Incidence of the mango mealy bug Rastrococcus invadens Williams, 1986 (Homoptera; Pseudococcidae) in the Ivory Coast.
Hala N., Kehe M., Allou K.
Agronomie Africaine 16 : 29-36
Abstract : After its appearance at the eastern border of Côte d'Ivoire in 1989, the mango mealybug, Rastrococcus invadens rapidly became a nationwide constraint in mango production. Prospections and surveys showed that this very polyphagous insect pest, which was confined in 1992 in the South-East, reached throughout the country in 1996 except from the North-West. In the northern region, as the main mango production area for export, 53% of mango yield losses occurred as a result of bug infestations at Korhogo - Lataha research station. On farmlands, 100% yield losses could be reached so that infested orchards or trees were destroyed by farmers. The infestation rates of mango trees reached 82, 36 and 11%, respectively, in cities, villages and orchards as the spread of this insect was enhanced by human activities. Both physical and chemical control procedures practiced by farmers have been ineffective. It was observed that the mealybug is closely-related to a complex of natural enemies as parasitoids Gyranusoidea tebigy [Gyranusoidea tebygi] and Anagyrus mangicola, which is suggested for a biological control programme.