Monitoring entomofauna associated with cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. var capitata in eastern DRCongo

Abstract

Cabbage is an important component of agriculture in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for its various food uses. It is important to identify pests that affect its production, which is still insufficient to meet the increasing consumer needs. Furthermore, insect data for tropical agroecosystems, particularly those of DRC are limited, making insect diversity poorly understood. The objective of this study is to assess the diversity and abundance of entomofauna related to cabbage in five different cabbage growing sites: Minova, Sake, Kibumba, Rutshuru and Lac Vert. This was achieved by trapping insects with the sweep net and yellow pantraps during 2021 and 2022. A total of 1109 insects from 9 orders and 48 families were collected. The most abundant pest families were Ciccadellidae (8%), Coreidae (7%), Chysomelidae (5%) and Pentatomidae (4%). The main families of beneficial insects (natural enemies and pollinators) identified were Syrphidae (7%), Carabidae (4%), Coccinellidae (3%) and Apidae (3%). Insect communities found in different locations were similar and diversified. Considering functions played by these different functional groups as ecological indicators, it is important to preserve entomological biodiversity. This is achieved through the rational selection of pest management methods to optimize ecosystem services provided by beneficial insects.