Geographic distribution and host plant ranges of East African noctuid stem borers
Citation
Ann. soc. entomol. Fr. (n.s.), 2006, 42 (3-4) : 353-361Sponsorhip
Surveys were carried out in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zanzibar to establish geographic distribution in the main vegetation mosaics and ecological (host plant range, feeding behaviour) characteristics of the East African noctuid stem borers. 49 wild plant species belonging to Poaceae, Cyperaceae and Typhaceae were found to harbour stem borers in the six vegetation mosaics surveyed. A total of 36 noctuid species belonging to nine genera were identifi ed from 14,318 larvae collected, out of which 17 were new to science. The species diversity varied among vegetation mosaics and host plants. Most borer species appeared to be specialised feeders with 24 species being monophagous. Species belonging to the same types (named as the Busseola Thurau 1904 and the Sesamia Guenée 1852 types) or genus harboured common ecological characteristics such as pigmentation and feeding site. The Sciomesa Tams and Bowden 1953 genus was an exception as it had a mixture of these characters.Publisher
College of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi Ministry of Agriculture, Plant protection division, P.O. Box 1062, Zanzibar, Tanzania ICIPE, PO Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya Unité de Recherche IRD 072, CNRS, Laboratoire Evolution, Génomes et Spéciation, BP1, 91198 Gif - sur - Yvette cedex, France Unité de Recherche IRD 072, PO Box 30772, ICIPE, Nairobi, Kenya