Ecology and Control of the cassava mealybug
Ecology and Control of the cassava mealybug (Phenacoccus manihoti)
Abstract
The cassava mealybug is an important pest which can cause a lot of damages to the cassava crop and lead vital problems for the African population. Some methods of control can be used to try to eradicate this pest like classical biological control, breeding resistant varieties or cultural control. However, the more efficient method to control the mealybug is the biological control with a natural enemy of the pest: a parasitoid named Epidinocarsis lopezi. This introduction of this parasitoid in some countries of Africa was one of the best success ever seen in the world in classical biological control.
Introduction
Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is the staple food of about 200 million Africans with a huge productivity of about 200 million tons per year. It is an exotic plant which was imported from South America in sixteenth century and an emergency food reserve in a lot of arid zone in Africa (Dent, D. 2000).
This crop had remained relatively pest free until the introduction of the Phenacoccus manihoti. This pest can destroy the cassava plantation, and causes a lot of damage on the plant. It reproduces very quickly and its proliferation leads serious problems for Africans (food production, health).
I] Ecology
A] Classification
The Phenacoccus manihoti is usually named mealybug of cassava. This insect is being part of the family of Pseudococcidae (mealybug), the same family that aphids. It takes part from the genera Phenacoccus and from the order Hemiptera.
B] Biology and Description of cassava mealybug
The Phenacoccus manihoti is an oligophagous mealybug which feeds principally of phloem sap of manioc. The cassava mealybug is a jackhammer sucking insect of the same family of the aphid. In fact, it uses the same host plant detection behavior than aphids and can detect a possible host plant thanks to its smell and sight. Then, it can determine if a
Abstract
The cassava mealybug is an important pest which can cause a lot of damages to the cassava crop and lead vital problems for the African population. Some methods of control can be used to try to eradicate this pest like classical biological control, breeding resistant varieties or cultural control. However, the more efficient method to control the mealybug is the biological control with a natural enemy of the pest: a parasitoid named Epidinocarsis lopezi. This introduction of this parasitoid in some countries of Africa was one of the best success ever seen in the world in classical biological control.
Introduction
Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is the staple food of about 200 million Africans with a huge productivity of about 200 million tons per year. It is an exotic plant which was imported from South America in sixteenth century and an emergency food reserve in a lot of arid zone in Africa (Dent, D. 2000).
This crop had remained relatively pest free until the introduction of the Phenacoccus manihoti. This pest can destroy the cassava plantation, and causes a lot of damage on the plant. It reproduces very quickly and its proliferation leads serious problems for Africans (food production, health).
I] Ecology
A] Classification
The Phenacoccus manihoti is usually named mealybug of cassava. This insect is being part of the family of Pseudococcidae (mealybug), the same family that aphids. It takes part from the genera Phenacoccus and from the order Hemiptera.
B] Biology and Description of cassava mealybug
The Phenacoccus manihoti is an oligophagous mealybug which feeds principally of phloem sap of manioc. The cassava mealybug is a jackhammer sucking insect of the same family of the aphid. In fact, it uses the same host plant detection behavior than aphids and can detect a possible host plant thanks to its smell and sight. Then, it can determine if a
References: Annalee N.Mengech_Kailash N.3axenta_Hirelagakur N.B Gopalan (published in 1995 by UNEP) Integrated Pest Management in the Tropics-Current Status ans Future Prospect_Part one An Overview of two decades (1970_1990) pp33.35. Dent, D (2000) Insect Pest Manangement- 2nd Edition.CAB International. Biological control-Classical Biological Control-pp 215-221 Hennessey, R. D, et al,. 1990. Spread and current distribution of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae), in Zaire. Tropical Pest Management. J. M. & Pearce M. J. 1983. Wax produced by dermal pores in three species of mealybug (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). International Journal of Insect Morphology and Embryology. 12: 235 – 248. Web-sites used: (1) ‘Anon’ http://www.fao.org/wairdocs/x5159f/x5159f0b.htm [Access on 25 October 2013] (2) ‘Anon’ http://www.cabi.org/isc/?compid=5&dsid=40173&page=481&site=144 [Access on 24 October 2013] (3) ‘Anon’ http://www.iita.org/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=66a8c5f5-d3f9-4b7f-9a11-54e55c907500&groupId [Access on 25 October 2013]