Research note on the distribution and relative importance of bean Bruchid species Aconthoscelides obtectus (Say.) and Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boh.) in Tanzania

Abstract

Two bean bruchid species Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say.) and Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boh.) are known to destroy beans in storage. However, the distribution and relative importance of these species have not been established in Tanzania. In this study, a bean bruchid survey was carried out to find out if the two bean bruchid species occurred in the country. The survey was conducted in 1993 and it was observed that both bean bruchid species were present in all regions surveyed. However, the species A. obtectus was more dominant in all regions except in Ruvuma and therefore appeared to be relatively more important than Z. subfasciatus. The occurrence of the two species in all surveyed regions indicates that both species are of economic importance in the country. There was no indication that the two species occur in well defined ecological zones.

Keywords: Distribution, bean bruchids, relative importance

Tanzania J. Agric. Sc. (2000) Vol 3, NO 2,181-184