Insects Associated with Bungu, Ceratotheca Sesamoides Endl
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AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGY JOURNAL OF NORTH AMERICA ISSN Print: 2151-7517, ISSN Online: 2151-7525, doi:10.5251/abjna.2011.2.6.974.980 © 2011, ScienceHuβ, http://www.scihub.org/ABJNA Insects associated with Bungu, Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl. (Pedaliaceae). in Ilorin, Nigeria. Uddin II, R.O. and Adesiyun, A.A. Department of Crop Protection, University of Ilorin, Nigeria ABSTRACT A survey of the insects associated with Bungu, Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl. (Pedaliaceae) was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of The Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, during the rainy and dry seasons of 2009 to provide a useful foundation for further entomological studies on this little known vegetable crop. Sampling was done on a field measuring 15 m x 13 m, which was divided into 12 plots, with each plot measuring 2 m x 1 m. Four plots randomly selected were sampled. All parts of the plants in the selected plots were sampled for insects. Sampling was done early in the morning, three days a week. A sweep net measuring 40 cm in diameter was used to collect insects flying over the plots. Pitfall traps containing 4% formalin solution were used to trap insects walking on the floor. A total of 149 insect species were collected during the survey but only 141 were properly identified. Some of the insects could be incidental on the plant either while searching for oviposition site, mate, or prospecting for nectar. The major leaf feeders were Antigastra catalaunalis Dup. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Plusia acuta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) while the major flower feeders included A. catalaunalis and Oecanthus brevicauda (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). The major species recorded on the green fruit was A. catalaunalis. Some predators belonging to the order Coleoptera and some parasitoids belonging to the orders Diptera and Hymenoptera were found in association with Bungu. Keywords: Antigastra catalaunalis, Ceratotheca sesamoides, Survey INTRODUCTION aphrodisiac (Anon, 2008). The seed oil is used as an insecticide. Ceratotheca sesamoides Endl., a little known vegetable crop (Fasakin,1991), is an annual herb Olayide et al., (1972) presented data to show that the (Bakare,1987) belonging to the family Pedaliaceae demand of Nigerians for vegetables has never been which has 16 genera and 60 species predominantly met. This situation could be attributed partly to the in Africa, Indo-Malayan region, and tropical Australia fact that research on the numerous Nigerian (Gbile,1983). indigenous vegetables had been neglected in the past. There is no gain saying the fact that many of C. sesamoides has tender, edible shoots, leaves and the unpopular indigenous vegetables are potentially fruits that are eaten whole or in part, raw or cooked. It as valuable as cabbage, lettuce and cauliflower to is a source of protein, vitamins and minerals (Bakare, mention a few (Fasakin, 1991). 1987) with the dry seed yielding 35 percent oil whose characteristics are practically identical to those of Among the various production constraints known to sesame oil (LePelly, 1959). C. sesamoides is used in exert considerable influence on the potential yield of the treatment of childhood diseases such as measles a crop are insect pests. Van Rheenen (1973) stated (Anon., 2003). The leaves are steeped and the slimy that C. sesamoides, which is endemic in Africa and liquid dropped into the eye to treat conjunctivitis. The appeared to be cross compatible with Sesamum mucilage is occasionally used as an emollient and indicum L., showed resistance to the gall midge lubricant (Grubben and Denton,2004). The leaf is a Asphondylia sesami Felt. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). good antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and Going by recent literature search, there is no record antihypertensive agent. The leaves are used as an of studies on insects associated with C.sesamoides abortifacient and ecbolics as well as for treatment of in Nigeria. This paper reports on the insect pests of cutaneous and subcutaneous parasitic infections; C. sesamoides and describes the damage caused by diarrhoea and dysentery (Burkill,1985). C. the major groups. sesamoides has been shown to have antiviral properties (Obi et al., 2006) and also used as an Agric. Biol. J. N. Am., 2011, 2(6): 974-980 MATERIALS AND METHODS Diptera and Hymenoptera were found visiting the flowers, while 4 species of insects belonging to the The experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Orders Coleoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera were Research Farm, University of Ilorin in 2009 rainy found in association with the pods. season (July-November) and dry season (September-February) using a completely randomised design. The land used was divided into Stem Feeders: The major