Biological Control Potential of Cheilomenes sulphurea (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) against Aphids on Cashew Trees in Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire
Coulibaly Adama
National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA), Korhogo Regional Directorate, Lataha Research Station Cashew, Mango, Papaya Program (AMP), Head Office: Km 17 Dabou Road / 01 BP 1740, Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire.
Fondio Drissa
*
Jean Lorougnon Guédé University (UJLoG), Laboratory for the Improvement of Agricultural Production, Daloa BP 150, Côte d’Ivoire.
Minhibo Magloire Yves
National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA), Korhogo Regional Directorate, Lataha Research Station Cashew, Mango, Papaya Program (AMP), Head Office: Km 17 Dabou Road / 01 BP 1740, Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire.
Soro Lacina
Jean Lorougnon Guédé University (UJLoG), Laboratory for the Improvement of Agricultural Production, Daloa BP 150, Côte d’Ivoire.
Soro Senan
Jean Lorougnon Guédé University (UJLoG), Laboratory for the Improvement of Agricultural Production, Daloa BP 150, Côte d’Ivoire.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) cultivation, belonging to the family Anacardiacea, represents one of the main economic activities for farmers in the central and northern regions of Côte d’Ivoire. However, despite the numerous advantages associated with cashew production, the crop faces considerable challenges due to the combined effects of several factors, notably aphid infestations. The primary objective of this study is to propose improved mechanisms for controlling aphids on cashew trees through an environmentally friendly biological control approach that also safeguards producers' health. For the biological study, plastic pots with volumes of 300 ml and 10 ml were used as rearing environments for adult and larval lady beetles, respectively. To assess predation, lady beetles were starved for 24 hours before the introduction of aphids. Statistical analyses revealed a significant difference (p = 0.0346) between the two consumption stages of the lady beetles. On the one hand, the study demonstrated that predation by Cheilomenes sulphurea against Aphis gossypii and Toxoptera aurantii aphids was remarkable. Indeed, lady beetles exhibited voracity at all developmental stages, with the highest predation observed in fourth-instar larvae, regardless of aphid species provided. On the other hand, no significant difference was observed in aphid consumption by adult lady beetles according to sex. Furthermore, the study showed that C. sulphurea exhibited virtually no feeding preference between A. gossypii and T. aurantii across all developmental stages.
Keywords: Cashew, lady beetle, aphid, evaluation, predation, biological control, Lataha