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Distribution and Species Composition of Stemborers and their Natural Enemies in Maize and Sorghum in Ethiopia

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Abstract

Surveys were conducted to determine the species composition of stemborers and their natural enemies in maize and sorghum in 1999 and 2000 in eastern, northern, southern and western Ethiopia. The six species of stemborers found attacking maize and sorghum were Chilo Partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Busseolafiisca Fuller, Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), S. nonagrioides botanephaga Tarns & Bowden (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Rhynchaenus niger (Horn) (Coleoptera: Rhynchophoridae) and Pissodes dubious (Ström) (Coleoptera: Rhynchophoridae). Twenty species of primary parasitoids of eggs, larvae and pupae of Ch. partellus, B. fusca and S. calamistis were recorded. Other natural enemies, including predators, fungi and nematodes, were also found. Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was the dominant and the most widely distributed parasitoid of stemborers in Ethiopia, and was reared from field-collected Ch. partellus, B. fusca and S. calamistis.

Résumé

Des enquêtes ont été menées en 1999 et 2000 en Ethiopie afin de déterminer la composition des espèces de foreurs présents sur maïs et sorgho et leurs ennemis naturels. Les six espèces de foreurs trouvées sur le maïs et le sorgho sont Chilo Partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Busseolafiisca Fuller, Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), S. nonagrioides botanephaga Tams & Bowden (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Rhynchaenus niger (Horn) (Coleoptera: Rhynchophoridae) et Pissodes dubious (Ström) (Coleoptera: Rhynchophoridae). Vingt espèces de parasitoïdes primaires des oeufs, des larves et des pupes de Ch. partellus, B. fusca et S. calamistis ont été répertoriés. D’autres ennemis naturels en l’occurrence des prédateurs, des champignons et des nematodes ont aussi été trouvés. Le plus abondant et le plus largement répartie des parasitoïdes des foreurs en Ethiopie a été Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Il a été collecté sur Ch. partellus, B. fusca et S. calamistis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P. O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya

    Emana Getu & W. A. Overholt

  2. Kenyatta University, P. O. Box 43844, Nairobi, Kenya

    E. Kairu

Authors
  1. Emana Getu
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  2. W. A. Overholt
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  3. E. Kairu
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Correspondence to W. A. Overholt.

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Getu, E., Overholt, W.A. & Kairu, E. Distribution and Species Composition of Stemborers and their Natural Enemies in Maize and Sorghum in Ethiopia. Int J Trop Insect Sci 21, 353–359 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400008456

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