Fluctuations in Natural Populations of the Leaf miner (<i>Coelaenomenodera lameensis</i>) in Relation to Different Origins of Oil Palm (<i>Elaeis</i> sp.) in South Benin

doi:10.4236/ajps.2013.49227

Paper Menu >>

Journal Menu >>

American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2013, 4, 1846-1852

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2013.49227 Published Online September 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/ajps)

Fluctuations in Natural Populations of the Leaf Miner

(Coelaenomenodera lameensis) in Relation to Different

Origins of Oil Palm (Elaeis sp.) in South Benin

A. Coffi1, R. Philippe2, I. Glitho3

1Centre de Recherches Agricoles Plantes Pérennes (CRA-PP), Institut National de Recherches Agricoles du Bénin (INRAB), Pobè,

Bénin; 2Centre International de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, Montpellier, France; 3Laboratoire d’Entomologie

Appliquée, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo.

Email: [email protected]

Received June 25th, 2013; revised July 26th, 2013; accepted August 13th, 2013

permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT

Preferences of different oil palm crosses in the station of Pobè in Benin were tested on Coelaenomenodera lameensis by

monitoring the natural population for 7 consecutive years. Experiments monitoring of developmental stages of the in-

sect were performed on material types Elaeis guineensis and Elaeis oleifera. Observations were performed every two

weeks on leaves of different ranks (25, 17 or 9) depending on the degree of defoliation by counting the different stages

of insect development on leaflets. The results showed that the evolution of pest density is a function of species and the

origin of the materials being compared. Population densities of different stages of C. lameensis were more abundant in

the crosses from Yocoboué where average population indices were higher at all stages of development from early ob-

servations. By contrast, in crosses La Mé, Yangambi and Deli, the numbers of larvae, pupae and adults were lower.

Among these three crosses infestation was more abundant in La Mé, followed by Yangambi and Deli. E. oleifera is

much less or not attacked. The stages of development (larvae and adults) were also differently held in oil palm origins

in comparison. The larval population is significantly important during the short rainy season and lesser important during

the dry season. These results may contribute to the development of suitable materials for the genetic improvement of

breeding tolerant oil palm material to leaf miner.

Keywords: Coelaenomenodera lameensis; Leaf Miner; Oil Palm; Elaeis spp

1. Introduction

Oil palm, Elaeis spp. is a perennial plant native to Africa.

The genus Elaeis contains three species Elaeis guineensis

jacq from Africa (most common), Elaeis oleifera (HBK)

Cortes of Brazilian origin and Elaeis madagascariensis

Beccari met in Madagascar. The species guineensis , the

most common, is grown for its fruit and almonds which

provide a popular vegetable oil used in the diet for 80%,

oleochemicals for 19% and biodiesel for 1% [1]. The

species E. oleifera, compared to its African parent E. gui-

neensis, usually grown in the tropics, is rare and is natu-

rally distributed in Central America, Honduras to Colom-

bia, and in the Amazon region. It has very interesting

features for genetic improvement, including the quality

of the oil and the slow growth rate. Oil palm is the target

of many insect pests including Coelaenomenodera la-

meensis Berti and Mariau (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae-

Hispinae), commonly known as leaf miner which is very

harmful in West Africa [2]. Among the many Hispinae

widely distributed in the tropics, the genus Coelaenome-

nodera has thirty eight species including two C. elaeidis

and C. lameensis previously known as C. Elaeidis Mau-

lik and after C. minuta Uhmannby [3]. The distribution

of C. lameensis covers Central and West Africa (Benin,

Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Le-

one) [4]. It grows inside tunnels to the underside of the

leaves of oil palm. The species C. elaeidis frequently de-

velops mixed with C. lameensis, but the strength of its

populations remains very low. These two species are pa-

rasitized by the same species of insects. The adult female

lays eggs at the bottom of a small furrow dug to the un-

derside of the leaflets parallel to the rib. They are fixed to

the upper epidermis that dries here. Eggs are incom-

pletely enveloped by a shell ocher, and covered with a

Fluctuations in Natural Populations of the Leaf Miner (Coelaenomenodera lameensis) in Relation

