A study on the biology, ecology, behaviour and assessment of the damage of the sesame seed bug Elasmolomus sordidus (Hemiptera:Lygaeidae) in Sudan [Sudan]
1995
Hassan, A.E. (University of Khartoum. Faculty of Agriculture, Shambat (Sudan))
The increased activities in sesame production in the Sudan have led to an interest in studying the pests of economic importance of sesame crop. This study was conducted at Simsim National Rainfed Agricultural Development Center, on the bionomic of the sesame seed bug Elasmolomus sordidus (F.).Certain aspects of the biology, ecology and behaviour were reviewed and studied with the objective of defining possible lines of control. The field and lab experiments conducte dover two successive seasons 1993/94 and 1994/95 showed that the 4-sesame varieties; each contained about 50 oil on an average; were found significantly affected by the bug. The influence on the quality and quantity of the sesame for domestic consumption and export was assessed. Five levels of infestation (0; 15; 30; 45 and 60 days) were used. Results indicated that the highest crop loss was obtained with 60 days of infestation; the weight loss reached an average of 13 while the loss of oil content was almost 50 of the control and the free fatty acids assessed, as oleic acid, reached an average of 20, also the fatty acids and germination were affected. The damage of the sesame seed bug continued in the stores as well as in the field. The survey revealed the occurrence of some other insects species of economic importance of sesame besides the sesame seed bug. The population dynamic of the sesame seed bug decreased during the summer months and the bug rested under the off-season sesame straw, cracks and the cool places. The study showed clearly that the sesame seed bug is now becoming a serious problem and limiting considerably the production of sesame and it is though time to give more attention to the control of this bug by adopting special integrated pest management program in the Sudan.
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