Studies on ecology and biology of some insect pests of the mesquite trees, Prosopis julijlora in Sudan [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

Two coleopteran beetle species; Alagarobius prosopis (Brucidae) and Steraspis speciosa (Family: Buprestidae) were found feeding on the seeds of the mesquite trees in Sudan. Germination test of infested seeds with A. prosopis compared to non-infested ones resulted in 8 and 42% of germination among the infested and non-infested ones, respectively. Larvae of S. speciosa fed on the stems of mesquite trees. I sl instar larvae were found under the bark of infested stems. This area of the stem mainly composed of the phloem. The phloem is usually 3 to 4 mm in width and only local damages occurred in the stem, particularly in the parts where the larvae bored. Large pith cells usually contain some stored nutrients and the larvae made large tunnels at the center of the stem feeding on all the pith cells and damaging most of the xylem. The damage to the xylem affected negatively the conduction of water from the roots to the leaves and other parts of the stem and thus caused the browning, drying and death of the infested stems. Highest percentage of infestation of mesquite trees (27.48%) was found at EL Semair farm and the lowest (16.88%) was recorded at Shambat area. EL Rawakeeb area had the highest rate of infestation of mesquite trees by S. speciosa (76.97%) compared with the lowest one (71.64%) at Soba. The least infested area with S. speciasa was found close to water (2m). At Shambat, the percent of infestation was 36%, while it was 49% at Soba. Trees which grow about (30m) from the water source showed the highest infestation rates 84% at Soba and 78% at Shambat.

Summary in Arabic.

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