U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            NANSEN, CHRISTIAN - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVitem
                                            Meikle, Williamitem
                                            TIGAR, BARBARA - UNIV PAISLEY, UKitem
                                            HARDING, SUSANNE - ROYAL V&A UNIV, DENMARKitem
                                            TCHABI, ATTI - IITA, BENIN
  Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2004
                                    Publication  Date: 3/1/2004
                                    Citation: Nansen, C., Meikle, W.G., Tigar, B., Harding, S., Tchabi, A. 2004. Non-agricultural hosts of prostephanus truncatus (horn) (coleoptera: bostrichidae) in west african forests.. Annals of the Entomological Society of America.Interpretive Summary: Pheromone traps in West African forests yield more larger grain borer beetles (pests of stored maize and cassava) than do traps in agricultural areas, but the specific tree species serving as refuges are unknown.  Beetles were found to feed and reproduce at various rates on branches, roots, or seeds of several tree species out of 26 tested in the laboratory. One lead was that teak seeds in the forest may be a resource providing a potential reservoir of pest beetles. The impact of this study was to provide a hypothesis requiring further work in the field to either confirm or deny. The results will ultimately influence management of the insect pests to protect stored grain in Africa.
                                Technical Abstract: Prostephanus truncatus is an important insect pest on stored maize and cassava in Africa, but it is also believed to be well established in savanna and forest habitats. However, fairly little is known about potential hosts of P. truncatus in non-agricultural habitats. In no-choice experiments, we evaluated the ability of P. truncatus to attack and reproduce on the following potential forest hosts: (1) fresh branches from 26 tree species, (2) dry branches from 13 tree species, (3) fresh roots from 18 tree species, (4) dry roots from two tree species, and (5) seeds from four tree species. Heavy attacks on fresh branches were recorded in 18% of all infestations, and they occurred on 11 different tree species. Heavy attacks also occurred on fresh roots from four tree species. High reproductive rate was found on branches from four species (Delonix regia, Ceiba pentandra, Manihot esculenta, and Ficus exasperata) and on roots from F. capensis and F. exasperata. In behavioral experiments, a substantial proportion of P. truncatus individuals chose to burrow into the soil when free flight was allowed. Seeds from four tree species Afzelia africana, Vitellaria paradoxa, Elaeis guineensis (oil palm), and Tectona grandis (teak) were also tested as potential forest hosts, and P. truncatus reproduction was obtained on teak seeds.  Based on estimates of P. truncatus production in the Lama Forest and surrounding teak plantations from branches and seeds of tree species shown in laboratory tests to be susceptible to P. truncatus, we estimated that even a very low rate of successful reproduction by P. truncatus on these seeds would yield several magnitudes more P. truncatus than would be expected from branches, including the only previously identified host, branches of Lannea nigritana previously girdled by cerambycids.  We therefore suggest that seeds and roots may be important non-agricultural hosts for P. truncatus in West African savanna areas.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov