Assessment of damage due to the feeding of Leucinodes orbonalis, guen (lepidoptera: pyralidae) on solanum sp.

Abstract

One of the most destructive pests of garden eggs solanum spp., and other solanaceous crops is the fruit and shoot borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guen. Some nutritional and pathogenic changes associated with the feeding of the larvae were studied on a variety of egg plant (Anara) developed at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Four insecticides were also evaluated for the control of the borer. Among the detrimental effects of the larval feeding were the introduction of fungal pathogens such as Fusarium sp., Aspergillus sp., and Rhizopus sp. and the significant reduction in vitamin C and carbohydrate contents of infested fruits. All the insecticides significantly reduced fruit damage. Carbaryl, applied as a 0.1 per cent foliar spray gave the lowest percentage damage and the highest yield. Percentage damage on weight basis was found to be a better indicator of fruit damage (loss) than percentage damage on number basis.

JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION Volume 1 Number 2, January (1999) pp. 21-25