insect species recorded two blocks each consisting of twelve plots of 1 m x 2 here include Plusia acuta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) m and separated by a clean space of 0.5 m. Seeds of whose larva chew parts of the stem resulting in stem two cultivars of C. sesamoides namely cv. Pete and breakage. cv. Gogoro were purchased from the local market Leaf Feeders: The greatest number of insect pest and planted on the flat at a spacing of 0.3 m between were noticed on the leaves with a great majority rows and drilled within the rows. being of the biting and chewing type, belonging to the There were seven rows per plot. Collections of the orders, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera. The major different species of insects attacking the various parts Lepidopterous pest was A. catalaunalis (Dup.) of C. sesamoides at both the vegetative and (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The larva of Plusia acuta reproductive stages were undertaken on four blocks (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was also seen feeding on randomly selected per cultivar. Samples of all the the leaves but in very few numbers when compared different kinds of insects found on the experimental with A. catalaunalis. The larva of Plusia acuta fed on site were collected for identification. Larvae of the leaves causing different sizes of holes, while that lepidopterous insects collected from the site were of A. catalaunalis rolled the leaves around itself taken to the laboratory and reared to the adult stage. feeding and living within the enclosure. Crawling and resting insects were handpicked while At the initial stage the larva mined the leaves before flying insects were collected with a 40 cm sweep net. rolling them around itself. This feeding activity Insects inhabiting the soil were collected using pitfall reduced the total number and total area of leaves traps containing 4 percent formalin solution. available for photosynthesis and harvest. Visual counting of the insects was done between Flower Feeders: The insects attacking the flowers 0730h and 1000h when the insects were not too are grouped into two orders, namely Lepidoptera and active. The counting of insects was done thrice a Orthoptera with one specie each from Hymenoptera week for the duration the crop was on the field. The and Diptera as visitors to the flowers. The collected insects were identified at the Department of lepidopterous pest is A. catalaunalis (Lepidoptera: Crop Protection, Institute of Agricultural Research, Pyralidae) whose larvae eat holes in the petal of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria and the flower then binds the petals together to form an Department of Crop Protection and Environmental enclosure where it lives and feeds. The activity of the Biology University of Ibadan, Nigeria. insects causes death of the flowers and reduces pod RESULTS formation. The Orthopteran pest, Oecanthus brevicauda (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) eats the petal of A total of 149 species of insects were collected the flowers thus exposing the style and ovary. during the survey but only 141 species identified (see Table 1). There were 36 species of defoliators Green Fruit Feeders: The main green fruit feeder is belonging to the Orders, Coleoptera, Dictyoptera, Antigastra catalaunalis; the larva of the gall midge Lepidoptera and Orthoptera. Nineteen species of Asphondylia sesami (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) was insects belonging to the Orders, Coleoptera, also seen feeding in the pods. The larvae of Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera were Antigastra catalaunalis bore into the green pod and associated with the stem. 11 species of insects in the fed on the seeds. It left frass at the point of entry into Orders Coleoptera, Dictyoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, the pod. The larvae pupate in the pod from which the Hymenoptera and Orthoptera were associated with adult emerges. the flowers. One species in each of the Orders 975 Agric. Biol. J. N. Am., 2011, 2(6): 974-980 Table I. Insect pests species associated with C. sesamoides in Ilorin Order/Family Insect Species Part attacked Vulnerable stage COLEOPTERA Alleculidae Alogista nigeriana (Borch) * Vegetative Anthicidae Formiconis indigaceus (Laf.) * Vegetative/Reproductive Bostrichidae Dinoderus minutes (F.) * Vegetative/Reproductive Chrysomelidae Asbecesta nigripennis (Lab.) Leaf Vegetative Chaetocnema congoana (Bry.) Leaf Vegetative Eryxia holoserica (Klug.) Leaf Vegetative/Reproductive Monolepta nigeriae (Bryant.) Leaf Vegetative/Reproductive Monolepta sp. Leaf Vegetative Pagria gossypii (Bryant.) Leaf Vegetative Chlaeniini Ocybatus discicollis Leaf Vegetative/Reproductive Curculionidae Anaemerus tomentosus Leaf Vegetative/Reproductive Nematocerus acerbus (Fst.) Leaf/Flower Vegetative/Reproductive Siderodactylus sagittarus (Oliv.) Leaf/Stem Vegetative/Reproductive Tamymecus tonsus (Mshl.) Leaf/Stem Vegetative Elateridae Cardiophorus quadriplagiatus (Er.) * Vegetative