Abstract
Zonocerus variegatus (L.) is known as an agricultural pest in Central Africa. Since legumes are introduced in the Chromolaena odorata fallows in the southern Cameroon as short fallow improvement strategies, we evaluated the abundance of Z. variegatus in short fallows (natural versus planted leguminous fallows) and adjacent fields. Existing Randomized Completed Block Design were used, with three treatments (C. odorata, Calliandra callothyrsus and Pueraria phaseoloides) and three replicates, split in two sites (land cleared from forest and land cleared from chromolaena fallow). Research was carried out from February 2000 to February 2002 by captures (every 14 days) in each fallow and adjacent cropped fields. Within 30 min, 24 ± 75 (SD) individuals were captured in the fallows, while only 10 ± 20 (SD) were captured in adjacent cropped fields. The abundance was greater in fields after forest clearing than in fields after chromolaena clearing. More individuals were captured in C. odorata fallows in both sites. Z. variegatus abundance in planted fallows depended on the site. After forest clearing, Z. variegatus abundance was highest in the P. phaseoloides and lowest in C. callothyrsus fallow, while after chromolaena clearing the abundance in P. phaseoloides fallow was lowest. Z. variegatus abundance between cropped fields adjacent to C. odorata, C. callothyrsus and P. phaseoloides fallow was not significantly different, but significant linear relationships were found between Z. variegatus abundance in 2 years old fallows and the adjacent cropped fields. These results indicate that in areas where chomolaena dominates the fallow, planted P. phaseoloides could be useful in managing Z. variegatus.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Budelman A (1989) Flemingia macrophylla—a valuable species in soil conservation. NFT Highlights. NFTA, Hawaii
Chapman RF, Page WW, Mc Caffery AR (1986) Bionomics of the variegated grasshopper (Zonocerus variegatus) in west and central Africa. Ann Rev Entomol 31:479–505
Chiffaud J, Mestre J (1990) Le criquet puant Zonocerus variegatus (Linné, 1758): Essai de synthèse bibliographique. CIRAD-PRIFAS, France
De Grégorio R (1989a) Liste commentée des travaux consacrés à la morphologie, la biologie, l’éthologie, l’alimentation et le polymorphisme saisonnier du criquet puant, Zonocerus variegatus. I: Morphologie, Biologie et Ethologie (ORTHOPTERA PYRGOMORPHIDAE). Bull Soc Entomol Fr 94:1–2
De Grégorio R (1989b) Liste commentée des travaux consacrés à la morphologie, la biologie, l’éthologie, l’alimentation et le polymorphisme saisonnier du criquet puant, Zonocerus variegatus. II : Alimentation et polymorphisme saisonnier (ORTHOPTERA PYRGOMORPHIDAE). Bull Soc Entomol Fr 94:5–6
Gnago AY, Foua Bi K, Bekon KA (2009) Facteurs affectant les epizoities de Entomophaga grylli (Zygomycetes, Entomophthorales) chez les populations du criquet Zonocerus variegatus au Sud du Benin en Afrique de l’Ouest. Sci Nat 6(2):149–161
Hauser S (2002) Production and spatial distribution of volunteer biomass between multipurpose tree hedgerows after two years of fallow. Agrof Syst 55:139–147
Hauser S, Nolte C, Carsky RJ (2006) What role can planted fallows play in humid and sub-humid West Africa? Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 76:297–318
Holland MD, Allen PKG, Campbell K, Grimble RJ, Stickings JC (1992) Natural and human resource studies and land use options. Department of nyong and so’o Cameroun. Main report and appendices, NRI
Iduwu AB (1997) The defensive mechanisms of Zonocerus variegatus (L) (Orthoptera, Pyrgomorphidae) against potential predators. J Afr Zool 111:119–203
IITA (1998) Short fallow system to arrest resource degradation due to land use intensification. Project1: Annual Report
Kang BT, Hauser S, Vanlaunwe B, Sanginga N, Atta-Krah AN (1992) Alley farming research on high base status soils. In: Alley farming research and development, Proceedings of an international conference on alley farming, Ibadan, Nigeria, pp 25–39
Kekeunou S (2007) Activité déprédatrice et reproduction de Zonocerus variegatus (Linneaus) (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) dans les végétations herbeuses dans la réserve forestière de Mbalmayo. Cameroon J Biol Biochem Sci 15:64–66
Kekeunou S, Weise S, Messi J (2007a) Abundance of the variegated grasshopper in natural herbaceous fallow and planted forest: effect of Chromolaena odorata. J Entomol 4(7):457–462
Kekeunou S, Weise S, Nolté C, Messi J (2007b) Feeding and reproductive activities under field conditions of the variegated grasshopper on legumes selected for short fallow improvement (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae). Entomol Gener 30(3):219–233
Kumar R (1991) La lutte contre les insectes ravageurs. CTA, Kharthala
Marks MK, Seddon AM (1985) Interaction between Chromolaena odorata (Compositae) and Zonocerus variegatus (Orthoptera : Pyrgomorphidae) with emphasis on achène prédation. Afr J Agric Sci 12:29–37
Messi J, Kekeunou S, Weise S (2006) Abundance and life cycle of Zonocerus variegatus (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) in the humid forest zone of Southern Cameroon. Entomol Sci 9:24–30
Modder WWD (1994) Control of the variegated grasshopper Zonocerus variegatus (L) on cassava. Afr Crop Sci 2:391–406
Rao MR, Singh MP, Day R (2000) Insect pest problems in tropical agro forestry systems: contributory factors and strategies for management. Agric Syst 50:243–277
SAS Institute (1999) SAS/STAT user’s guide, version 6, 4th edn. SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA
Young A (1989) Agroforestry for soil conservation. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK
Acknowledgments
This research was funded by the weed and vegetation programme of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)—Humid Forest Ecoregional Centre. We thank Dr. Omer Njajou (University of California, San Francisco), Dr. Ajeagah Gideon and Dr Gonwouo Nono Legrand (University of Yaounde I) for commenting on the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by 'Communicated by T. Haye'.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kekeunou, S., Hauser, S., Weise, S. et al. Effect of planted fallow systems on Zonocerus variegatus (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) abundance in the humid forest zone of Southern Cameroon. J Pest Sci 83, 399–407 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-010-0310-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-010-0310-9