RA 00110.pdf - OAR@ICRISAT

cultural practices such as early planting to minimize shoot fly incidence, insecticidal controls (soil application
of phorate 10 G and foliar sprays of endosulfan, penthoate) for controlling shoot fly have been suggested.
Intercropping with pulses can reduce white grub damage in pearl millet.
Insects with a potential for becoming pests in the future have also been identified. Lastly, future lines of
research were discussed.
Pearl Millet Entomology Research in Senegal
(Recherches sur l'entomologie du mil au Senegal
R.T. Gahukar, V.S. Bhatnagar, W.S. Bos,
Project CILSS/FAO de lutte integre, Secteur Centre Sud BP 199, Kaolack, Senegal
and
M . NDoye
Institut Senegalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA) Centre National de la Recherche Agronomique,
BP 51, Bambey, Senegal
Pearl millet is a major food crop in Senegal, and is attacked by about 100 insect pests. The damage severity
mainly depends upon the climatic conditions and coincidence between the abundance of pest populations and
vulnerable growth stage of the millet crop. Surveys of insect pests and their natural enemies were undertaken
and their importance under subsistence farming conditions was evaluated. The stem borers (Acigona ignefusalis)
Hmps. and spike worms (Raghuva albipunctella) De Joannis are considered as key pests. Considerable
losses caused by sporadic attacks of Geromyia penniseti, Felt. Oedaleus senegalensis, Krauss Amsact a
moloneyi Druce, Psalydolytta spp., Spodoptera exempta Wlk., Heliothis armigera Hb., and Lema planifroms
have been reported.
Limited information on the biology and ecology of major insects has been obtained from three observation
sites in the south-central region where a warning system for spike worm attack with the help of a model of
moth flights and egg counts is underway. The pest management strategy would be applied through a pilot
project. Therefore, various methods are being tested, for example, utilization of resistant varieties, biological
control agents (Bacillus thuringiensis and Bracon hebetor Say against spike worms), and partial burning of
millet stems against borers. Socioeconomic problems, changes in agricultural policies, farmers' reactions, etc.,
must be considered to implement an efficient, economical, and stable pest management strategy.
The Status of Millet Entomology in Nigeria
(Etat actuel de l'entomologie du mil au Nigeria)
Olupomi Ajayi
Entomologist, Department of Crop Protection, Institute for Agricultural Research,
Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B. 1044, Samara, Zaria, Nigeria
Extensive surveys have identified up to 161 insect species that are associated with the millet crop in Nigeria.
The major pests are the millet stem borers, Acigona ignefusalis Hmps., Raghuva graminivora Lap., Kraussaria
angulifera Krauss, Oedaleus senegalensis Krauss, Meligethes sp., and possibly Dicraeus sp. Sporadically
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