International Journal of Tropical Insect Science (2013) 33, 283-290

Moses I. Olotu, Nguya K. Maniania, Sunday Ekesi, Zuberi S. Seguni and Hannalene du Plessis (2013)
Effect of fungicides used for powdery mildew disease management on the African weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a biocontrol agent of sap-sucking pests in cashew crops in Tanzania
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 33 (4), 283-290
Abstract: In this study, the effect of the application of three powdery mildew fungicides, namely triadimenol, triadimefon and sulphur, on the African weaver ant (AWA), Oecophylla longinoda Latreille, was evaluated for two seasons in two cashew fields, one each in the Bagamoyo and Mkuranga districts, Coast region, Tanzania. The fungicides were applied at monthly intervals, and the dynamics of AWA were monitored monthly by counting the number of leaf nests per tree and trails on main branches. There were no significant differences among the treatments on AWA at different observation dates in terms of the number of leaf nests and colonization of AWA trails per tree in the two cashew fields studied. In August 2011, for example, the number of leaf nests before application ranged from 7.8 to 9.0 and 13.6 to 14.6 in Bagamoyo and Mkuranga, respectively, and after application, it ranged from 7.8 to 10.0 and 12.4 to 15.2 in Bagamoyo and Mkuranga, respectively. The three powdery mildew fungicides did not have detrimental effects on the abundance of AWA in cashew fields and can, therefore, be used together with AWA as important components of an integrated pest and disease management programme for cashew crops in Tanzania.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Nguya K. Maniania, Sunday Ekesi

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Oecophylla longinoda (predator)			Tanzania