TITLE:
Bioecology of Phonoctonus lutescens (Guérin Meneville and Percheron) Predator of Dysdercus voëlkeri (Schmidt, 1932), Feeding on Dysdercus voëlkeri in the Laboratory Conditions in Burkina Faso
AUTHORS:
Sow Issa, Hema S. A. Omer, Sanon Antoine, Hema Tiemogo
KEYWORDS:
Cotton, Biological Control, Phonoctonus lutescens, Dysdercus voëlkeri, Burkina Faso
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.11 No.5,
May
8,
2020
ABSTRACT: The study was conducted at the agricultural experimental station of Farako-Bâ, specifically in the Cotton Program. Insects were collected in Farako-Bâfield and raised in the Cotton Program. Dysdercus voëkeri Schmidt is one of cotton cultivation main pests in Burkina Faso. The control of this devastating cotton bug is based on chemical using. For researching alternative solutions, a part of the biological control method was investigated by using Phonoctonus lutescens which is D. vöelkeri natural enemy, in order to develop a biological control method. To understand the bioecology of P. lutescens, our study has been carried out on this insect under laboratory conditions when it was feed on its prey which is D. voëkeri. The results have demonstrated that the pre-copulation period is 9.33 ± 2.14 days. The oviposition period is 6.97 ± 1.47 days, after which 366.73 ± 27.43 eggs on average are laid with 92.33% ± 4% hatchability. From hatching to adult stage, P. lutescens larvae development goes through five stages with variable durations according to the stage. The results showed that the development cycle lasted 57.23 ± 5.81 days at a temperature of 27.5°C ± 2°C and a relative humidity of 42% ± 3%. Survival rates ranged from 92% to 97.47%. Males and females lived respectively 87.5 ± 27.99 days and 107.97 ± 24.21 days. These results could permit a better use of P. lutescens through a mass rearing and an optimization of D. voëkeri biological control.