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Biological Control of Eldana saccharina Walker in South African Sugarcane: Constraints Identified From 15 Years of Research

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Abstract

The progress of the South African Sugar Association Experiment Station’s 15-year-old biological control programme against Eldana saccharina Walker is reviewed. Two approaches at controlling this borer, a ‘new association’ and a ‘modified’ classical biological approach are summarised. Constraints identified as limiting the successful establishment of 10 egg, 12 larval and 2 pupal ‘new association’ parasitoids include host incompatibility, climatic incompatibility, poor ecological and biological life history knowledge, incorrect parasitoid searching ability and hyperparasitic tendencies. The 3 egg and 7 larval ‘modified’ classical biocontrol parasitoids which could be reared in the laboratory had constraints such as parasitising ability, different host habitat, differing host behaviours in different habitats and initial host identification difficulties to overcome. Difficulties encountered in this biological control programme against an indigenous pest insect show that biological control is not easy. Knowledge of constraints identified during this programme will hopefully be of use to others embarking on similar projects.

Résumé

Le progrès réalisé en 15 années par le programme de lutte biologique contre Eldana saccharina Walker dans la Station Expérimentale de l’Association Sucrière de l’Afrique du Sud est revu. Deux approches pour lutter contre ce foreur, une ’nouvelle association’ et une approche de lutte biologique classique ’modifiée’ sont résumeés. Des contraintes identifiées comme limitant le succès de l’établissement de 10 parasitoïdes oeufs, 12 du stade larvaires et 2 du stade pupal dans l’approche de al ’nouvelle association’ comprennent l’incompatibilité de l’hôte, l’incompatibilité climatique, la pauvre connaissance de l’écologie et l’histoire naturelle, l’habilité de recherche du parasitoïde inadaptée et des tendances à l’hyperparasitime. Dans la lutte biologique classique ’modifiee’, les 3 parasitoïdes des oeufs et les 7 du stade larvaire qu’il était possible d’élever au la boratoire avaient à surmonter des contraintes telles que la capacité de parasiter, la différence de l’habitat de l’hôte, des comportements différents de l’hôte dans des habitats différents ainsi que des difficultés dans l’identification préalable de l’hôte. Les difficultés rencontrées dans la lutte biologique contre un insect ravageur indigène montrent que la lutte biologique n’est pas aisée. Il y a espoir que la connaissance des contraintes identifiées au cours de ce programme seront utiles pour d’autres qui entreprennent des projets similaires.

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  1. Mount Edgecombe, South African Sugar Association Experiment Station, Private Bag X02, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

    Des E. Conlong

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Conlong, D.E. Biological Control of Eldana saccharina Walker in South African Sugarcane: Constraints Identified From 15 Years of Research. Int J Trop Insect Sci 17, 69–78 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400022189

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