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Efficacy of Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) (Het., Anthocoridae) to suppress Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Col., Bostrichidae) in traditional maize stores in southern Togo
Author(s) -
Helbig J.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of applied entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0931-2048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0418.1999.00398.x
Subject(s) - bostrichidae , biology , anthocoridae , pest analysis , predator , larva , biological pest control , manihot esculenta , instar , heteroptera , botany , predation , agronomy , toxicology , ecology
In the course of three storage periods (1988–90) the predacious insects that occur in traditional maize stores in southern Togo were observed and their relationship to the introduced pest Prostephanus truncatus was investigated. The bug Xylocoris flavipes , a predator on a wide range of post‐harvest pests, was the only one observed regularly and in higher numbers. Laboratory trials with P. truncatus showed that the larvae were preyed on, and no preference for any one of the three instars was detected. On average, 7.3 pest larvae were killed by larvae or adults of the predator. In glass jar trials on loose maize X. flavipes reduced the numbers of P. truncatus by 57.6% after 8 weeks. The losses and damage were reduced by 50 and 17.6%, respectively. Observations in traditional maize stores indicated a tendency to decreasing populations of X. flavipes when populations of P. truncatus increased, presumably due to the unfavourable environmental conditions created by the pest. Therefore, it is concluded that X. flavipes does not play an important role in the control of this pest.