Research Article
Ordinal Diversity of Insects and Seasonal Variation of Damage Due to Leucinodes orbonalis Genn. (Pyralidae) on Solanum aethiopicum L., 1756 (Solanaceae)
Elono Azang Pierre Stephan*
,
Heumou Cyril Romeo,
Alene Desiree Chantal,
Owoundi Alphonse Vincent,
Ngassam Pierre,
Djieto-Lordon Champlain
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 2, June 2026
Pages:
26-37
Received:
16 May 2026
Accepted:
8 June 2026
Published:
26 June 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.aje.20261002.11
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: Solanum aethiopicum, commonly called "African eggplant", is a Solanaceae very popular for its fruits but also for its leaves with invaluable virtues. The production of this plant is experiencing many problems including attacks from various pests that affect its performance. The dangerousness of these pests being poorly understood by some market gardeners, the means of control, sometimes very harmful to the environment and human health, often remain ineffective. With the aim of developing appropriate and respectful control methods in human habitats, this study contributed to the knowledge of insect pests associated with Solanum aethiopicum. It allowed for the cataloging of the insect fauna associated with Solanum aethiopicum and the comparison of damage caused by Leucinodes orbonalis over the study seasons. To this end, we conducted direct field observations, sampling, and inventories of the various arthropods and their activities. Some insect groups were found to be more abundant than others. Indeed, the orders Coleoptera (71.77% of the total insect fauna) and Diptera (8.15% of the total insect fauna) were the most abundant. The families Chrysomelidae (57.87%) and Coccinellidae (10.93%) were also widely represented. The assessment of the attack rate on incubated fruit showed that the damage was due to Leucinodes orbonalis (with an average attack rate of 47.68±22.86% over the two seasons). The study also revealed that the attack rate was higher during the long rainy season (67.49% attack rate). The average number of Leucinodes orbonalis individuals per incubated fruit varied according to the mass, length and average circumference of the attacked fruits of S. aethiopicum. These parameters varied according to the seasons. Thus, the fruits increased in size during the long rainy season and offered a more favorable habitat for L. orbonalis larvae; these larvae were found there in large numbers (12.63 ± 0.15 individuals per incubated fruit during the long rainy season compared to 2.52 ± 0.10 individuals per incubated fruit during the short dry season). We found a positive and significant correlation between the number of Leucinodes orbonalis individuals and the mass (r=0.27; p<0.05), the length (r=0.25; p<0.05) and then the circumference (r=0.27; p<0.05) of the attacked fruits.
Abstract: Solanum aethiopicum, commonly called "African eggplant", is a Solanaceae very popular for its fruits but also for its leaves with invaluable virtues. The production of this plant is experiencing many problems including attacks from various pests that affect its performance. The dangerousness of these pests being poorly understood by some market gar...
Show More
