30 research outputs found
Facilitating learning toward sustainable cotton pest management in Benin : the interactive design of research for development
Over the last decade, the economic sustainability of the cotton industry in Benin has been questioned. Low yield caused by pests and socio-economic problems have been identified as the main problems facing cotton producers, leading to low income. This thesis has addressed the technical and organisational problems of crop protection in the cotton sector in Benin. It has analysed why technical alternatives to farmers' current dependence on purchased synthetic insecticides is necessary if cotton is to remain a worthwhile crop for farmers, and if the cotton sector is to regain the efficiency needed to compete in today's markets. Findings showed a range of alternative methods for controlling economically significant cotton pests, principally by means of the integration of different pest control methods such as the use of botanicals, entomopathogens. and the reduction of the number of sprays and synthetic active ingredients by using action thresholds. The study also demonstrated a methodology for conducting site-specific, ecologically-informed Research for Development (R4D), that created the institutional potential to sustain innovation. The notable features of the methodology were: using a perspective relevant to farmers as the entry point, developing control methods in the context of a multi-stakeholder learning alliance, and altering the boundaries and conditions that affect the space for change
Founding weaver ant queens (Oecophylla longinoda) increase production and nanitic worker size when adopting nonnestmate pupae
Weaver ants (Oecophylla longinoda Latreille) are used commercially to control pest insects
and for protein production. In this respect fast colony growth is desirable for managed
colonies. Transplantation of non-nestmate pupae to incipient colonies has been shown to
boost colony growth. Our objectives were to find the maximum number of pupae a founding
queen can handle, and to measure the associated colony growth. Secondly, we tested if
transplantation of pupae led to production of larger nanitic workers (defined as unusually
small worker ants produced by founding queens in their first batch of offspring). Forty-five
fertilized queens were divided into three treatments: 0 (control), 100 or 300 non-nestmate
pupae transplanted to each colony. Pupae transplantation resulted in highly increased growth
rates, as pupae were readily adopted by the queens and showed high proportions of surviving
(mean = 76%). However, survival was significantly higher when 100 pupae were transplanted
compared to transplantation of 300 pupae, indicating that queens were unable to handle 300
pupae adequately and that pupae require some amount of nursing. Nevertheless, within the
60-day experiment the transplantation of 300 pupae increased total colony size more than 10-
fold whereas 100 pupae increased the size 5.6 fold, compared to control. This increase was
due not only to the individuals added in the form of pupae but also to an increased per capita
brood production by the resident queen, triggered by the adopted pupae. The size of hatching
pupae produced by the resident queen also increased with the number of pupae transplanted,
leading to larger nanitic workers in colonies adopting pupae. In conclusion, pupae
transplantation may be used to produce larger colonies with larger worker ants and may thus
reduce the time to produce weaver ant colonies for commercial purposes. This in turn may
facilitate the implementation of the use of weaver ants.Weaver ants (Oecophylla longinoda Latreille) are used commercially to control pest insects
and for protein production. In this respect fast colony growth is desirable for managed
colonies. Transplantation of non-nestmate pupae to incipient colonies has been shown to
boost colony growth. Our objectives were to find the maximum number of pupae a founding
queen can handle, and to measure the associated colony growth. Secondly, we tested if
transplantation of pupae led to production of larger nanitic workers (defined as unusually
small worker ants produced by founding queens in their first batch of offspring). Forty-five
fertilized queens were divided into three treatments: 0 (control), 100 or 300 non-nestmate
pupae transplanted to each colony. Pupae transplantation resulted in highly increased growth
rates, as pupae were readily adopted by the queens and showed high proportions of surviving
(mean = 76%). However, survival was significantly higher when 100 pupae were transplanted
compared to transplantation of 300 pupae, indicating that queens were unable to handle 300
pupae adequately and that pupae require some amount of nursing. Nevertheless, within the
60-day experiment the transplantation of 300 pupae increased total colony size more than 10-
fold whereas 100 pupae increased the size 5.6 fold, compared to control. This increase was
due not only to the individuals added in the form of pupae but also to an increased per capita
brood production by the resident queen, triggered by the adopted pupae. The size of hatching
pupae produced by the resident queen also increased with the number of pupae transplanted,
leading to larger nanitic workers in colonies adopting pupae. In conclusion, pupae
transplantation may be used to produce larger colonies with larger worker ants and may thus
reduce the time to produce weaver ant colonies for commercial purposes. This in turn may
facilitate the implementation of the use of weaver ants.Weaver ants (Oecophylla longinoda Latreille) are used commercially to control pest insects
and for protein production. In this respect fast colony growth is desirable for managed
