Lepidopteran stem borers are the most damaging pests of maize in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the growing importance of maize in the forest zone of Democratic Republic of Congo, no data is available regarding stem bore...Lepidopteran stem borers are the most damaging pests of maize in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the growing importance of maize in the forest zone of Democratic Republic of Congo, no data is available regarding stem borer pest species present and their relative importance. It is thus important to gather information likely to guide future research in this area. This study was undertaken to catalogue stem borer pest species identity and assess their relative infestation levels on maize. Surveys were carried out in wild and cultivated habitats in Kisangani. Five species were collected on maize, i.e., Sesamia calamistis Hampson （1910）, Eldana saccharina Walker （1865）, Busseola fusca Fuller （1901）, Chilo sp. Strand （1913）, and Mussidia nigrivenella Ragonot （1888）. In the wild habitats, Poenoma serrata Hampson, B. fusca and S. calamistis were collected on Pennisetum purpureum whereas Chilo sp. was collected on Panicum maximum. Our results suggest that P. maximum might affect the population dynamics of Chilo sp. whereas P. purpureum is expected not to influence the population dynamics of other stem borers owing to its scarcity in the interior of the forest.展开更多
文摘Lepidopteran stem borers are the most damaging pests of maize in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the growing importance of maize in the forest zone of Democratic Republic of Congo, no data is available regarding stem borer pest species present and their relative importance. It is thus important to gather information likely to guide future research in this area. This study was undertaken to catalogue stem borer pest species identity and assess their relative infestation levels on maize. Surveys were carried out in wild and cultivated habitats in Kisangani. Five species were collected on maize, i.e., Sesamia calamistis Hampson （1910）, Eldana saccharina Walker （1865）, Busseola fusca Fuller （1901）, Chilo sp. Strand （1913）, and Mussidia nigrivenella Ragonot （1888）. In the wild habitats, Poenoma serrata Hampson, B. fusca and S. calamistis were collected on Pennisetum purpureum whereas Chilo sp. was collected on Panicum maximum. Our results suggest that P. maximum might affect the population dynamics of Chilo sp. whereas P. purpureum is expected not to influence the population dynamics of other stem borers owing to its scarcity in the interior of the forest.