to Different Origins of Oil Palm (Elaeis sp.) in South Benin

1847

fibrous agglomerate nature vegetable emboss marking

the location of spawning. The total cycle time is 94 days

(3 months) and the different stages are as follows: eggs

(20.5 days), larvae (44 days: L1-11 days, L2-9 days, 9

days and L3-L4-15 days), pupa (12 days), adult gallery in

1 - 2 days and adult on the underside of leaves and 17

days before spawning [5,6]. During outbreaks, C. lame-

ensis causes severe defoliation which can cause up to

about 50% loss of production for two years [6-8]. The

adult consumes the leaf parenchyma to the underside of

the leaflets by longitudinal grooves tens of millimeters

parallel to the ribs. These grooves are 12 to 15 mm in

length and are drilled through the entire thickness of the

leaflet. The most harmful damage caused by larvae in

rate of 4 to 6 galleries per leaflet dries the whole palm

starting with the lower palm leaf crown. The damage

caused by the larvae is the most damaging because of the

number and size of mines per leaflet [9]. The oleifera ap-

pears less attacked than the species guineensis [10,11].

Differences in sensitivity were also observed in guineen-

sis species’ [11,12]. In 2002, the plantations of the re-

search station of Pobè suffered severe pressure due to

overgrowth of C. lameensis which caused severe defolia-

tion of palm trees [8-13]. Preliminary observations made

in the field indicated that the level of infestation varied

with the genetic origins of oil palm [8]. The impact of the

genetic variability of oil palm on the attack of C. lame-

ensis which is of great interest for the selection of breed-

ing resistant or vulnerable species has been addressed

[11]. According to [14], the larvae out of their galleries are

less sensitive to temperature variations than eggs. How-

ever, young galleries can dry with high temperatures and

this happens mainly on leaves in the top of crown. Simi-

larly heavy rain can destroy galleries of all sizes. These

conditions with the endogenous mortality participate in

large part, in the reduction of populations of C. lameensis .

This research aims at studying the level of infestation

in natural populations of C. lameensis on different plant

materials of oil palm.

2. Material and Methods

The experiments were conducted under natural condi-

tions in southern Benin on the station “Centre de Re-

cherches Agricoles Plantes Pérennes de Pobè” (7˚ North

and 2˚40 East). The average annual rainfall in Pobè is

1200 mm. The months of March to August are marked

by the long rainy season before a short dry season until

mid-September. A short rainy season occurs from Sep-

tember to November and a long dry season from No-

vember to March. The oil palm aged around of 8 years

old was our studied material. Four (04) origins of E. gui-

neensis (La Mé, Yangambi, Deli and Yocoboué) and two

(02) origins of E. oleifera (Brazil and Central America)

were concerned in the study of fluctuations of natural

populations of the pest. The experimental design is a ran-

domized complete block. The observations were made on

two palms on a line (one at the east and one at the west)

and all five lines, the crossings of the 4 origins of E. gui-

neensis and two origins of E. oleifera and all five lines, a

total of 24 trees. The choice of trees is made randomly

outside border lines for each original. On each oil palm

sampled, observations were made on a palm cut at the

9th, 17th or 25th leaf depending on the level of leaf defo-

liation foliage. The counts were performed every 15 days.

The counting of larvae, pupa and imago of C. lameensis

occurs visually on all leaflets of the palm when the larval

population level is low (average larvae per palm between

0 and 40). In the case of a high population (average

greater than 40 palm larvae), the count was made on a

leaflet out of 10 on a side of the palm and then to the en-

tire palm. The bimonthly samples of leaflets for observa-

tion were scaled from January 2005 to December 2011.

The monthly rainfall is recorded during this period.

The General Linear Model (GLM) was used to perform

ANOVA with SAS software (SAS Institute, 1997 version

9.2). Variance analysis focused on the total number of

eggs laid per year, depending on season and the series,

the plant material and sampling by Poisson regression

[15].

