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Distribution and Species Composition of Cereal Stemborers in the Eastern Zone of Tanzania

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Abstract

A survey was conducted in the four regions of Tanga, Morogoro, Coast and Dar es Salaam in eastern Tanzania to determine the distribution and species composition of cereal stemborers and their natural enemies. A total of 22 fields were sampled in Tanga, 28 in Morogoro, 17 in Coast and one in Dar es Salaam. Chilo pattellas was found to be the predominant species, accounting for 80 % of all stemborers collected. Busseola fusca, Sesamia calamistis and Chilo orichalcociliellus made up 15,4 and less than 1 % of the stemborers collected respectively. Infestation levels varied with the age of the plants, whereby younger plants were more severely infested (infestation ranging from 20–40 %) thnn mature plants (infestation ranging from 5–15 %). Two larval parasitoids, Cotesia sesamiae and Cotesia flavipes, were the main natural enemies collected. However, the levels of parasitism of the stemborers were very low. The exotic natural enemy Co. flavipes may have spread from the Kenya coast (where it is established) into eastern Tanzania.

Résumé

Une enquête a été menée dans les quatre régions de Tanga, Morogoro, Coast et Dar es Salaam dans l’est de la Tanzanie afin de déterminer la distribution et la composition jen espèces des foreurs de tige de céréales et de leurs ennemis naturels. Au total, 22 champs ont été échantillonnés dans Tanga, 28 dans Morogoro, 17 dans Coast et un dans Dar es Salaam. Chilo Partellus est l’espèce dominante, il représente 80% de tous les foreurs des tiges récoltés. Busseola fusca, Sesamia calamistis et Chilo orichalcociliellus représentent respectivement 15, 4 et moins de 1 % des foreurs de tige récoltés. Les niveaux d’infestation varient avec l’âge des plantes; ainsi les plantes les plus jeunes sont plus sévèrement infestées (l’infestation est comprise entre 20–40%) que les plantes mûres (l’infestation est comprise entre 5 et 15%). Deux parasitoïdes larvaires, Cotesia sesamiae et Cotesia flavipes, sont les principaux ennemis naturels récoltés. Cependant, les niveaux de parasitisme des foreurs des tiges sont très bas. L’ennemi naturel exotique Co. flavipes a dû s’étendre de la côte kenyanne (où il est établi) vers la côte tanzanienne.

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Correspondence to B. Pallangyo.

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Nsami, E., Pallangyo, B., Mgoo, V. et al. Distribution and Species Composition of Cereal Stemborers in the Eastern Zone of Tanzania. Int J Trop Insect Sci 21, 347–351 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400008444

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400008444

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