Influence of Weather Factors on Seasonal Population Dynamics of <i>Coelaenomenodera elaeidis</i> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and Its Natural Enemies in NIFOR, Nigeria

Abstract

The leaf miner (Coelaenomenodera elaeidis) is the major pest of the oil palm. Seasonality of C. elaeidis, its natural enemies and their relationship with temperature, rainfall and relative humidity were observed between January 2009 and December 2010 at the main station of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research. Leaf miner population estimates were obtained from NIFOR entomology division from 1976-1980. This study analyses temporal patterns in leaf miner abundance, and elucidates general patterns and factors influencing leaf miner abundance. Multiple linear regressions were used to analyse the relationship between abundance of leaf miner, its parasitoids and predators and the following climatic variables: maximum and minimum temperature (˚C), rainfall (mm) and relative humidity (%). Climate variables from the month of pest collection (control variable) or from the month before collection (delayed variable) were used. The abundance of leaf miner and predatory ants peaked in the dry season, while parasitoids were most abundant in the rainy season. Significant correlations (P ≤ 0.05) were found between leaf miner, its natural enemies and both control and delayed weather variables. For all years, maximum temperature was the most dominant for all the leaf miner stages. This indicates that the weather variables at both the month of collection and with a delayed month in relation to collection are critical for pest-weather evaluation and important for leaf miner control. Temperature, rainfall and relative humidity had an effect on the population of C. elaeidis, and this effect is manifested primarily in seasonal fluctuations in oil palm agroecosystems. Weather influenced the seasonal population dynamics of C. elaeidis, facilitating early season build-up on the oil palm host crop. Dry season months with resultant higher temperatures recorded higher population of C. elaeidis.

Seasonal and microclimatic effects on leaf beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) in a tropical forest fragment in northeastern Mexico

“…A similar set of microclimatic variables has been associated with Chrysomelidae in other works, specifically temperature, heat index, maximum wind speed and evapotranspiration (Stewart et al 1996;Flinte and Valverde de Macedo 2004;Isard et al 2004;Baselga and Jiménez-Valverde 2007;Linzmeier and Ribeiro-Costa 2013;Aneni et al 2014;Sánchez-Reyes et al 2016b;Oliveira et al 2017;Sandoval-Becerra et al 2017). There are other studies where the most important abiotic variables were solar radiation, precipitation, relative humidity, photoperiod and condensation point (Flinte and Valverde de Macedo 2004;Isard et al 2004;Linzmeier and Ribeiro-Costa 2013).…”

Temporal changes in arthropod activity in tropical anthropogenic forests

“…The relationship was slightly positive in both the OPF and SRF, but negative in the UOF. Other studies have also reported significant correlations between beetle diversity and temperature (Pinheiro et al , 2002; Sittichaya et al , 2013; Aneni et al , 2014), for example, Pinheiro and colleagues (2002) showed the abundance of beetles in Brazilian Cerrado was significantly positively correlated with delayed maximum temperature (maximum temperature of the previous month). Most beetles are nocturnal or remain hidden during daylight (when the maximum temperature is most likely to occur), move slowly and rarely fly, and are unlikely to thermoregulate (Lease et al , 2014).…”

Seasonal decline of the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta, in the shifting landscape of a vegetable‐growing area

“…According to Aneni et al. (), higher temperature and lower relative humidity during the dry season increase the incidence of the leafminer Coelaenomenodera elaeidis Maulik, a major pest of oil palm in Africa. Rainfall can also be an important driver of the seasonal dynamics of insect populations.…”

“…Souza & Carvalho (2002) reported that the decrease in relative humidity and temperature increased the abundance of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) in a citrus orchard in southern Brazil. According to Aneni et al (2014), higher temperature and lower relative humidity during the dry season increase the incidence of the leafminer Coelaenomenodera elaeidis Maulik, a major pest of oil palm in Africa. Rainfall can also be an important driver of the seasonal dynamics of insect populations.…”