| dc.identifier.citation | Anato, F.M., Wargui, R.B., Sinzogan, A.A., Offenberg, J., Adandonon, A., Vayssières, J.F. & Kossou, D.K. (2015). Reducing losses inflicted by insect pests on cashew, using weaver ants as a biological control agent. Agricultural and Forest Entomology. |
| dc.description.abstract | 1 In Benin cashew plantations, yields and nut quality are lost mainly as a result of insect
pests. In the present study, we investigated the effectiveness of the African weaver ant
Oecophylla longinoda as a biocontrol agent against Beninese cashew pests.
2 In a 2-year study, nut yield and quality were compared among: (i) trees with weaver
ants O. longinoda; (ii) trees where weaver ants were sugar-fed; (iii) integrated pest
management (IPM) trees with weaver ants combined with fruit fly bait spray; and (iv)
control trees receiving no control measures.
3 All treatments with ants showed significantly higher yields than the control, with
the IPM treatment leading to the highest yield. Compared with the control trees, the
ants, ant sugar-fed and the IPM trees produced 78%, 122% and 151% more nuts,
respectively. Nuts produced on control trees were of a higher quality on average
because they were less damaged by thrips (probably because the fruit fly bait worked
as a contact poison on thrips); this was also the case for the IPM treatment. In absolute
numbers, however, trees in ant treatments produced more first-quality nuts.
4 To achieve a broader and effective control of both coreid bugs and thrips, a
combination of weaver ants and supplementary compatible control measures is
recommended.1 In Benin cashew plantations, yields and nut quality are lost mainly as a result of insect
pests. In the present study, we investigated the effectiveness of the African weaver ant
Oecophylla longinoda as a biocontrol agent against Beninese cashew pests.
2 In a 2-year study, nut yield and quality were compared among: (i) trees with weaver
ants O. longinoda; (ii) trees where weaver ants were sugar-fed; (iii) integrated pest
management (IPM) trees with weaver ants combined with fruit fly bait spray; and (iv)
control trees receiving no control measures.
3 All treatments with ants showed significantly higher yields than the control, with
the IPM treatment leading to the highest yield. Compared with the control trees, the
ants, ant sugar-fed and the IPM trees produced 78%, 122% and 151% more nuts,
respectively. Nuts produced on control trees were of a higher quality on average
because they were less damaged by thrips (probably because the fruit fly bait worked
as a contact poison on thrips); this was also the case for the IPM treatment. In absolute
numbers, however, trees in ant treatments produced more first-quality nuts.
4 To achieve a broader and effective control of both coreid bugs and thrips, a
combination of weaver ants and supplementary compatible control measures is
recommended.1 In Benin cashew plantations, yields and nut quality are lost mainly as a result of insect
pests. In the present study, we investigated the effectiveness of the African weaver ant
Oecophylla longinoda as a biocontrol agent against Beninese cashew pests.
2 In a 2-year study, nut yield and quality were compared among: (i) trees with weaver
ants O. longinoda; (ii) trees where weaver ants were sugar-fed; (iii) integrated pest
management (IPM) trees with weaver ants combined with fruit fly bait spray; and (iv)
control trees receiving no control measures.
3 All treatments with ants showed significantly higher yields than the control, with
the IPM treatment leading to the highest yield. Compared with the control trees, the
ants, ant sugar-fed and the IPM trees produced 78%, 122% and 151% more nuts,
respectively. Nuts produced on control trees were of a higher quality on average
because they were less damaged by thrips (probably because the fruit fly bait worked
as a contact poison on thrips); this was also the case for the IPM treatment. In absolute
numbers, however, trees in ant treatments produced more first-quality nuts.
4 To achieve a broader and effective control of both coreid bugs and thrips, a
combination of weaver ants and supplementary compatible control measures is
recommended.1 In Benin cashew plantations, yields and nut quality are lost mainly as a result of insect
pests. In the present study, we investigated the effectiveness of the African weaver ant
Oecophylla longinoda as a biocontrol agent against Beninese cashew pests.
2 In a 2-year study, nut yield and quality were compared among: (i) trees with weaver
ants O. longinoda; (ii) trees where weaver ants were sugar-fed; (iii) integrated pest
management (IPM) trees with weaver ants combined with fruit fly bait spray; and (iv)
control trees receiving no control measures.
3 All treatments with ants showed significantly higher yields than the control, with
the IPM treatment leading to the highest yield. Compared with the control trees, the
ants, ant sugar-fed and the IPM trees produced 78%, 122% and 151% more nuts,
respectively. Nuts produced on control trees were of a higher quality on average
because they were less damaged by thrips (probably because the fruit fly bait worked
as a contact poison on thrips); this was also the case for the IPM treatment. In absolute
numbers, however, trees in ant treatments produced more first-quality nuts.
4 To achieve a broader and effective control of both coreid bugs and thrips, a
combination of weaver ants and supplementary compatible control measures is
recommended. |