3. Results

3.1. Fluctuation of Larval Populations of C.

lameensis on Different Material

The fluctuation of larval populations from January 2005

to July 2011 (Figure 1) showed a higher number of

crossings of origin Yocoboué with 3 distinct medium

peaks of around 1600, 3000 and 1900 individuals per tree

respectively in 2005, 2008 and 2011. Indeed, we have

witnessed a rapid and abrupt decline (between July 2006

and August 2008), and a biological level between August

2005 and June 2006 from which we observed a sawtooth

evolution during the remainder of the period. Concerning

oil palm from La Mé, we noticed the same trend for lar-

val populations that have a medium biological growth (in

2005, 2008, 2010 and 2011), a biological level (between

October 2005 and June 2006), and changesin sawtooth-

hand biological peaks. As for Yangambi and Deliorigins,

we noted a biological level between August 2005 and

September 2006, a biological peak of 925 for Yangambi

and 650 for Deli respectively in November 2009 and July

2011. By cons, the proliferation of larval populations

remained very low on E. oleifera compared to other ma-

terials. This material showed some resistance against the

attack of this insect. Thus, periodic surveys have shown

Fluctuations in Natural Populations of the Leaf Miner (Coelaenomenodera lameensis) in Relation

to Different Origins of Oil Palm (Elaeis sp.) in South Benin

1848

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

01/05

03/05

05/05

07/05

09/05

11/05

01/06

03/06

05/06

07/06

09/06

11/06

01/07

03/07

05/07

07/07

09/07

11/07

01/08

03/08

05/08

07/08

09/08

11/08

01/09

03/09

05/09

07/09

09/09

11/09

01/10

03/10

05/10

07/10

09/10

11/10

01/11

03/11

05/11

07/11

Aver age popul ation per palm

O bservat i on Dates

Deli

La Mé

Y angambi

Yocoboué

E. olei fera

Figure 1. Dynamics of larval populations of C. lameensis from 2005 to 2011.

a large number of palm trees from Yocoboué while on

the palm of the other three sources, the number of adults

was very low, especially those of La Mé origin that was

also sensitive compared to Yangambi and Deli. Finally,

E. oleifera occupied the last position due to their nature

of resistance to C. lameensis.

3.2. Fluctuation of Pupae’s Populations of C.

lameensis on Different Materials

The evolution of the pupal stage (Figure 2) was virtually

identical to that of larvae in the crosses from Yocoboué

and La Mé, with periods of low densities (between Janu-

ary and September 2005, between November 2005 and

September 2008 and February and December 2009), 6

successive peaks (in September 2005, October 2008, Jan-

uary, April and June 2010 and finally in March 2011)

and two biological levels (between October 2010 and

February 2011 and between April and July 2011) were

recorded. Concerning the crosses native to Yangambi,

three biological peaks were observed (October 2005 and

2008 and June 2011). This trend was less noticeable on

the Deli material where populations’ trend was in saw-

tooth especially between January and July 2011. Nym-

phal populations remained absent on the types Oleifera

during the whole period of observations.

3.3. Fluctuation of Populations of Adults of C.

lameensis on Different Material

Like the nymphs, the adult populations of C. lameensis

also varied over time (Figure 3).

On the crosses native to Yocoboué, an outbreak was

characterized by three main situations: a small population

(January to September 2005, November 2005 to Sep-

tember 2008 and March 2009 to May 2010); 4 biological

peaks (October 2005 and 2008, March 2009 and August

2010) and a biological level between October 2010 and

February 2011. The trend was the same in La Mé origins

with the same periods of scarcity and proliferation of

adult insects. To this is added a biological level between

October 2010 and February 2011. On Deli and Yangambi

the same trend was observed with very low populations

during identical periods to those observed on the first two

crosses, a biological level between October 2010 and

February 2011. In E. oleifera, by cons, no adult popula-

tion of the insect was noted throughout the observation

period, the evolution of the development cycle time be-

ing arrested at the stage of larvae with small individuals.

