Termites are important ecosystem engineers. Yet they are often difficult to identify due to the lack of reliable species-specific morphological traits for many species, which hampers ecological research. Recently, termitologists working with West African termites (West African Termite Taxonomy Initiative) convened for a workshop with the aim of beginning to address this problem. Repeated determination of the same termite samples by the most renowned taxonomists for West African termites identified the huge scale of the problem, as less than 10% of all species could be unambiguously determined to the species level. Intensive discussions and comparisons increased the identification success to around 25% at the end of the workshop. Yet many groups remained problematic and molecular markers and barcoding techniques combined with species delimitation approaches will be needed to help resolve these existing taxonomic problems. Based on the outcome of this workshop, we propose concerted initiatives to address termite taxonomy on a global scale. We are convinced that dedicated workshops on regional taxonomy that follow a similar structured approach, with repeated determination of the same sample, will help overcome the difficulties that termite taxonomy faces. This initiative can also serve as a blueprint for other taxonomical groups that are difficult to identify.
Two field experiments were conducted in July and August 2004 to determine the effect of date of planting and rate of application of carbofuran (Furadan 3G) on damage by stem borers to flint, sweet and pop maize (Zea mays L) genotypes. Each experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with a spilt plot arrangement of treatment, replicated four times. Results from July 2004 cropping season showed significant interactions of maize genotypes and rate of application of carbofuran in percentage bored stem and number of borer cavity. However, borer population density and damage were effectively reduced by carbofuran application at the rate of 1.5 Kg a. i/ha. In August planting, the results showed that borer infestation was approximately five times higher in the control plots than treated plots. Carbofuran at the rate of 1.5 Kg ai/ha could be used to control stem borer population effectively in all the three genotypes, to obtain higher grain yield.
Early and late crops of flint, pop and sweet maize (Zea mays L.) were sown in field plots laid in randomized complete block design at the Teaching and Research Farm in 2004. Stem borer infestation and damage were assessed both in the plots treated with 1.5 kg carbofuran/ha and in those not treated for stem borer control. The maize types, as subplot treatments, and carbofuran application vs no application, as main plot treatments, were replicated four times. Borer damage was quantified as percentage dead-heart, bored stems, lodged stems, bored internodes, and as numbers of borer larvae/stem and borer cavities. The damage parameters were correlated with each other and with yield. Busseola fusca Fuller was the most abundant species; borer infestation was 5 times higher in the late than in the early crop and application of carbofuran resulted in 86.8 and 63.5 % control, respectively. Yield loss due to borer damage to the early crop was 14.0%; that for the late crop was 1.5-fold higher. In both crops, maize type exerted no significant effect (P>0.05) on borer damage. Percentage bored internodes was positively and significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with number of bored stems (r = 0.95, early crop; 0.88, late crop), and lodged stems (r = 0.82, early crop; 0.83, late crop). Similarly, bored and lodged stems were positively correlated (r =0.75 and 0.74, respectively in the early and late crop; P < 0.01). Dead-heart was positively correlated with each stem damage parameter; coefficients of correlation were higher for the early than the late crop. All damage parameters were negatively correlated with yield but a robust yield loss predictive model was not found. As such, use of carbofuran against maize stem borers would continue to be prophylactic at Makurdi.
A survey work on the benefits of entomophagous insects was carried out in four Local Government Areas of Central Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria to assess the most preferred and most consumed edible insect species. Three communities were selected from each Local Government Area. Three hundred and twenty (320) structured questionnaires were administered to the selected sampling population. The data were processed and subjected to statistical analysis such as descriptive and percentages as well analysis of variance. The result showed that insects consumed (bug, beetle, termite, bee, caterpillar, grasshopper and cricket) cut across the following Orders: Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Isoptera, Lepidotera, Hemiptera and Diptera. The Order Coleoptera had the highest number of species followed closely by the Orders Isoptera and Orthoptera. The insects were harvested/collected by the consumers from the wild at different periods of the year and prepared for consumption either by boiling, frying, roasting or sun drying while some were consumed raw. Rural dwellers majorly children are the major consumers of edible insects. These insects form an integral part of the diet of the people of the Central Part of the State.
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