Biological control of the millet head miner Heliocheilus albipunctella in the Sahelian region by augmentative releases of the parasitoid wasp Habrobracon hebetor: effectiveness and farmers’ perceptions

Ba, M N and Baoua, I B and N’Diaye, M and Dabire-Binso, C and Sanon, A and Tamò, M (2013) Biological control of the millet head miner Heliocheilus albipunctella in the Sahelian region by augmentative releases of the parasitoid wasp Habrobracon hebetor: effectiveness and farmers’ perceptions. Phytoparasitica, 41 (5). pp. 569-576. ISSN 1876-7184

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Abstract

On-farm augmentative releases of the parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Say) for controlling the millet head miner (MHM) Heliocheilus albipunctella (de Joannis) were tested in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from 2007 to 2009. In addition, a survey of farmers’ perceptions of insect pests, with particular focus on MHM, and the biological control program (BCP) was carried out. There was a significant increase of MHM parasitization rate after the releases, with up to 97% mortality. The survey on farmers’ perceptions revealed a fair knowledge of the MHM and the ability of farmers to describe the pest and the damage it caused. Farmers claimed that the biocontrol agent H. hebetor is effective and perceived a significant gain in grain yield due to this control strategy. Implications of these findings for a large extension of the MHM biocontrol program are discussed.

Item Type: Article
Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
CRP: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: millet head miner; farmer perceptions; biological control; Habrobracon hebetor
Subjects: Mandate crops > Millets
Depositing User: Mr Sanat Kumar Behera
Date Deposited: 02 Nov 2013 04:45
Last Modified: 02 Nov 2013 07:51
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/7226
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12600-013-0317-x
Projects: Collaborative Crop Research Program (CCRP)
Funders: McKnight Foundation
Acknowledgement: This study was made possible through the support provided to INERA, IER and INRAN by the Collaborative Crop Research Program (CCRP) of the McKnight Foundation under the terms of grants No. 06-011 and No. 09-036 thru 039. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCRP/ McKnight Foundation. The authors are also thankful to farmers who graciously gave their time to answer and discuss questions and to our collaborators, Adama Bonkoungou, Simon Tarpidiga, Mayaki Gaya, Laouali Amadou, Maimouna Abdourahamane, Ibrahim Ouattara and Amadou Tembely. We also thank Dr David Onstad of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA for his helpful edits.
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