Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-tn8tq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-02T05:53:26.243Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Location of stemborer pupae in various host plants and implications for the performance of natural enemies with emphasis on the pupal parasitoid Xanthopimpla stemmator (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

J.J. Muturi ,
A.J. Ngi-Song ,
F. Schulthess ,
J.M. Mueke  and
M. Sétamou
J.J. Muturi
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya Department of Zoology, Kenyatta University, PO Box 43844, Nairobi, Kenya
A.J. Ngi-Song
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
F. Schulthess*
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
J.M. Mueke
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Kenyatta University, PO Box 43844, Nairobi, Kenya
M. Sétamou
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
*
*Email: fschulthess@icipe.org
Get access

Abstract

In order to predict host accessibility by the pupal parasitoid Xanthopimpla stemmator (Thunberg), four grass species (Sorghum bicolor, Pennisetum purpureum, Sorghum arundinaceum and Zea mays) were sampled for stemborer pupae in Kwale, in the low altitudes of southern Kenya, and in Trans-Nzoia, in the high altitudes of western Kenya. The pupal position of Chilo orichalcociliellus (Strand), Chilo partellus (Swinhoe), Sesamia calamistis Hampson, Sesamia sp. nr oriaula (Tams and Bowden) and Busseola fusca (Fuller) in the plant were determined in relation to (a) the distance of pupae from the edge of the stem (depth), (b) the distance between the moth-exit hole and the head of the pupa (location) and (c) the length of the tunnel from the moth-exit hole to the base of the tunnel. Pupal depth and location for C. partellus and B. fusca varied significantly in the different plant species tested, and the pupae tended to be embedded deeper in cultivated than wild hosts. On all host species, the borers were located at a depth less than 0.35 cm. Most C. orichalcociliellus and S. calamistis pupae were found pupating in the ears of maize or the upper part of the wild hosts' stem. Sesamia sp. nr oriaula was only collected from the lower parts of P. purpureum. For B. fusca, tunnel length varied significantly among plant species and was longer in cultivated hosts. Xanthopimpla stemmator has an ovipositor length of about 0.52 cm, thus it is anticipated that the parasitoid could easily reach and parasitize the pupae in these host species.

