Identification of Insect Pest Species of Maize, Their Infestation and Damage Levels at Ziway Dugda Woreda, Arsi Zone, Ethiopia (original) (raw)
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Background: Maize is the most important staple food crops in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, predominantly produced and consumed directly by the smallholder farmers. Insect pests are the serious pests causing yield loss of maize in field at different growth stages. Methods: The field survey was carried out during 2019-2020 crop growing season. Purposive sampling technique was used for selecting the districts based on the potential producers of maize and a random sampling technique was used to select the kebeles and the stakeholders. Result: The major identified insect pests of maize in the two districts were grass hopper (Hieroglyphus nigrorepletus), maize leaf hopper (Cicadulin ambila), maize pod borers (Helicoverpa armigera, Etiella), maize stem borers (Chilopartellus Swinhoe), Hairy caterpillar (Amsacta albistriga Walker), Black cut worm (Agrotis ipsilon Hufnagal), Maize leaf Aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch), Army worm (Mythimna separata Walker), Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Pink stem borer (Sesamiain ferens Walker), Corn Earworm (Helicoverpa zea Boddias), Chafer beetle (Chiloloba acuta Wiedmann), Shoot bug (Peregrinus maidis Ashamed), W hite grub (Holotrichia consanguinea) and shoot fly (Atherigona soccata).
2020
Assessment of major field insect pest species and their losses in maize (Zea mays L.) crops production was conducted during the crop seasons of 20l8 to 2019 at Chiro and Darolebu districts of West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Sampling technique was purposive for identifying districts that had high maize crops production potential from the zone. From each district, three localities were selected purposively. During the study period, three economically important insect pests were listed out from maize cultivated fields. Among the insect pests, American Fall Army Worm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Maize Stem Borer (Busseola fusca) and African Ball Worm (Helicoverpa armigera) were major pests recorded on maize crop fields. Among the insect pests the first rank priority in maize cultivated fields at both districts, S. frugiperda were more abundant and dominant followed by B. fusca and lastly H. armigera. The respondents were estimated as yield losses of 10-30% by S. frugiperda, 3-1...
Assessment of economic insect pests of major crops at Borana and West Guji zones, Southern Ethiopia
International Journal of Plant Pathology and Microbiology (IJPPM), 2023
The crop insect pest assessment was conducted at two zones of southern Oromia, West Guji and Borana Zone from 2020 to 2022 cropping seasons. The assessment was done in two districts of each zone and totally four districts were assessed. The districts were selected purposively based on potential of crop they cultivate. The major crops cultivated at the area were maize, teff and common bean. During, this assessment was done each crop was infested by insects and the pests causes high damage on some field. Insects identified from common bean fields, which leads to high yield loss were Striacosta albicosta (cutworm), Epilachna varivestis (ladybird beetle) and Maruca vitrata (pod borer). Cutworm was recorded only from Teltelle, while pod borer was mostly found in all surveyed districts. The Maximum damages percentage of pod borer was observed at Yabello (40%) followed by Teltelle (36%) whereas minimum damage percentage (27.78%) was detected at Bule Hora. On maize 3 major insect species, Spodoptera frugiperda (fall army warm), Aphis fabae (black aphids) and Busseola fusca (stem borer) were detected. Fall army warm was the dominant pest and accounts 50%, 73.7%, and 18.5% damage percentage at Teltelle, Yabello and Abaya districts respectively followed by stem borer. Atherigona hyalinipennis (Shoot fly) was the major pest on tef with infestation levels 23.39%, 19.7%, 30% and 33.64% in Teltelle, Yabello, Bule Hora and Abaya districts respectively.