3.4. Annual Fluctuation of Larvae, Pupae and

Adults C. lameensis on Different Material

In general, fluctuations in natural populations of C. la-

meensis for all stage show distinct periods of prolifera-

tion. Between the years 2005 and 2011 it was noted a

sawtooth evolution of the proliferation of C. lameensis.

Between 2006 and 2007 the populations of pupae and

adults were rare. By cons regarding larval populations,

apart from 2007 where they remained low (≈2 individu-

als), they had oscillates irregularly between 43 in 2008

and 386 in the year 2011 during the observation period

(Figure 4).

3.5. Seasonal Fluctuation of Larval Populations

of C. lameensis

The largest populations of the pest have been observed

during the short rainy season (248 larvae, 41 nymphs and

23 adults) (Figure 5). During the other seasons, the po-

pulation of individuals of different stages is not half of

he populations recorded during the short rainy season. t

Fluctuations in Natural Populations of the Leaf Miner (Coelaenomenodera lameensis) in Relation

to Different Origins of Oil Palm (Elaeis sp.) in South Benin

1849

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

01/05

03/05

05/05

07/05

09/05

11/05

01/06

03/06

05/06

07/06

09/06

11/06

01/07

03/07

05/07

07/07

09/07

11/07

01/08

03/08

05/08

07/08

09/08

11/08

01/09

03/09

05/09

07/09

09/09

11/09

01/10

03/10

05/10

07/10

09/10

11/10

01/11

03/11

05/11

07/11

Average p opulat i on per pal m

O bser v at ion Dat es

Deli

La Mé

Yangamb i

Yocoboué

E. ol e ife r a

Figure 2. Dynamic of pupae’ s populations of C. lameensis from 2005 to 2011.

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

01/05

03/05

05/05

07/05

09/05

11/05

01/06

03/06

05/06

07/06

09/06

11/06

01/07

03/07

05/07

07/07

09/07

11/07

01/08

03/08

05/08

07/08

09/08

11/08

01/09

03/09

05/09

07/09

09/09

11/09

01/10

03/10

05/10

07/10

09/10

11/10

01/11

03/11

05/11

07/11

Aver a ge popu l a t ion per palm

Observat i on Dates

Deli

LaMé

Yangambi

Yocoboué

E.oleifera

Figure 3. Dynamic of adult populations of C. lameensis from 2005 to 2011.

2006 2007 200820092010Y2011

Yea rs

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

Average Raifall (mm)

Average population per palm

Larvaes

Pupaes (Nymphs)

Adults

rainfall

2005

Figure 4. Dynamic of the populations of lar v ae , pupae and adults in time.

Fluctuations in Natural Populations of the Leaf Miner (Coelaenomenodera lameensis) in Relation

to Different Origins of Oil Palm (Elaeis sp.) in South Benin

1850

LDS

100

150

200

250

300

Average population per palm

Larvaes

Pupaes (Nymphs)

Adults

GRS SDS SR S

Seasons

Figure 5. Population dynamics of larvae, pupae and adults of C. lameensis according to the season. LDS = Long dry season

(November-March); GRS = Great rainy season (March-August); SDS = Short dry season (August-mid-September); SRS =

rainy season (mid-September-November).

3.6. Fluctuation of C. lameensis Populations

Depending on the Plant Material

The average abundance of the population of C. lameen sis

as plant material (Figure 6) was more on the origins Yo-

coboué (215 larvae, 24 nymphs and 9 adults), followed

by La Mé (115 larvae, 18 pupae and 5 adults), Yangambi

(49 larvae, 10 nymphs and 5 adults) and Deli (40 larvae,

5 nymphs and 1 adult). In addition, oleifera were less

attacked with very low larval populations (<1 individual).

The stages of nymphs (pupae) and adults were not ob-

served.

