African Crop Science Journal (2002) 10, 183-194

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J.M. Songa, W.A. Overholt, J.M. Mueke and R.O. Okello (2002)
Regional distribution of lepidopteran stemborers and their parasitoids among wild grasses in the semi-arid eastern Kenya
African Crop Science Journal 10 (2), 183-194
Abstract: A survey was conducted in six agroecological zones (AEZs) in semi-arid eastern Kenya, in May, 1996, to identify the major wild host grasses (abundance > 70%) for stemborers in each zone. The grasses sampled were Pennisetum purpureum Schumach, P. trachyphyllum Pilg., Panicum maximum Jacq, Sorghum versicolor Anderss, Cenchrus ciliaris L. and Cyperus sp. Among these grasses, P. purpureumwas the most widespread and abundant. The survey was followed by an on-farm study conducted in each of the six AEZs to determine the relative abundance and distribution of stemborers, that infested the major wild grasses and their parasitoids . This was done by destructive sampling of 100 tillers, at a three-month interval, from July 1997 to April 1998. The stemborers that infested the grasses were Chilo partellus Swinhoe and Sesamia calamistis Hampson. Among these, C. partelluswas the predominant species, with the highest number being recovered on S. versicolor (94.6%). Parasitoids were only reared on S. versicolor, and these were Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron), C. flavipes Cameron, Chelonus curvimaculatus (Cameron), Pristomerus sp. and Norbanus sp., with C. flavipes causing the highest parasitism (13.6%). Results reveal that S. versicolor exhibited potential for use in the management of stemborers in maize, by acting as a "trap" and "refuge" crop for C. flavipes, between cropping seasons.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): William A. Overholt

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
environment - cropping system/rotation
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation


Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial Pest/Disease/Weed Crop/Product Country Quarant.


Chilo partellus Kenya
Sesamia calamistis Maize/corn (Zea mays) Kenya
Cotesia flavipes (parasitoid) Kenya
Cotesia sesamiae (parasitoid) Kenya
Chelonus curvimaculatus (parasitoid) Kenya