Exchange of Natural Enemies of Lepidofteran Cereal Stemborers Between African Regions

Schulthess, Fritz; Bosque‐Pérez, Nilsa A.; Chabi-Olaye, A.; Gounou, S.; Ndemah, R.; Goergen, Georg

doi:10.1017/s1742758400022219

Cited by 64 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Host plants such as Pennisetum purpereum and P. trachyphyllum are known to be more attractive than maize for oviposition of B. fusca and C. partellus (Khan et al, 1997;Ndemah et al, 2002). Schulthess et al (1997) also showed that two other stemborers, Sesamia calamistis Hampson and Eldana saccharina Walker, were more attracted to wild host plants such as Hyparrhenia rufa, Pennisetum polystachion and Andropogon sp. than to maize for oviposition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite a higher attractiveness of certain wild host plant species to ovipositing females, poor larval performance has been recorded in most of these plants compared to maize (Khan et al, 2000;Ofomata et al, 2000;Schulthess et al, 1997). On maize, more than 70% of the stemborer larvae pupated, while less than 30% of larvae reached the pupal stage on some wild grass species (Schulthess et al, 1997).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On maize, more than 70% of the stemborer larvae pupated, while less than 30% of larvae reached the pupal stage on some wild grass species (Schulthess et al, 1997). Khan et al (2000) reported that C. partellus and B. fusca larval survival was close to zero on napier grass, P. purpureum.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, in tropical and sub-tropical Africa the situation is significantly different. Large monocultures of maize are seldom found and maize fields are generally surrounded by natural habitats that could serve as reservoirs and refuges (Schulthess et al, 1997). Pest populations often breed continuously throughout the year.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diversity of alternative hosts of maize stemborers in Trans-Nzoia district of Kenya

Kanya

Ngi-Song

Sétamou³

et al. 2004

Environ. Biosafety Res.

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Genetically-engineered (GE) crops such as those expressing insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin genes have the potential to greatly reduce the use of broad spectrum insecticides and increase crop productivity. However, development of resistance by the target insect species is an important consideration in the deployment of this strategy. In areas where GE crops are deployed on a large scale, current resistance management strategies rely on a 'refuge strategy', comprising the incorporation of a certain proportion of non-GE plants in the agro-ecosystems, to conserve susceptible individuals of the target pests. In the USA, simulation models indicate that at least 20% of the crop should be non-Bt plants. In Africa, the target lepidopteran stemborers attack a wide range of wild grass species as well as cultivated cereal crops. Wild grasses generally occur in the vicinity of maize and other cereal fields, and may provide a refuge if GE crops are in the farming systems. To assess the quality of these grasses as refuges, it is critical to obtain information about their size and spatial distribution. In this study, we have assessed the abundance and diversity of alternative refuge of stemborers, mainly wild grasses occurring in the proximity of maize fields, in Trans-Nzoia district, one of the most important maize growing areas in Kenya. The proportion of wild host plants relative to maize was found to decline from 100% during the non-cropping season to <8% during the maize-growing season. The ShannonWeaver diversity index indicated high variation in the diversity of wild hosts of stemborers between agroecological zones in the district. The results of this study are discussed in light of the possible role that wild host plant species might play in stemborer resistance management following the introduction of Bt maize.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Diversity of alternative hosts of maize stemborers in Trans-Nzoia district of Kenya

Kanya

Ngi-Song

Sétamou³

et al. 2004

Environ. Biosafety Res.

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“…Parasitism is usually below 5%, though in some localities it can attain 75% (Kfir, 1995;Sallam et al, 1999;Jiang et al, 2006;Songa et al, 2007). Several strains of C. sesamiae from Kenya were introduced into west Africa, where C. sesamiae is very rare, to control B. fusca and S. calamistis (Schulthess et al, 1997;Ndemah et al, 2007). Cotesia flavipes Cameron, a close relative of C. sesamiae, was introduced into Kenya from Asia in 1991, and released against C. partellus in the coastal area in 1993 (Overholt et al, 1994b), where it reduced C. partellus densities by over 50% (Zhou et al, 2001;Jiang et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host recognition and acceptance behaviour in Cotesia sesamiae and C. flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), parasitoids of gramineous stemborers in Africa

Calatayud¹,

Rü²,

Obonyo³

et al. 2010

Eur. J. Entomol.

