Biological study of Selenothrips rubrocinctus, a cocoa, guava and mango plant pest in Cameroon.
Woin N., N'Guyen-Ban J., Mpe J. M.
Author Affiliation: IRA, Antenne de Kismatari, BP 415, Garoua, Cameroon.
Fruits (Paris) 50 : 51-58
Abstract : An epidemiological study of Selenothrips rubrocinctus on cocoa, guava and mango in Cameroon revealed that the extent of damage varied according to the host species involved. Larval and adult forms of this thrips punctured leaves of the infested tree and brownish stains appeared. Heavily infested trees were sometimes completely defoliated. There were no significant differences concerning the effects of the trophic factor on the insect life cycle when the 3 different trees were compared. Parthenogenetic reproduction was dominant in all 3 cases. A very specific behaviour was shown on cocoa, which it is suggested could pave the way to new integrated control strategies against this pest in cocoa plantations.