Prospects and challenges for sustainable management of the mango stone weevil,Sternochetus mangiferae(F.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in West Africa: a review

Abstract

Commercial mango production in Ghana is a relatively young industry faced with several pest problems including the mango stone weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae (F.). There is an urgent need to control this and other pests to facilitate access to the international export market for fresh mango fruits. A literature survey identifies stone weevil control tactics in the areas of host plant resistance, administrative and legislative controls, use of pesticides, biological control, cultural control and quarantine and phytosanitary measures that have been developed in other mango-producing areas. We assess these pest management approaches for their relevance to Ghana and West Africa, with emphasis on the research required for their appropriate, effective and sustainable use in the systems of mango production of the West African sub-region. The importance of processing and value addition technologies, as a means of circumventing the quarantine hurdles of S. mangiferae, is highlighted.

Dead Planet, Living Planet: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Restoration for Sustainable Development20104Dead Planet, Living Planet: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Restoration for Sustainable Development. Nairobi, Kenya: UNEP May 2010. 109 pp., ISBN: 9788277010830 USD $30.00

“…• 2010) and mango production (Braimah and van Emden, 2010). Insects or insect-borne diseases in biological control, such the transmission of a pathogenic virus carried by an eriophyid mite Phyllocoptes fructiphilus to control the weed Rambler rose (Rosa multiflora) infesting grazing ranges in China, Japan and Korea, have also proven effective (Smith et al, 2010).…”

The mango seed weevil Sternochetus mangiferae (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is characterized by low genetic diversity and lack of genetic structure

“…The mango seed weevil was listed as a 'dangerous quarantine pest' by many countries, and its presence in exported mangos can lead to the rejection of entire shipments to prevent the spread of this pest into mango-producing countries that remain pest-free (Yahia, 2006;Hossain et al, 2011;Abdulla et al, 2016). Because of its economic importance, the life history characteristics of S. mangiferae have been well studied (Balock & Kozuma, 1964;Hansen et al, 1989;Follett, 2002;Braimah et al, 2009), and various management approaches were developed (Hansen, 1993;Peña et al, 1998;Verghese, 2000;Braimah & van Emden, 2010;Abdulla et al, 2016;Dassou et al, 2018). Despite the importance of S. mangiferae as a crop pest, we currently lack molecular population genetic data for this species.…”

“…Given that adult S. mangiferae are weak fliers that usually remain near their natal host tree (Smith, 1996), we predicted that there should be strong genetic structuring of populations caused by the natural history of these insects. However, long-distance dispersal may occur through anthropogenic transportation of fruits and seeds that contain S. mangiferae (Jarvis, 1946;Griesbach, 2003;Braimah & van Emden, 2010;Woodruff & Fasulo, 2018). To help resolve these contrasting predictions, we explored the genetic diversity and population genetic structure to investigate the historical demography of the mango seed weevil.…”

Dead Planet, Living Planet: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Restoration for Sustainable Development

“…• 53 2010) and mango production (Braimah and van Emden, 2010). Insects or insect-borne diseases in biological control, such the transmission of a pathogenic virus carried by an eriophyid mite Phyllocoptes fructiphilus to control the weed Rambler rose (Rosa multiflora) infesting grazing ranges in China, Japan and Korea, have also proven effective (Smith et al, 2010).…”