Suitability of cereal stemborers in Cameroon to Kenyan populations of the braconid larval parasitoid Cotesia sesamiae
2012
Ndemah, R. | Schulthess, F. | Abang, A. | Ghogomu, R. T. | Ntonifor, N. | Dupas, S. | LeRü, B.
The noctuid Busseola fusca is the most destructive pest of maize in Cameroon. Various habitat management technologies have been developed and tested but none of them provides a selfâsustainable solution. The braconid Cotesia sesamiae, the most common larval endoparasitoid of the B.âfusca in eastern Africa, is rare in West Africa and Cameroon. In Cameroon, it is mostly found on nonâcrop borer species feeding on wild grasses. Thus, two Kenyan C.âsesamiae populations and their hybrid were introduced into Cameroon. Suitability studies were carried out with two B.âfusca populations, the noctuid Poeonoma serrata, which is commonly found feeding on Napier grass but not maize, and the noctuid Sesamiae cretica, which was recently accidentally introduced into Mauritania, where it attacks sorghum. The performance of the C.âsesamiae was influenced by both host species/population and parasitoid population, although the B.âfusca population had a minor effect. The reproductive potential of the hybrid was superior over that of its parent populations. The least suitable host was P.âserrata, thus it was concluded that it would probably not play a major role in perennating C.âsesamiae during the dry season. With S.âcretica as host, parasitism was similar but brood size was lower than with either B.âfusca population. Release strategies of C.âsesamiae and its chances of establishment on B.âfusca and S.âcretica in the hot–humid forest zone and the cool highland of Cameroon and in Mauritania are discussed.
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