colonies. Transplantation of non-nestmate pupae to incipient colonies has been shown to
boost colony growth. Our objectives were to find the maximum number of pupae a founding
queen can handle, and to measure the associated colony growth. Secondly, we tested if
transplantation of pupae led to production of larger nanitic workers (defined as unusually
small worker ants produced by founding queens in their first batch of offspring). Forty-five
fertilized queens were divided into three treatments: 0 (control), 100 or 300 non-nestmate
pupae transplanted to each colony. Pupae transplantation resulted in highly increased growth
rates, as pupae were readily adopted by the queens and showed high proportions of surviving
(mean = 76%). However, survival was significantly higher when 100 pupae were transplanted
compared to transplantation of 300 pupae, indicating that queens were unable to handle 300
pupae adequately and that pupae require some amount of nursing. Nevertheless, within the
60-day experiment the transplantation of 300 pupae increased total colony size more than 10-
fold whereas 100 pupae increased the size 5.6 fold, compared to control. This increase was
due not only to the individuals added in the form of pupae but also to an increased per capita
brood production by the resident queen, triggered by the adopted pupae. The size of hatching
pupae produced by the resident queen also increased with the number of pupae transplanted,
leading to larger nanitic workers in colonies adopting pupae. In conclusion, pupae
transplantation may be used to produce larger colonies with larger worker ants and may thus
reduce the time to produce weaver ant colonies for commercial purposes. This in turn may
facilitate the implementation of the use of weaver ants.Weaver ants (Oecophylla longinoda Latreille) are used commercially to control pest insects
and for protein production. In this respect fast colony growth is desirable for managed
colonies. Transplantation of non-nestmate pupae to incipient colonies has been shown to
boost colony growth. Our objectives were to find the maximum number of pupae a founding
queen can handle, and to measure the associated colony growth. Secondly, we tested if
transplantation of pupae led to production of larger nanitic workers (defined as unusually
small worker ants produced by founding queens in their first batch of offspring). Forty-five
fertilized queens were divided into three treatments: 0 (control), 100 or 300 non-nestmate
pupae transplanted to each colony. Pupae transplantation resulted in highly increased growth
rates, as pupae were readily adopted by the queens and showed high proportions of surviving
(mean = 76%). However, survival was significantly higher when 100 pupae were transplanted
compared to transplantation of 300 pupae, indicating that queens were unable to handle 300
pupae adequately and that pupae require some amount of nursing. Nevertheless, within the
60-day experiment the transplantation of 300 pupae increased total colony size more than 10-
fold whereas 100 pupae increased the size 5.6 fold, compared to control. This increase was
due not only to the individuals added in the form of pupae but also to an increased per capita
brood production by the resident queen, triggered by the adopted pupae. The size of hatching
pupae produced by the resident queen also increased with the number of pupae transplanted,
leading to larger nanitic workers in colonies adopting pupae. In conclusion, pupae
transplantation may be used to produce larger colonies with larger worker ants and may thus
reduce the time to produce weaver ant colonies for commercial purposes. This in turn may
facilitate the implementation of the use of weaver ants
Pupae transplantation to boost early colony growth in the weaver ant Oecophylla longinoda Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Oecophylla ants are currently used for biological control in fruit plantations in Australia, Asia and Africa and for protein production in Asia. To further improve the technology and implement it on a large scale, effective and fast production of live colonies is de¬sirable. Early colony development may be artificially boosted via the use of multiple queens (pleometrosis) and/or by adoption of foreign pupae in developing colonies. In the present experiments, we tested if multiple queens and transplantation of pupae could boost growth in young Oecophylla longinoda colonies. We found out that colonies with two queens artificially placed in the same nest, all perished due to queen fighting, suggesting that pleometrosis is not used by O. longinoda in Benin. In contrast, pupae transplantation resulted in highly increased growth rates, as pupae were readily adopted by the queens and showed high survival rates (mean = 92%). Within the 50-day experi¬ment the total number of individuals in colonies with 50 and 100 pupae transplanted, increased with 169 and 387%, respectively, compared to colonies receiving no pupae. This increase was both due to the individuals added in the form of pupae but also due to an increased per capita brood production by the resident queen, triggered by the adopted pupae. Thus pupae transplantation may be used to shorten the time it takes to produce weaver ant colonies in ant nurseries, and may in this way facilitate the imple-mentation of weaver ant biocontrol in West Africa
Impact of African weaver ant nests [Oecophylla longinoda Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)] on mango [Mangifera indica L. (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae)] leaves
Oecophylla
ants are appreciated for their control of pests in plantation crops. However,
the ants ? nest building may have negative impacts on trees. In this study we tested
the effect of ant densities and nest building on the leaf performance of mango trees.
