Efficacy of Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) (Het., Anthocoridae) to suppress Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Col., Bostrichidae) in traditional maize stores in southern Togo
J. Helbig, Efficacy of Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) (Het., Anthocoridae) to suppress Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Col., Bostrichidae) in traditional maize stores in southern Togo, J APPL ENT, 123(8), 1999, pp. 503-508
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Entomology/Pest Control
Journal title
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY-ZEITSCHRIFT FUR ANGEWANDTE ENTOMOLOGIE
In the course of three storage periods (1988-90) the predacious insects tha
t occur in traditional maize stores in southern Togo were observed and thei
r relationship to the introduced pest Prostephanus truncatus was investigat
ed. The bug Xylocoris flavipes, a predator on a wide range of post-harvest
pests, was the only one observed regularly and in higher numbers. Laborator
y trials with P. truncatus showed that the larvae were preyed on, and no pr
eference for any one of the three instars was detected. On average, 7.3 pes
t larvae were killed by larvae or adults of the predator. In glass jar tria
ls 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%, respecti
vely. Observations in traditional maize stores indicated a tendency to decr
easing populations of X. flavipes when populations of P. truncatus increase
d, presumably due to the unfavourable environmental conditions created by t
he pest. Therefore, it is concluded that X. flavipes does not play an impor
tant role in the control of this pest.