The major entomological problems facing Ghana's reforestation programme

Species of both the Meliaceae and Chlorophora gaud have certain outstanding qualities, which make them most popular on the external and internal timber markets respectively. Although the resources of these timbers are dwindling the Forestry Division are hopelessly incapable of establishing plantations of these species to supplement the supply of these valuable timbers from existing natural forests because of insect pests. With Meliaceae, the insect is Hypsipyla spp. (Lepidotera: Pyralidae) an age long problem of many Mahogany growing countries. With chlorophora the gall bug Phytolyma spp. (Homptera: Psyllidae) is the organism responsible. A lot has been said and written about those insects but pathetically little has been achieved by way of control. The Psyllid problem appears more localized and less complex in nature and can perhaps be adequately tackled using local resources. However, the Hypsipyla problem is more complex and it is doubtful whether any of the Mohogany growing countries have the requisite resources and personnel to investigate the problem alone. Nearly all the conventional methods of control has been tried against the insect, but these have been found wanting in many parts of the world. The other known method, which holds promise but which has not been tried to any extent due mainly to the cost involved, is the male sterilization technique. Preliminary tests elsewhere have indicated that it is possible to rear Hypsipyla spp. on artificial diets. Since so few insects cause so much damage, it is believed that field population must be relatively low, hence it should be possible to overwhelm their numbers with released males. The author suggests a West African inter-regional co-operation to step up research into Hypsipyla control on these lines using facilities, which exist at the Atomic Energy Commission, Kwabenya, near Accra, Ghana.