Trees were divided into three groups: trees without ants, trees with low and trees with
high ant densities. Subsequently, the total number of leaves, the proportion of leaves
used for nest construction, and tree growth was compared between these groups. The
percentage of leaves used for nests was between 0.42-1.2 % (mean = 0.7%±0.02) and
the total number of leaves and tree growth was not significantly different between
trees with and without ants. Further, leaf performance was compared between shoots
with and without ant nests and between leaves in or outside ant nests. The number
of leaves and lost leaves per shoot, leaf size
, leaf
condition (withered), leaf longevity
and hemipteran infection was compared between groups. In the dry season nest-shoots
held more leaves than shoots without nests despite nest-shoots showed more lost
leaves. Leaves in nests were smaller than other leaves, more likely to wither and more
often infested with scales. However, smaller nest-leaf size was probably due to the ants ?
preference for young leaves and the higher incidence of withering resulting as leaves in
nests cannot fall to the ground. In conclusion, the costs associated to ant nests were low
and did not affect the overall number of leaves per tree nor tree growth.Oecophylla
ants are appreciated for their control of pests in plantation crops. However,
the ants ? nest building may have negative impacts on trees. In this study we tested
the effect of ant densities and nest building on the leaf performance of mango trees.
Trees were divided into three groups: trees without ants, trees with low and trees with
high ant densities. Subsequently, the total number of leaves, the proportion of leaves
used for nest construction, and tree growth was compared between these groups. The
percentage of leaves used for nests was between 0.42-1.2 % (mean = 0.7%±0.02) and
the total number of leaves and tree growth was not significantly different between
trees with and without ants. Further, leaf performance was compared between shoots
with and without ant nests and between leaves in or outside ant nests. The number
of leaves and lost leaves per shoot, leaf size
, leaf
condition (withered), leaf longevity
and hemipteran infection was compared between groups. In the dry season nest-shoots
held more leaves than shoots without nests despite nest-shoots showed more lost
leaves. Leaves in nests were smaller than other leaves, more likely to wither and more
often infested with scales. However, smaller nest-leaf size was probably due to the ants ?
preference for young leaves and the higher incidence of withering resulting as leaves in
nests cannot fall to the ground. In conclusion, the costs associated to ant nests were low
and did not affect the overall number of leaves per tree nor tree growth
Facilitating learning toward sustainable cotton pest management in Benin : the interactive design of research for development
Over the last decade, the economic sustainability of the cotton industry in Benin has been questioned. Low yield caused by pests and socio-economic problems have been identified as the main problems facing cotton producers, leading to low income. This thesis has addressed the technical and organisational problems of crop protection in the cotton sector in Benin. It has analysed why technical alternatives to farmers' current dependence on purchased synthetic insecticides is necessary if cotton is to remain a worthwhile crop for farmers, and if the cotton sector is to regain the efficiency needed to compete in today's markets. Findings showed a range of alternative methods for controlling economically significant cotton pests, principally by means of the integration of different pest control methods such as the use of botanicals, entomopathogens. and the reduction of the number of sprays and synthetic active ingredients by using action thresholds. The study also demonstrated a methodology for conducting site-specific, ecologically-informed Research for Development (R4D), that created the institutional potential to sustain innovation. The notable features of the methodology were: using a perspective relevant to farmers as the entry point, developing control methods in the context of a multi-stakeholder learning alliance, and altering the boundaries and conditions that affect the space for change
Implications of on farm research for local knowledge related to fruits flies and the weaver ant Oecophylla longinoda in mango production
Published online:01 July 2008We interviewed half of the mango-growers in northern Benin, including 15 farmers involved in a regional fruit fly project, and held focus group discussions with women fruit-pickers. They were asked about pest management and their knowledge of a weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda. All considered low yields due to fruit flies to be the principal constraint upon mango production, estimating economic losses to be between 20 and 45%. None could recognize damage during the first 2 days after fruit fly egg deposition. On-farm research persuaded farmers to stop using insecticides and it also changed negative perceptions of Oecophylla. Over 80% of the farmers involved in on-farm research, compared to 25% of those not involved, reported Oecophylla to be beneficial. All fruit-pickers knew that ants protected mango from fruit flies, with 60% attributing better mango quality in terms of appearance, shelf-life and sweetness to the presence of Oecophylla. Nevertheless, 40% of the pickers still considered weaver ants a nuisance pest during harvest. Ways of reducing this nuisance need to be developed for Oecophylla to gain wider acceptance by mango-growers