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Abstract. The host recognition and acceptance behaviour of two braconid larval parasitoids (Cotesia sesamiae and C. flavipes) were studied using natural stemborer hosts (i.e., the noctuid Busseola fusca for C. sesamiae, and the crambid Chilo partellus for C. flavipes) and a non-host (the pyralid Eldana saccharina). A single larva was introduced into an arena together with a female parasitoid and the behaviour of the wasp recorded until it either stung the larva or for a maximum of 5 min if it did not sting the larva. There was a clear hierarchy of behavioural steps, which was similar for both parasitoid species. In the presence of suitable host larvae, after a latency period of 16-17 s, the wasp walked rapidly drumming the surface with its antennae until it located the larva. After location and antennal examination of the host, which lasted 60-70 s and 30 s, respectively, the parasitoid inserted its ovipositor. Stinging that resulted in successful oviposition usually lasted 5-6 s. In the presence of non-host larvae, the latency period was between 25-70 s, and parasitoids spent significantly more time walking and antennal drumming on larvae without ovipositing. It is likely that these two parasitoid species use their antennae for host recognition, and both their antennae and tarsi for final acceptance of a host for oviposition. In both C. sesamiae and C. flavipes tactile and contact-chemoreception stimuli from the hosts seemed to play a major role in the decision to oviposit.

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Push-Pull: Chemical Ecology-Based Integrated Pest Management Technology

et al. 2016

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Lepidopterous stemborers, and parasitic striga weeds belonging to the family Orobanchaceae, attack cereal crops in sub-Saharan Africa causing severe yield losses. The smallholder farmers are resource constrained and unable to afford expensive chemicals for crop protection. The push-pull technology, a chemical ecology- based cropping system, is developed for integrated pest and weed management in cereal-livestock farming systems. Appropriate plants were selected that naturally emit signaling chemicals (semiochemicals). Plants highly attractive for stemborer egg laying were selected and employed as trap crops (pull), to draw pests away from the main crop. Plants that repelled stemborer females were selected as intercrops (push). The stemborers are attracted to the trap plant, and are repelled from the main cereal crop using a repellent intercrop (push). Root exudates of leguminous repellent intercrops also effectively control the parasitic striga weed through an allelopathic mechanism. Their root exudates contain flavonoid compounds some of which stimulate germination of Striga hermonthica seeds, such as Uncinanone B, and others that dramatically inhibit their attachment to host roots, such as Uncinanone C and a number of di-C-glycosylflavones (di-CGFs), resulting in suicidal germination. The intercrop also improves soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, natural mulching, improved biomass, and control of erosion. Both companion plants provide high value animal fodder, facilitating milk production and diversifying farmers' income sources. The technology is appropriate to smallholder mixed cropping systems in Africa. Adopted by about 125,000 farmers to date in eastern Africa, it effectively addresses major production constraints, significantly increases maize yields, and is economical as it is based on locally available plants, not expensive external inputs.

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Exchange of Natural Enemies of Lepidofteran Cereal Stemborers Between African Regions

Cited by 64 publications

References 18 publications

Diversity of alternative hosts of maize stemborers in Trans-Nzoia district of Kenya

Diversity of alternative hosts of maize stemborers in Trans-Nzoia district of Kenya

Host recognition and acceptance behaviour in Cotesia sesamiae and C. flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), parasitoids of gramineous stemborers in Africa

Push-Pull: Chemical Ecology-Based Integrated Pest Management Technology

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