Zur Kenntnis der Schädlinge und Krankheiten der Kulturpflanzen in Südsomalia

Summary

Most of the crops in Southern Somalia suffer from a heavy attack of insect pests. Contrary, the importance of diseases is in general less at least during the dry seasons. This was stated during a survey of the author in 1963.

Bananas are infested by scale insects, especiallyAspidiotus destructor and white grubs (Schizonycha spp.) which damage the roots. The so-called sigatoka disease shows some importance on certain varieties. The stainer bugDysdercus cardinalis and the bollwormsPlatyedra gossypiella andDiparopsis watersi are major pests of cotton. Numerous other cotton pests were not very harmful during the time of the survey. Maize proved to be badly attacked by stemborers mainly the pyralid mothChilo zonellus. The same species plays an important part as a pest of sorghum where it is frequently associated withSesamia cretica. The weaver birdQuelea quelea aethiopica causes damage in certain areas during the wet seasons. Among the sorghum diseases,Sphacelotheca spp. andTolyposporium spp. are important. Sugarcane is attacked by the mealy bugSaccharicoccus sacchari. The pyralid mothAntigastra catalaunalis is a very common pest of sesame. Major diseases of the same crop are caused by a leafcurl virus and the bacteriumXanthomonas sesami. Roots and pods of groundnuts are infested by the mealy bugDysmicoccus brevipes. Coconut palms suffer from the damage of rhino beetles (Oryctes monoceros) and scale insects (Aspidiotus destructor). Citrus shows mostly a heavy infestation by scale insects (Parlatoria spp.,Lepidosaphes spp.) and aphids (Toxoptera aurantii). The same applias to guava and sweet sop. Mealy bugs and other scale insects suck in considerable numbers on the fruits and other parts of these plants. Spider mites are important pests of papaya leaves which are also infested on many localites by a mildew disease. Among the vegetables, tomatoes show frequently an infestation by a very harmful leafcurl virus.