Keywords

wild and cultivated host plantspupal locationChiloSesamiaBusseola fuscaXanthopimpla stemmatorKenya
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , March 2005 , pp. 12 - 18
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bonato, O., Schulthess, F. and Baumgaertner, J. U. (1999) A simulation model for carbon and nitrogen allocation and acquisition in maize. Ecological Modelling 124, 11–28Google Scholar
Bonhof, M. J., Overholt, W. A., van Huis, A. & Polaszek, A. (1997) Natural enemies of maize stem borers in East Africa. Insect Science and its Application 17, 19–35Google Scholar
Chabi-Olaye, A., Schulthess, F., Poehling, H.-M. and Borgemeister, C. (2001) Host location and host discrimination behaviour of Telenomus isis (Polaszek) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), an egg parasitoid of the African cereal stem borer Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology 27, 663–678Google Scholar
Conlong, D. and Goebel, R. (2002) Biological control of Chilo sacchariphagus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Moçambique: The first steps. Proceedings of the South African Sugar Technologists' Association 76Google Scholar
Gitau, C. A. W. (2002) Development of pupal parasitoid Xanthopimpla stemmator (Thunberg) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in various cereal stem borers (Lepidoptera). Msc Thesis, Kenyatta University.Google Scholar
Jaetzold, R., Schmidt, H. (1982) Farm Management Handbook of Kenya II, 129–189Google Scholar
Jiang, N., Sétamou, M., Ngi-Song, A. J. and Omwega, C. O. (2004) Performance of Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in parasitizing Chilo partellus (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) as affected by temperature and host stage. Biological Control 31, 155–164CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kfir, R. (1998) Maize and grain sorghum: Southern Africa, pp. 29–38 In African Cereal Stem Borers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by Polaszek, A.) CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon.Google Scholar
Khan, R., Ampong, N., Chilisura, K., Hassanali, P., Kimani, A., Overholt, W. A., Pickett, J., Smart, P., Wadhams, L. E. and Woodcock, M. (1997) Intercropping increases parasitism of pests. Nature 388, 631–632Google Scholar
Mathez, F. C. (1972) Chilo partellus Swinhoe, Chilo orichalcociliellus Strand (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on maize in the Coast Province of Kenya. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gessellschaft 45, 267–289Google Scholar
Mohyuddin, A. I., Greathead, D. J. (1970) An annotated list of the parasites of graminaceous stem borers in East Africa, with a discussion of their potential in biological control. Entomophaga 15, 241–274CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, S. D. and Kfir, R. (1996) Biological studies of Xanthopimpla stemmator (Thunberg) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), a parasitoid of lepidopteran stem borers. African Entomology 4, 131–136Google Scholar
Moutia, L. A., Courtois, C. M. (1952) Parasites of the moth borers of sugarcane in Mauritius. Bulletin of Entomological Research 43, 325–359CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ndemah, R., Schulthess, F., Poehling, M., Borgemeister, C. (2001a) Natural enemies of lepidopterous borers on maize and elephant grass in the forest zone of Cameroon with special reference to Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 91, 205–212CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ndemah, R., Schulthess, F., Poehling, M. and Borgemeister, C. (2001b) Spatial dynamics of lepidopterous pests on Zea mays (L.) and Pennisetum purpureum (Moench) in the forest Zone of Cameroon and their implications for sampling schemes. Journal of Applied Entomolgy 125, 507–514CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ndemah, R., Gounou, S. & Schulthess, F. (2002) The role of wild grasses in the management of lepidopterous cereal stemborers on maize in western Africa. Bulletin of Entomological Research 92, 507–519CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ofomata, V. C., Overholt, W. A., van Huis, A. & Egwuatu, R. (1999) Diapause termination of Chilo partellus Swinhoe and Chilo orichalcociliellus Strand (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Insect Science and its Application 19, 189–191Google Scholar
Ofomata, V. C., Overholt, W. A. & Egwuatu, R. I. (2000) Comparative studies on the fecundity, egg survival, larvae feeding and development of Chilo partellus on five grasses. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 93, 492–499Google Scholar
Oloo, G. W. and Ogeda, K. (1990) The role of local natural enemies in population dynamics of Chilo partellus (Swinh.) under subsistence farming systems in Kenya. Insect Science and its Application 10, 243–251Google Scholar
Overholt, W. A., Ochieng, J. O., Lammers, P. and Ogedah, K. (1994) Rearing and field release methods for Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid of tropical gramineous stem borers. Insect Science and its Application 15, 253–259Google Scholar
Polaszek, A. (1998) African Cereal Stem Borers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon. 530 pp.Google Scholar
SAS Institute (1997) SAS/STAT Software. Changes and enhancements through Release 6.12. Cary, North Carolina.Google Scholar
SAS Institute (2000) User's guide: Statistics. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina.Google Scholar
Seshu Reddy, K. V. (1998) Maize and sorghum, East Africa, pp. 25–27. In African Cereal Stem Borers: Economic Importance, Taxonomy, Natural Enemies and Control (Edited by Polaszek, A.).CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon.Google Scholar
Sétamou, M., Schulthess, F., Bosque-Pérez, N. A. and Thomas-Odjo, A. (1993) Effect of plant nitrogen and silica on the bionomics of Sesamia calamistis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 83, 405–411Google Scholar
Sétamou, M., Jiang, N. and Schulthess, F. (2004) Effect of the host plant on the survivorship of parasitized Chilo partellus Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) larvae and performance of its larval parasitoid Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Biological Control (in press)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shanower, T., Schulthess, F. & Bosque-Pérez, N. A. (1993) The effect of larval diet on the growth and development of Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Insect Science and its Application 14, 681–685Google Scholar
Smith, J. W., Wiedenmann, R. N. & Overholt, W. A. (1993) Parasites of Lepidopteran Stem Borers of Tropical Gramineous Plants. ICIPE Science Press, Nairobi. 89 pp.Google Scholar
Warui, C. M. & Kuria, J. N. (1983) Population incidence and the control of maize stalk borers Chilo partellus (Swin) and Chilo orichalcociliellus (Strand) and Sesamia calamistis (Hampson) in Coast Province, Kenya. Insect Science and its Application 4, 11–18Google Scholar
Zhou, G., Baumgartner, J. & Overholt, W. A. (2001a) Impact assessment of an exotic parasitoid on (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) stemborer (Lepidoptera) population dynamics in Kenya. Ecological Applications 11, 1554–1562Google Scholar
Zhou, G., Overholt, W. A. & Mochiah, M. B. (2001b) Changes in the distribution of lepidopteran maize stemborers in Kenya from the 1950s to 1990s. Insect Science and its Application 21, 395–402Google Scholar