deux zones. La récupération de Co. flavipes pendant la période de lâcher et une année plus tard indique que ce parasitoïde exotique s'est établi dans les deux localités dans les régions du sud et du centre du Mozambique, en dépit d'une différence de composition en espèces des foreurs des tiges. Il est cependant trop tôt pour évaluer l'impact de Co. flavipes sur les populations de foreurs des tiges

Species diversity and distribution of lepidopteran stem borers in South Africa and Mozambique

Country-wide surveys of lepidopteran stem borers in wild host plants were undertaken between 2006 and 2009 in South Africa and 2005 and 2010 in Mozambique. A total of 4438 larvae were collected from 65 wild host plants in South Africa and 1920 larvae from 30 wild host plants in Mozambique. In South Africa and Mozambique, 50 and 39 stem borer species were recovered, respectively, with four new species and two new genera among noctuids. Less than 5% of the total number of species collected are considered to be economically important in Africa. These species were Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Noctuidae), Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Crambidae) and Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Noctuidae). Data from this study and others in East Africa on the very low abundance of stem borers in wild host plants question the putative role of wild host plants as reservoir for stem borer pests. One new host plant family (Prioniaceae), as well as 24 and 13 wild hosts from South Africa and Mozambique respectively, was added to the list of known hosts in Africa

Diversity of stem borer parasitoids and their associated wild host plants in South Africa and Mozambique

Please help populate SUNScholar with the full text of SU research output. Also - should you need this item urgently, please send us the details and we will try to get hold of the full text as quick possible. E-mail to [email protected]. Thank you.Journal Articles (subsidised)AgriwetenskappeBewaringsekologie en Entomologi

Diversity of stem borer parasitoids and their associated wild host plants in South Africa and Mozambique

The diversity of lepidopterous stem borers, their parasitoids and their associated wild host plants was studied in South Africa between 2006 and 2009 and in Mozambique between 2005 and 2010. In South Africa, 20 species of parasitoids were recovered from 17 stem borer species collected on 16 wild host plant species. From Mozambique, 14 parasitoid species were recorded from 16 stem borer species collected on 14 wild host plant species. The highest diversity of parasitoids was recorded on stem borers that attacked the host plants Phragmites australis (7 spp.) and Panicum maximum (6 spp.), in South Africa and Mozambique, respectively. Bracon sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Procerochasmias nigromaculatus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were the most recorded parasitoid species in South Africa while Cotesia sesamiae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitized most stem borer species in Mozambique. The most common tachinid parasitoid recorded in this study was Sturmiopsis parasitica (Diptera: Tachinidae). Parasitism of stem borers during the off season was previously thought to occur mainly in natural habitats but this study shows that although natural habitats provided refuges for some parasitoid species, stem borer parasitism was generally low in wild host plants, irrespective of whether collections were done during the cropping or off-season. Parasitoid beta diversity did not depend on habitat or host plant species, but was determined by stem borer diversity

Systematics and molecular phylogeny of two African stem borer genera, Sciomesa Tams & Bowden and Carelis Bowden (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae)

Currently, the systematics of the African noctuid stem borers of the subtribe Sesamiina, which include major pests of cereals, is confused. In addition, their ecology is poorly known, as are the factors influencing their evolution. In this paper, we address these shortcomings for two genera of the Sesamiina, Sciomesa Tams & Bowden and Carelis Bowden. Mixed Bayesian phylogenetic analysis, which included their host plants and two mitochondrial genes, showed the genus Sciomesa to be polyphyletic. Two new genera were created, Pirateolea and Feraxinia. The genus Carelis proved to be paraphyletic and was subdivided into two sub-genera. The genera Sciomesa, Carelis and Pirateolea (named the 'Sciomesa genus group') share morphological traits, and the phylogenetic analysis showed that they had a common ancestor living on Cyperaceae and that they were distant from the genus Feraxinia belonging to another clade which had an ancestor living on Poaceae. Seven new species were described: Sciomesa gnosia sp. n., Sciomesia bua sp. n., Pirateolea nola gen. n, sp. n., Feraxinia serena gen. n., sp. n., Carelis australis sp. n., Carelis transversa sp. n. and Carelis agnae sp. n. Ten species were sunk as synonyms: Sciomesa mesoscia (Hampson) syn. n., Sciomesa mirifica Laporte syn. n., Sciomesa constantini Laporte syn. n. and Sciomesa etchecopari Laporte syn. n. are synonyms of Sciomesa mesophaea (Aurivillius); Acrapex sparsipucta Laporte syn. n. is a synonym of Sciomesa excelsa (Laporte) comb. n.; Acrapex congitae Laporte syn. n., Sesamia minuta Laporte syn. n. and Sesamia minuscula Laporte syn. n. are synonyms of Sciomesa boulardi (Laporte) comb. n.; Acrapex bryae Laporte syn. n. and Acrapex fayei Laporte syn. n. are synonyms of Feraxinia jemjemensis (Laporte) comb. n. Eleven new combinations were created: Sciomesa excelsa (Laporte) comb. n., Sciomesa boulardi (Laporte) comb. n., Sciomesa punctipennis (Kruger) comb. n., Pirateolea piscator (Fletcher) comb. n., Pirateolea argocyma (Fletcher) comb. n., Pirateolea cyclophora (Fletcher) comb. n., Pirateolea ochroneura (Fletcher) comb. n., Pirateolea funebris (Kruger) comb. n., Feraxinia nyei (Fletcher) comb. n., Feraxinia jemjemensis (Laporte) comb. n. and Carelis biluma (Nye) comb. n