The impact of the red ants on the mango fruit fly species

Jean-François Vayssières et al.. IITA - R4D - IbadanNovember 24th 2009

JeanJean--FranFranççois Vayssiois Vayssièères, Antonio Sinzogan, res, Antonio Sinzogan, Apollinaire Adandonon, Apollinaire Adandonon, OusmaneOusmane CoulibalyCoulibaly, Paul Van , Paul Van

MeleMele (IITA(IITA--CIRADCIRAD--ARC ARC CotonouCotonou).).

West African Fruit Fly Initiative


Grafted mango losses in 2006...........................3,4 t/ha

Non grafted mango losses in 2006....................2,2 t/ha

Total grafted mango losses in 2006 .......................7 038 tonnes

Total non grafted mango losses in 2006.................. 506 tonnes

In 2006, estimated cultivated mango areas were ~ 2 300 ha (90% grafted (2 070 ha) and 10% non grafted (230 ha)).

Estimated grafted mango losses in 2006......... 422 280 000 FCFA

Estimated non grafted mango losses in 200... 12 650 000 FCFA

TOTAL....434 930 000 FCFA = 663 000 € = ~ 966 000 US$


Alien species:probably originated from

India and Sri Lanka.

Species highly

polyphagous (targets:

more than 40 species of

fruit crops in Benin).

Exotic species with

high biotic

potentialities (> than

those of native species).



=> Cultural by grafted ealier cv on late cv...

=> Prophylactic by collected damaged fruits…

=> Biological control with weaver ants (generalist

predators).

=> Biological control with micro-wasps (native or exotic

parasitoid species).

=> Biological control with entomopathogens.

=> Integrated Pest Management with GF 120 spot TTT,

other bait sprays, MAT…

=> Post-harvest TTT with hot-water TTT.

Jean-François Vayssières et al.. IITA - R4D - IbadanNovember 24th 2009CIRAD-IITA-WARDA’ team

• A similar asian species, Oecophylla smaragdina, has been used in S.E. Asia by the growers 2000 years ago: this is the oldest example of biological control.

• The australian growers also are using Oecophylla smaragdina in their orchads with efficacy (Peng, 2005).

• In Africa, Oecophylla longinoda is a generalist predator of different types of insectes; a colonies of 12 nests could carry45 000 preys per year (Dejean, 1991).

• The control of mango fruit fly species in West Africa is not still really achieved...!!!

• So, it was relevant to launch the study on african W.A. in 2005.


Ecology and

behaviour of the

African weaver ant

are not well known

and should be

improved under

different

approaches:

Agro-ecological

Socio-economic

Technical.


• Weaver ant rarely capture fruit fly adults. This type of predation could be observe after many observations in the field....

• Weaver ant use to capture fruit fly larvae (L 3)

• KEY POINT : Female of fruit fly avoid laying eggs by detecting the territories of enemy ants through mainly chemical cues(pheromones) left by ants on fruits they have patrolled on...


Loss assessment in 2005 (end of April)

Ant abundance Nil low medium High

Nb trees 85 178 77 40

Nb nests/ tree 0 1 à 4 5 à 8 > 8

Loss due to FF 24.1 ± 1.3a 15.4 ± 0.9b 7.0 ± 0.9c 0.8 ± 0.4d

Losses caused by fruit flies depend on ant abundance

on the tree. The lower the ant abundance the higher

the damage.

High abundance of ants on the mango trees reduce

considerably losses caused by fruit flies.


In dpt of Borgou (Benin) most of growers have

adopted weaver ants against fruit flies since 2005.

Some of them have introduced Oecophylla colonies…

In other dpt of Benin, other experiments and F.F.S. are

planned in 2010. Visits in orchards of Borgou where this

control method is working is also planned.

In other countries of West African Fruit Fly Initiative

workshops, F.F.S., different tests are planned with

growers associations, NARS and extension services...


To write new leaflets, and new articles.

To participate to rural video projections.

Leaflets will be translated in local languages (Fon,

Dindi, Bariba, Yoruba in Benin, Mossi in Burkina,

Bambara in Mali, Wolof in Senegal, Puular and Soussou

in Guinea, Dioula in Côte d’Ivoire…).

Available: one leaflet (WAFFI n°= 5) in FV & EV, 4

articles (JEE, IJPM 2, PE), and 1 in R4D on this issue.


Save up growers time and labor by being permanent in

the orchards.

Weaver ant are widespread in all West Africa from St Louis to Lagos, from sahelian zone to Guinean zone, even they are more abundant in Guinean and Soudanian zones.

Very economic; very industrious; self maintain & self

regeneration…

Natural enemies free of charge and available

all the time …!

Jean-François Vayssières et al.. IITA - R4D - IbadanNovember 24th 2009West African Fruit Fly Initiative

Technology

The impact of the red ants on the mango fruit fly species