Insect Science and its Application (1997) 17, 19-35

M.J. Bonhof, W.A. Overholt, A. Van Huis and A. Polaszek (1997)
Natural enemies of cereal stemborers in East Africa: a review
Insect Science and its Application 17 (1), 19-35
Abstract: The noctuids Busseola fusca and Sesamia calamistis and the pyraloids Chilo partellus, Chilo orichalcociliellus and Eldana saccharina are the most important stemborers of maize in East Africa. A wide range of egg, larval and pupal parasitoids of stemborers have been identified, but information on predators, nematodes and microbial pathogens is less extensive. The most abundant and widespread parasitoids in the East African region are the egg parasitoids Telenomus spp. and Trichogramma spp., the larval parasitoids Cotesia sesamiae and Sturmiopsis parasitica and the pupal parasitoids Pediobius furvus and Dentichasmias busseolae. Predators, such as ants, spiders and earwigs can cause high mortality of eggs and young larvae in some areas. Nematodes and microbial pathogens have been reported to infect all life stages, but their impact is low under natural conditions. The abundance of natural enemies can vary considerably between locations and seasons. In general, indigenous natural enemies are not able to keep stemborer populations below economic injury levels. This paper summarises what is currently known of the natural enemies of cereal stemborers in East Africa.

Les foreurs de tiges de mays les plus importants de l'Afrique de l'est sont les noctuides, Busseola fusca, Sesamia calamistis et les pyrales, Chilo partellus, Chilo orichalcociliellus, et Eldana saccharina. Une grande variete de parasitoides des oeufs, des larves et des pupes de ces foreurs est deja connue. En revanche, l'information sur les predateurs, les nematodes, et les pathogenes microbiens est limitee. Les parasitoides les plus abondants et ayant une plus grande distribution en Afrique de l'est sont les parasitoides des oeufs, Telenomus spp., Trichogramma spp., les parasitoides des larves, Cotesia sesamiae, Sturmiopsis parasitica et ceux des pupes, Pediobius furvus, et Dentichasmias busseolae. Les predateurs telles que les fourmis peuvent dans certaines regions causer une mortalite elevee des oeufs et des jeunes larves. Il a ete rapporte que les nematodes et les microbes infectent tousles stades de vie du foreur de tige, toutefois, leur impact est bas sous conditions naturelles. L'abondance des ennemis naturels varie selon les regions et les saisons. En general, les ennemis naturels locaux sont incapables de maintenir les populations des foreurs en dessous des seuils de dommages economiques. Cet article resume toutes les informations connues sur les ennemis naturels des foreurs de tiges de cereales en Africa de l'est.
(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, Arnold van Huis, Andrew Polaszek

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
review

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Chilo partellus	Maize/corn (Zea mays)
	Sesamia calamistis	Maize/corn (Zea mays)
	Busseola fusca	Maize/corn (Zea mays)
	Eldana saccharina	Maize/corn (Zea mays)
	Chilo orichalcociliellus	Maize/corn (Zea mays)