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Prospects for biological control of Chilo partellus in grain crops in South Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Rami Kfir
Rami Kfir
Affiliation:
ARC – Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Pretoria 0001, South Africa, email: rietrk@plant2.agric.za
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Abstract

Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) was first recorded in South Africa in 1958 and became a major pest of maize and grain sorghum. It has invaded the main maize producing areas in the Highveld Region, gradually competitively displacing the indigenous Busseola fusca (Fuller). Between 1980 and 1993 two egg, seven larval and two pupal parasitoids were introduced for biological control of Ch. partellus. Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Braconidae), Paratheresia claripalpis van der Wulp (Tachinidae), Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff) (Eulophidae) and Xanthopimpla stemmator Thunberg (Ichneumonidae) were released and recovered from the field. Recoveries were made up to a few weeks after releases but parasitoids failed to survive the winter and establish. The harsh winter conditions in the release sites, the long larval diapause period of Ch. partellus, lack of synchronisation between the development of the parasitoids and that of their host larvae, and absence of alternative host plants were identified as the main obstacles for the parasitoids establishment. It is concluded that the prospects of achieving any degree of biological control of stemborers in the Highveld Region with parasitoids from the tropics are poor. A parasitoid from a temperate zone of the USA, Macrocentrus grandii Goidanich (Braconidae), was introduced recently into South Africa and is currently reared on Ch. partellus in quarantine. Macrocentrus grandii stays dormant in its diapausing host, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), during winter to emerge in spring. Because of its ability to diapause in winter it is hoped that after releases, M. grandii will establish on Ch. partellus in the Highveld Region of South Africa.

Résumé

Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) a été collecté pour la première fois en Afrique du Sud en 1958, depuis lors il est devenu le ravageur le plus important sur maïs et sorgho. Il a envahi la principale région productrice du maïs dans la région de haute altitude et graduellement a remplacé l'espèce locale Busseola fusca (Fuller). Entre 1980 and 1993 deux parasitoïdes des oeufs, sept larvaires et deux des pupes ont été introduits dans le cadre de la lutte biologique contre Ch. partellus. Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Braconidae), Paratheresia claripalpis van der Wulp (Tachinidae), Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff) (Eulophidae) et Xanthopimpla stemmator Thunberg (Ichneumonidae) ont été lâchées et re-collectés des champs. Les recollections ont duré quelques semaines après les lâchées, mais les parasitoïdes n'ont pas pu survivre l'hivers et s'acclimater. Les sévères conditions hivernales dans les sites où ont eu lieu les lâchées, la longue diapause de Ch. partellus, le manque de synchronie entre le dévéloppement des parasitoïdes et celui de la larve du ravageur et l'absence des plantes hôtes intermediaires sont cités comme les principaux obstacles à l'acclimatation des parasitoïdes. On en conclut que les possibilities de succes de la lutte biologique avec des parasitoïdes contre les foreurs dans la région de haute altitude sont très faibles. Un parasitoïde d'une zone tempérée aux USA, Macrocentrus grandii Goidanich (Braconidae), a été récemment introduit en Afrique du Sud et est élevé sur Ch. partellus en quarantaine. Pendant l'hivers, Macrocentrus grandii entre en dormance dans son hôte en diapause, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), et émerge au printemps. A cause de cette capacité d'entree en diapause pendant l'hivers, on espère qu'après les lâchées M. grandii pourrait s'adapter et s'acclimater sur Ch. partellus dans la région de haute altitude de l'Afrique du Sud.

Keywords

Chilo partellusstemborerparasitoidbiological controlSouth AfricaChilo partellusforeurparasitoïdelutte biologiqueAfrique du Sud
Type
Review Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , December 2001 , pp. 275 - 280
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2001

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