Survey of the Arthropod Complex and Monitoring and Management of Homopteran Pests of Citrus (Citrus Spp) and Their Natural Enemies
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SURVEY OF THE ARTHROPOD COMPLEX AND MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT OF HOMOPTERAN PESTS OF CITRUS (CITRUS SPP) AND THEIR NATURAL ENEMIES NAIROBI UNivmSIT? KABETt LIBRARY Dora C. Kilalo (Bsc. Agriculture) A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CROP PROTECTION IN THE FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE, UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI 2004 University of NAIROBI Library 0524319 1 DECLARATION DECLARATION BY THE CANDIDATE This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in this or any other University ..... \l.\.S.(?.Vf ■ Dora C. Kilalo DECLARATION BY SUPERVISORS This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as supervisors Signed. ....................................................... Dr.W\l. OlubaU Signed. Dr. S. D. Obukosia ♦ DEDICATION To my husband Joseph Ngeranwa and my children Faith, Grace, Patience and Wisdom for their understanding and prayers made for me I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God Almighty, who summons you by name. Isaiah 45:2-3 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am greatly indebted to my supervisors Dr. Florence Olubayo and Dr. Silas Obukosia of the University of Nairobi whose counsel, guidance and constant supervision made the completion of this work possible. Thanks are due to the University of Nairobi for granting me admission and allowing me to use the university facilities for my research. I also wish to express my gratitude to KARI (Biological control unit - Muguga) for providing some of the facilities used in these studies and to the fanners for their co operation, without whose farms the information gathered would not have been available. Thanks to all people who provided encouragement, Department of Crop Protection staff, fellow students and workmates alike. My gratitude goes to my husband, children, extended family members and the Kabete Associates bible study group for the encouragement, support and prayers made for me. Last but not least, I am extremely thankful to the Rockefeller foundation (FORUM) whose finances supported this work. May God bless you! 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgement...............................................................................................................i List of Tables....................................................................................................................vii List of Figures..................................................................................................................ix List of plates.......................................................................................................................x Abstract.............................................................................................................................x* CHAPTER ONE 1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION, LITERATURE REVIEW AND GENERAL MATERIALS AND METHODS 1.1 General introduction...............................................................................................1 1.1.1 The Citrus plant...................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1.1 Taxonomy and Morphology...................................................................................1 1.1.1.2 Origin and Distribution.......................................................................................... 2 1.1.2 The Citrus industry in Kenya............................................................................... 3 1.1.3 Citrus production constraints in Kenya..................................................................4 1.1.4 Problem statement..................................................................................................5 1.1.5 Objectives...............................................................................................................6 1.1.5.1 Overall objective....................................................................................................6 1.1.5.2 Specific objectives..................................................................................................6 1.1.6 Hypotheses..............................................................................................................6 L2 Literature review.....................................................................................................7 1.2.1 Effects of pests on crop production........................................................................7 1.2.2 Pests and diseases of citrus.................................................................................... 7 ♦ Ill 1.2.2.1 Weeds.....................................................................................................................7 1.2.2.2 Parasitic nematodes............................................................................................... 8 1.2.2.3 Diseases..................................................................................................................8 1.2.2.4 Insect pests of citrus...............................................................................................8 1.2.2.4.1 Homopteran insects damage on citrus.............................................................. 10 1.2.2.4.2 Scale insects (Coccidae and Diaspididae).......................................................... 10 1.2.2.4.3 Citrus whiteflies and blackflies(Aleyrodidae)................................................... 11 1.2.2.4.4 Citrus psyllids (Psyllidae)..................................................................................11 1.2.2.4.5 Aphids (Aphididae)...........................................................................................11 1.2.3 Beneficial insects.....................................................................................................13 1.2.3.1 Predators...............................................................................................................13 1.2.3.2 Parasitic insects (parasitoids)...............................................................................15 1.2.4 Control/Management options.............................................................................. 17 1.2.4.1 Chemical control................................................................................................. 17 1.2.4.2 Biological control................................................................................................19 1.2.4.3 Cultural control....................................................................................................22 1.2.4.4 Plant resistance....................................................................................................23 1.3 General materials and methods.......................................................................... 25 1.3.1 Location and description of the study area..........................................................25 1.3.2 Identification of specimens.................................................................................27 IV CHAPTER TWO 2.0 SURVEY OF CITRUS INSECT PESTS AND THE FARMER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO CONTROL THEM IN BUNGOMA AND MACHAKOS DISTRICTS OF KENYA 2.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................28 2.2 Materials and methods......................................................................................... 29 2.3 Results..................................................................................................................32 2.3.1 Range of insect species associated citrus.............................................................32 2.3.1.2 Insect pest species.................................................................................................33 2.3.1.3 Beneficial insect species.......................................................................................34 2.3.2 Farmer perceptions and practices........................................................................ 44 2.3.2.1 Farm resources and socio-economic characteristics............................................ 44 2.3.2.2 Farmer pest control practices................................................................................47 2.3.3 Factors influencing citrus tree health....................................................................50 2.4 Discussion............................................................................................................52 2.4.1 Insects associated with the citrus plants...............................................................52 2.4.2 Farmer perceptions and practices.........................................................................58 2.4.3 Factors influencing citrus health in farmer fields.................................................62 CHAPTER THREE 3.0 OCCURRENCES AND SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION OF HOMOPTERAN PESTS OF CITRUS IN MACHAKOS DISTRICT, EASTERN KENYA 3.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................65 3.2 Materials and methods 67 V 3.2.1 Site........................................................................................................................67 3.2.2 Pest sampling........................................................................................................67 3.1 Results..................................................................................................................68