Page 88 - Abstract Book - ISNPMP 2016
P. 88
M. Abid Hussain P 15
BALANITES STONE BORER AND SPECKLED MOUSEBIRD:
TWO POTENTIAL THREATS TO THE INDUSTRIAL
PRODUCTION OF BALANITES FRUIT
M. Abid Hussain1, Tufail Ahmad1, Todd Gilligan2
1 Department of Plant Protection, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Keren, Eritrea
2Identification Technology Program, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Balanites fruit pulp and seed kernel contain considerable amount of steroidal saponins, which are used as
raw material for the industrial production of pharmaceutical drugs. However, insect and avian pests are the
key limiting factors in the production of balanites fruit. This study was carried out to record the causal insect
and avian pests and level of their infestation. Balanites fruits fallen on the ground were collected at regular
intervals during 2014–15 and 2015–16 for two fruiting sessions at Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Keren,
Eritrea and put in polybags for storage and capture of emerging insects. These insects were counted and
percent infestation was calculated based on the damaged and healthy fruits. The insects identified were
balanites stone borer Eupsoropsis robertsi (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and carob moth Apomyelois (=Ectomyelois)
ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Eupsoropsis robertsi larva consumed the kernel and bored into the stone
with one exit hole (ca. 3 mm) at pre-pupal stage whereas A. ceratoniae larvae infested and contaminated
fruit pulp with fecal waste. More than 70% of fruits collected during October and November in both years
were infested by E. robertsi. Damage from A. ceratoniae was not immediately noticed in field-collected fruits
but larval infestation was found after one month of storage. Three types of birds were found eating balanites
fruits: speckled mousebird, Colius striatus (Coliidae); rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri (Psittacidae)
and red-billed hornbill, Tockus erythrorhynchus (Bucerotidae). Of these, speckled mousebird was the most
frequent visitor followed by rose-ringed parakeet and red-billed hornbill. Speckled mousebird not only nibbled
on fruits attached to branches but also caused drop of fruits to the ground whereas rose-ringed parakeet first
plucked the fruit and nibbled it while holding with one of it’s feet. Fruit damage caused by these birds ranged
from 58 to 95% during the two study periods.
Keywords: Balanites aegyptiaca, desert date, balanites stone borer, Eupsoropsis robertsi, carob moth,
Apomyelois ceratoniae, speckled mousebird, pest infestation, Eritrea
ISNPMP 2016 87
BALANITES STONE BORER AND SPECKLED MOUSEBIRD:
TWO POTENTIAL THREATS TO THE INDUSTRIAL
PRODUCTION OF BALANITES FRUIT
M. Abid Hussain1, Tufail Ahmad1, Todd Gilligan2
1 Department of Plant Protection, Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Keren, Eritrea
2Identification Technology Program, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Balanites fruit pulp and seed kernel contain considerable amount of steroidal saponins, which are used as
raw material for the industrial production of pharmaceutical drugs. However, insect and avian pests are the
key limiting factors in the production of balanites fruit. This study was carried out to record the causal insect
and avian pests and level of their infestation. Balanites fruits fallen on the ground were collected at regular
intervals during 2014–15 and 2015–16 for two fruiting sessions at Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Keren,
Eritrea and put in polybags for storage and capture of emerging insects. These insects were counted and
percent infestation was calculated based on the damaged and healthy fruits. The insects identified were
balanites stone borer Eupsoropsis robertsi (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and carob moth Apomyelois (=Ectomyelois)
ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Eupsoropsis robertsi larva consumed the kernel and bored into the stone
with one exit hole (ca. 3 mm) at pre-pupal stage whereas A. ceratoniae larvae infested and contaminated
fruit pulp with fecal waste. More than 70% of fruits collected during October and November in both years
were infested by E. robertsi. Damage from A. ceratoniae was not immediately noticed in field-collected fruits
but larval infestation was found after one month of storage. Three types of birds were found eating balanites
fruits: speckled mousebird, Colius striatus (Coliidae); rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri (Psittacidae)
and red-billed hornbill, Tockus erythrorhynchus (Bucerotidae). Of these, speckled mousebird was the most
frequent visitor followed by rose-ringed parakeet and red-billed hornbill. Speckled mousebird not only nibbled
on fruits attached to branches but also caused drop of fruits to the ground whereas rose-ringed parakeet first
plucked the fruit and nibbled it while holding with one of it’s feet. Fruit damage caused by these birds ranged
from 58 to 95% during the two study periods.
Keywords: Balanites aegyptiaca, desert date, balanites stone borer, Eupsoropsis robertsi, carob moth,
Apomyelois ceratoniae, speckled mousebird, pest infestation, Eritrea
ISNPMP 2016 87