4. Discussion

The evolution of the natural population of the leaf miner

(C. lameensis) depends on the oil palm species and the

origin of the material in comparison. Thus, we note that

the different development stages of insect is more evi-

dent on some crosses from Yocoboué where the average

indices are higher in all larval, pupae, and adults stages

in the early observations whereas on the other origins

such as La Mé, Yangambi and Deli, despite the presence

of these stages, the numbers recorded are lower. How-

ever, this infestation varies in these three origins and in

terms of development stages, crosses from La Mé appear

in second place, followed by Yangambi and Deli. As for

E. oleifera they are much less or not attacked.

We note that the evolution of developmental stages

(larvae and adults) takes place differently depending on

the origins in comparison.

In addition, several peaks observed could result from

the overlap of several generations of insects completing

their life cycle within three months [6]. Climatic para-

meters play a role in the activity of parasitoid eggs.

These climatic factors also influence fertility, lead to a

decrease of the mortality of eggs, conditions for the ge-

nesis of outbreak.

The damage recorded on the palms of different mate-

rials reflects the distribution and size of populations of

this pest. Therefore, there is a link between sensibility or

tolerance of a cross to the level of damage caused on the

material. Thus, the existence of favorable conditions or

not during the life cycle of C. lameensis is certainly due

to the intrinsic characteristics of origins, although abiotic

and biotic conditions can play a significant role in the ex-

pression of this phenomenon.

Fluctuations in natural populations of C. lameensis for

all stages, confirms two distinct periods of outbreaks in

2005 respectively, separated by 24 months from 2008 to

2009 during which the populations are virtually absent.

Each outbreak lasts about a year. The population level of

larvae during these outbreaks varies depending on the

plant material. For both periods, there is a significant dif-

ference between the abundance of larval population of C.

lameensis in the materials from Yocoboué and La Mé at

one hand, Deli and Yangambi at the other. In 2005, po-

pulations vary over 1500 larvae per leaf on average at the

beginning of the proliferation in Yocoboué origin before

Fluctuations in Natural Populations of the Leaf Miner (Coelaenomenodera lameensis) in Relation

to Different Origins of Oil Palm (Elaeis sp.) in South Benin

1851

Yocoboué

100

150

200

250

Average population per palm

Larvaes

Pupaes (Nymphs)

Adults

Materials

La Mé Yangambi Deli E. oleifrea

Brasil

E. oleifrea

Central

América

Figure 6. Population dynamic s of larvae, nymphs and adults depending on the plant material.

falling and rising again to reach a plateau of more than

1000 individuals over several consecutive months before

declining to after one year. The second outbreak in 2008

reveals larger population levels for the origins Yoco-

boué and La Mé up to about 3000 larvae per leaf on aver-

age. However, after 5 months, the populations’ levels fall

gradually and become economically acceptable after one

year. The level of proliferation of populations of C. la-

meensis on E. Oleifera material for all stages (larvae,

nymphs and adults) is insignificant in the past 5 years of

observations. Only a few larvae are present at the time of

the outbreaks in 2005 and 2008. No nymph or no adult is

observed during outbreaks of the pest. This result sug-

gests that the insect does not develop beyond the larval

stages of the two origins of E. oleifera. The level of the

larval population is significantly important during the

short rainy season (180 larvae on average) and to a lesser

extent during the long dry season (80 larvae on average).

5. Conclusion

The level of natural populations is characterized by peri-

ods of heavy outbreaks that last for almost a year during

which a peak of 3000 larvae per leaf in averages was

noted following a period of latency lasting two years

with weak number or no larvae. The origins of West Af-

rica (Yocoboué and La Mé) were significantly more af-

fected than the origins of Central Africa and Asia (Yan-

gambi and Deli). Populations grow during the short rainy

season which is favorable for the hatching. The devel-

opment of larval stages continues during the short rainy

season. The evolution of developmental stages (larvae,

nymphs and adults) takes place differently in the four ori-

gins of E. guineenis and two origins of E. oleifera in

comparison. Thus, we can classify them in the order of

increasing intensity of pest attacks: E. oleifera, E. guine-

ensis: Deli, Yangambi, La Mé and Yocoboué.

6. Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to the authorities of

the Centre de Recherches Agricoles Plantes Pérennes de

Pobè of Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du

Bénin, the PalmElit and International Cooperation Cen-

tre in Agronomic Research for Development for their

technical and financial support for the research.

REFERENCES

[1] G. W. Chang, H.-W. Lin and S.-K. Chen, “Modeling

Characteristics of Harmonic Currents Generated by High-

Speed Railway Traction Drive Converters,” IEEE Trans-

actions on Power Delivery, Vol. 19, No. 2, 2004, pp. 766-

773. doi:10.1109/TPWRD.2003.822950

[2] J. L. Jacquemard, “The Oil Palm,” In: The Technician of

Tropical Agriculture No. 33 and Maisonneuve Editions,

Larousse, Paris, 1995, pp. 165-172.

Fluctuations in Natural Populations of the Leaf Miner (Coelaenomenodera lameensis) in Relation

to Different Origins of Oil Palm (Elaeis sp.) in South Benin

1852

[3] N. Berti and D. Mariau, “Coelaenomenodera lameensis n.

sp. Pest of Oil Palm. Entomological,” Nouvelle Revue,

Vol. 16, 2000, pp. 253-267.

[4] P. Cachan, “The Hispidae Miner (Coelaenomenodera ela-

eidis MLK), Oil Palm Pest in the Guinean Zone,” Tropi-

cal Agronomy, Vol. 12, 1957, pp. 610-632.

[5] Morin and Mariau, “Etude sur la Biologie de Coelaeno-

menodera elaeidis. Morphologie et Etude du Développe-

ment,” Oléagineux, Vol. 25, No. 1, 1970, pp. 11-16.

[6] D. Mariau and J. P. Besombes, “Method of Controlling

Population Levels of Coelaenomenodera lameensis,” Oil-

seeds, Vol. 27, 1972, pp. 425-427.

[7] R. Philippe, “Practical Methods of Chemical Control

against Coelaenomenodera minuta Uhrmann (Coleoptera:

Chrysomelidae-Hispinae),” Oilseeds, Vol. 45, 1990, pp.

165-172.

[8] R. Philippe, “Visit to the Centre for Agricultural Research

Perennial Plants (CRA-PP) Benin Pobè Station,” Mission

Report, 2003.

[9] Berti and Mariau, “Coelaenomenodera lameensis n. sp.

Pest of Oil Palm,” Nouvelle Revue, Vol. 16, 2000, pp.

253-267.

[10] R. Philippe, “Study of the Development of Coelaenome-

nodera elaeidis Mlk (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae-Hispi-

nae) on Hybrid E. guineensisx E. melanococca,” Oilseeds,

Vol. 32, 1977, pp. 1-4.

[11] A Coffi, “Study of the Development of the Leaf Miner, C.

lameensis Two Backcross of Interspecific Hybrid Origins

and Four Palm Oil,” 2006.

[12] A. Coffi, P. Atachi and R. Philippe, “Development of

Coelaenomenodera lameensis Berti (Coleoptera: Chry-

somelidae-Hispinae) on Various Sources of Oil Palm,”

Annals of Agricultural Sciences of Benin, Vol. 12, No. 1,

2009, pp. 1-14.

[13] A. Coffi, “Report of the End of the Operation against Co-

elaenomenodera lameensis,” Centre for Agricultural Re-

search Perennial Plants (CRA-PP), Pobè Benin Station,

2000.

[14] Mariau and Morin, “The Biology of Coelaenomenodera

elaeidis MLK, the Natural Larvae Mortality,” Oléagineux,

Vol. 29, No. 12, 1974, pp. 551-555.

[15] S. Manel and D. Debouzie, “Logistic Regression and

Continuation Ratio Models to Estimate Insect Develop-

ment under Variable Temperatures,” Ecological Model-

ling, Vol. 98, No. 2-3, 1997, pp. 237-243.

doi:10.1016/S0304-3800(96)01908-4