Infestation, damage and distribution of blue gum chalcid on Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia

Abstract

Blue Gum Chalcid (BGC), Leptocybe invasa Fisher and La Salle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), causes high damages on Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh in many countries including Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the damage, damage severity and distribution of the BGC on Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantations in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia. The assessment was conducted at Tehuledere (South Wollo zone), Habru (North Wollo Zone) and Dawa Chefa (Oromia adminstration zone) districts. These districts were selected purposively for continuous infestation. Three sites per district with a total of nine sites were selected. Assessments were done from four coppiced and five plantations. A minimum of 0.25 ha and five trees per site were assessed in a monthly interval. The assessment result revealed that BGC was found in all the three districts of the three zones. During the assessment, it was found that from five trees the damage severity were 20% nil, 15.6% low, 20% medim, 22.2 high, and 22.2% high. Severity and damage of the pest varied across the study sites and the assessment months. Lower and higher severity damages were observed at Amumo (0.48) and Passo sites (3.26) of Tehulederie district, respectively. Increment in damage severity was observed from November to February except at Amumo (from 0.48 to 0.87), with higher increments in January and February 2019 (averagely from 2.24 to 3.23).