MONDJELI CONSTANTIN1, 2, GODSWILL NTSOMBOH NTSEFONG1*, NGANDO EBONGUE GEORGES FRANK1, WALTER AJAMBANG NCHU1, 2, IGNATIUS AMAH PARH3 AND DIBOG LUC4
1IRAD-Specialized Centre for Oil Palm Research of La Dibamba (CEREPAH), P. O. Box 243 Douala, Cameroon
2Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia
3Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences (FASA), University of Dschang, Cameroon
4Central Entomological Laboratory, IRAD, P.O. Box 12 736 Yaounde, Cameroon
Abstract: The leaflet miner Cœlaenomenodera minuta is the main pest of oil palm in the south-west region of Cameroon. A 12 months study of spatio-temporal distribution was carried out on young and mature industrial plantations of 40 ha each at Tiko Benoe palm estate in the south-west region of Cameroon. The pest infestation (larvae and adult) distribution revealed the endemic existence of C. minuta in the matureoil palm plantation. Relative null pest infestations were recorded from the young plantation. Three infestation peaks were observed. Monthly significant difference of C. minuta infestation was also recorded. The highest number of insects captured (117.3 per tree) was in December. In addition, negative and relatively significant correlation was observed between monthly cumulative rainfall days and captured C. minutaindividuals. These results can help to improve the conception and the implementation of an efficient control strategy against the pest.
Keywords: Cœlaenomenodera minuta Uhmann * oil palm * Elaeis guineensis Jacq. * insect pest control
