Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 8(1): 251 - 260. Published August 2008.
Biology of the Enset Root Mealybug Cataenococcus ensete and its Geographical Distribution in Southern Ethiopia
T. Addis*^, F. Azerefegne**, G. Blomme*** and K. Kanaujia****
*Southern Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 06, Awassa, Ethiopia; **Hawassa University, P.O. Box 05, Awassa, Ethiopia; ***Bioversity International, P.O. Box 24384, Kampala, Uganda; ****Haramaya university, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
^Corresponding author: temesgen_addis@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this study was to study the biology of the Ensete root mealybug Cataenococcus ensete in southern Ethiopia.
Methodology and Results: During 2004-2005, the biology of C. ensete was studied in the laboratory of the Southern Agricultural Research Institute, Awassa, Ethiopia. The distribution and importance of the insect was also investigated in 25 districts of southern Ethiopia from where a total of 163 sites were visited from July to December 2004. The females are viviparous and produce 253+17.4 nymphs/female. The average duration of the first, second and third-instar nymphs was 16.2+0.47, 18.15+0.69 and 19.75+0.47 days, respectively. The average life span of the adult female is 49.95+0.47 days. The body length and width of the adult female mealybugs ranged from 2.9 - 4 mm and 2.5 - 3.5 mm, respectively when measured with wax covering. Adult female mealybugs could not survive more than three weeks in the soil in the absence of plant materials. Although C. ensete was observed between 1,054 and 2,977 masl its infestation was severe only between 1,400 to 2,200 masl. The highest infestation (53.6%) was recorded between 1,600-1,800 masl. Although mealybugs were recorded in several districts, the level of infestation was high only in Amaro, Gedeo, Sidama and Bench in which 100, 66.7, 61.5 and 57.1%, respectively of the surveyed farms were infested. The survey revealed that more than 30% of the total surveyed farms were infested. The highest mean number of mealybugs (81mealybugs/plant) was recorded in Gedeo zone and the lowest (3.3 mealybugs/plant) in Yem district. Knowledge about the biology and distribution of this species has paramount importance in devising proper management strategies.
Conclusion and application of findings: The current study revealed that the enset root mealybug is a serious pest that is causing heavy damage to enset. Hence there is a dire need for strengthening extension programs in order to educate people on the level of distribution and severity of the pest. Techniques for the production of clean planting materials in nurseries and a regulation of the distribution and exchange of planting materials should be devised.
Key words: enset, infestation, instar, survival
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