2018
Maize (Zea mays L.) is a major staple food and feed sources for millions of people in Ethiopia in general, and Shashogo and Sankura districts of Hadiya and Silte zones, in particular. However, insect pests, both in the field and in the storage seriously threatened its production and consequently, affect food security of the poor farmers. The most important of these have been proven to be Lepidopteran stalk borer and Coleopteran maize weevil. However, no or few studies were conducted on indigenous methods and practices used by farmers in storing and protecting maize grains, as well as the species composition and the status of insect pests of stored maize and the associated losses in the study area. Thus, the survey using face to face semi-structured interviews and farmer's participatory discussions were conducted in six major maize growing localities of Hadiya and Silte zones of Southern Ethiopia for documenting various indigenous practices and methods used by farmers in protection of their grains from insect pests at different storage periods (3, 6 and 9 months) in 2013/2014 and 2015/2016, using a nested design. Moreover, level of infestation, distribution and the status of insect pests of stored maize, and the associated damage and loss in four farmer's traditional storage methods were conducted in six localities or peasant-associations for three storage periods (3, 6 and 9 months) in the same year. Besides, laboratory studies were conducted on botanicals, inert dusts, varietal resistance and their integration in the management of maize weevil during the period/ year of 2016/2017. The survey result demonstrated that farmers harvested maize in between November and January. Hand picking was the most commonly used harvesting method. Maize harvesting was commonly done in December. Farmers used different traditional storage methods (facilities) and store their maize either shelled or unshelled. However, most farmers (≥ 82%) store their maize grain unshelled for 7-9 months. Most farmers (52.7%) used outdoor Gotera for storing their maize grain. Through the survey, over thirty arthropods were recorded in stored maize grains from the study area. Of these, nineteen were primary and secondary pests, seven were mold feeders and five were natural enemies. The 19 primary and secondary pests include Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky), Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier), Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Tribolium confusum (Jacquelin duVal), Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), Cryptolestes pusillus (Schonherr), Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Linnaeus), Tribolium destructor (Uyttenb.), Palorus subdepressus (Wollaston), P. ratzeburgii (Wissmann), Ephestia cautella (Walker), Acarus siro (Linnaeus), Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), Gnatocerus cornutus (Fabricius), Tribolium audax (Halstead), C. iii pusilloides (Steel and Howe) and Prostephanus truncatus (Horn). Of these primary and secondary pests, S. zeamais, S. cerealella, S. oryzae, T. castaneum, T. confusum, C. ferrugineus, C. pusillus and R. dominica were found to be the most abundant, and frequently occurring and were found to be the major pests. Insects such as O. surinamensis, T. destructor, P. subdepressus, P. ratzeburgii, E. cautella, Acarus siro, P. interpunctella and G. cornutus were found to be the next abundant, and frequently appearing and were found to be intermediate pests. However, T. audax, C. pusilloides and P. truncates were found to be the least abundant, least frequently occurring and were minor pests. Besides, from seven species of mold feeders recorded, Carpophilus dimidiatus was the most commonly occurring and the most important, followed by Liposcelis sp. and L. entomophila. But, Typhaea stercorea, C. freeman, C. hemipterus and Brachypeplus sp. were found to be the least commonly appearing and the least important. Among the five species of natural enemies recorded, one species of predatory mite, Cheyletus sp., two species of hymenopteran parasitic wasps; Anisopteromalus calandrae and Cephalonomia tarsalis and coleopteran Staphylinidea were the most abundant and frequently occurring. However, Dactylosternum abdominale recorded rarely. Significantly (P < 0.05) higher level of insect pest infestation, grain damage and losses were recorded in all tested traditional storage methods, the highest being in polyethylene sac, followed by storage in the living house and store room, while the minimum was from in the Gotera out door. Hence, various traditional methods and practices used by farmers were found to be inefficient to provide sufficient protection of grain against insect pests. Thus, there is a need to look for alternative control methods such as varietal screening, botanical control and the integration of compatible control options are paramount importance which are the main focal areas of this PhD thesis. Accordingly, from varietal screening study involving twenty one maize grain varieties, 6 varieties such as Melkasa-6Q, MH-138Q, SPRH, BHQPY-545, AMH-760Q and Gibat (AMH-851) were found to be resistant. Hence, these resistance varieties could be used and adopted as ecologically sound and effective management method to reduce loss by S. zeamais under subsistence farmer's storages. However, their mechanisms of resistance need further study. Besides, the laboratory studies also confirmed that all of the different traditional or bio-rational methods tested were significantly (P < 0.05) effective in protection stored maize grain against maize weevil. Of which, integration two botanicals (C. aurea and M. ferruginea) and two colored inert dusts (red and white) with the top three resistant varieties; Melkasa-6Q, MH-138Q and SPRH were the most effective, followed by botanicals and inert dusts, respectively at the rates of 5 and 10%. However, their evaluation regarding their effect on human being, natural enemies and cost effectiveness under subsistence farmer's storage conditions is necessary before wide implementation of the outcomes these studies.
2023
The maize grains samples were collected from six selected districts of two zones of Western Oromia regional state, Ethiopia in April 2022 and July 2022. The main objective of the study was to assess species composition and relative abundance of maize storage insect pests. The study was conducted in 4 selected districts of Kellem Wollega (Sayo, Hawa Galan, Sadi Chanka, and Dalle Sadi) and in 2 selected districts of West Wollega Zone (Ayira and Lalo Asabi). Samples were collected from farmers' storage facilities in each selected district. Each samples consisting of 300 g of maize grain seeds were taken and put in plastic jar of 500 ml. Samples were kept for identification of insect pests, and to estimate grain damage and weight loss using count and weight method. The samples were collected two times in the storage periods, namely 3 months and 6 months from the farmer's storage structures (facilities). Identification was made using combination of insect identification guides by observing under dissecting microscope (20 X). For assessing insect pests' infestations, the main variables were included relative abundance and constance (frequency of occurrence) of species found in samples. Descriptive statistical analysis (mean and percentage) was performed on percent weight loss, grain damage and germination over the storage periods using IBM SPSS Version 25. Four species of order coleoptera in three families and one species of order Lepidoptera in one family were identified and considered as important pests damaging stored maize in the study areas. From all, Sitophilus zeamais was the most abundant. It is possible to conclude that there was significant grain damage, weight loss and germination loss due to stored maize insect pests in the study area. Enhancing farmers' knowledge on improvement of existing storage structures and training them on how to handle maize grains is highly recommended.
Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 2022
This study evaluated the insect emergence and percentage weight loss on white and yellow maize sold in Ilorin markets (Ipata, Ago, and Mandate). Samples were collected from three different stores per markets and brought to Entomology laboratory of NSPRI for analysis. For each store, 100 g of each grain were placed separately in 360 ml kilner jars and left undisturbed for 14 and 21 days respectively. Result of emergence of Sitopilus zeamais on white maize, reveals that there was no significance difference in the emergence of insects in the three markets throughout the months except for the month of January 2020 where insect emergence from Mandate market (0%) was significantly lower compared to Ago (12.66%) and Ipata market (7.00%) respectively. Also, there was no significant difference in the percentage weight loss of white maize in the three markets throughout the months of study except in august 2019, where Mandate differ from Ago market. The result of insect emergence on yellow maize shows that there was no significance difference in emergence of insects between the three markets throughout the months of the study. Similarly, the comparison of the market across the months reveals that there was no significant difference in emergence of insect on yellow maize in all the markets across the period of study except the month of October, 2019 which differs from January 2020. As for weight loss, there was no significant difference in the percentage weight loss in the three markets throughout the month of the study.
ISABB Journal of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 2021
Maize is a key determinant of food security, mainly grown as subsistence in Ethiopia. It was introduced to Ethiopia in 1600's from Mexico. Food security of Ethiopia is threatened from time to time due to crop diseases and pests. One of these is fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda, J.E Smith; lepdoptera, Noctudea), which is a recently arrived American origin insect pest. As best contributor of Ethiopian economy and social development, maize is being seriously threatened by fall armyworms (FAWs). Maize production stands second in Ethiopia (20.2%) next to teff (34.2%) in terms of the land allotted. However, in terms of productivity maize stands first (45.5%) in relation to teff (29.9%), sorghum (27.2%), and wheat (26.2%). The productivity of maize is suppressed by FAW infestation very significantly (P≤ 0.05) in the previous three years after its arrival to Ethiopia in 2017. The rate of infestation ranges from 1.7-34.5% in the past three successive years. According to our results, maize infested by FAW in the past three successive years at regional states levels is shown to devastate produces up to 71%, with the four top infested regions being Gambella (70.4%), Afar (61.6%), Benshangul Gumuz (11.8%), and SNNPRS (10.7%). Health and environmental risks associated with the use of synthetic pesticide chemicals are very profound; hence, environmentally friendly organic based controlling methods of pests with minimum risks such as the use of botanicals, and biological controls are strongly recommended.
Journal of Agricultural Science
Survey were undertaken in five zones of Oromiya and Amhara regional states, Ethiopia from February to March 2018 to investigate farmers’ status, knowledge, major chickpea production constraints and insect pest management practices of chickpea. The survey involved 293 randomly taken farmers, who are interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Chickpea insect pests were considered as the main, among production constraints of chickpea by most of the interviewed farmers in Ethiopia. The majority of the farmers’ responded that Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is the most prevalent insect pests of chickpea under field condition and Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in storage. Development Agents (DAs) were the top pest advisory service providers in the current study. A conventional insecticide (namely; Lambda-cyhalotrin and Dimethoate) for the control of H. armigera was the most commonly used pest management methods. Moreov...
Insects
Ethiopian subsistence farmers traditionally store their grain harvests, leaving them open to storage pests and fungi that can cause contamination of major staple crops. Applying the most effective strategy requires a precise understanding of the insect species, infestation rates, storage losses, and storage conditions in the various types of farmers’ grain stores. This study did a complete literature analysis on post-harvest pest and management measures with a focus on Ethiopia. The most frequent insect pests of stored cereals in this study were weevils (Sitophilus spp.), the lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica), rust-red flour beetle (Tribolium sp.), sawtoothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus sp.), grain beetle (Cryptolestes spp.), Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella), and Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella). Flour beetles (Tribolium spp.), sawtoothed beetles (Oryzaephilus sp.), flat grain beetles (Cryptolestes pusillus), and some moths have been identified as common st...
Crop Protection, 2007
Survey were undertaken in five zones of Oromiya and Amhara regional states, Ethiopia from February to March 2018 to investigate farmers' status, knowledge, major chickpea production constraints and insect pest management practices of chickpea. The survey involved 293 randomly taken farmers, who are interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Chickpea insect pests were considered as the main, among production constraints of chickpea by most of the interviewed farmers in Ethiopia. The majority of the farmers' responded that Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is the most prevalent insect pests of chickpea under field condition and Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in storage. Development Agents (DAs) were the top pest advisory service providers in the current study. A conventional insecticide (namely; Lambda-cyhalotrin and Dimethoate) for the control of H. armigera was the most commonly used pest management methods. Moreover, Two times insecticide applications per cropping season were the most frequent, deployed by most of the interviewed farmers followed by cultural pest management practices. Use of biological control and resistant chickpea varieties against major insect pests were low to negligible in the current survey study in the area. The majority of the farmers began control decision when H. armigera larval stages were smaller and they did not consider larval number per chickpea plant for the decision. These results will be used to formulate future effective and sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) in chickpea for Ethiopian farmers emphasizing ecologically and economically-based approaches.