Establishment of the moth: Niphograpta albiguttalis (Warner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a biological control agent of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in waterways of Lagos and Ogun states, southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The moth Niphograpta albiguttalis was found infesting water hyacinth on waterways in Nigeria in 2009 in the areas of Badagry, Ejirin and Epe in Lagos State and Iwopin in Ogun State. This moth has not been released in Nigeria but it was released as a biological control agent for water hyacinth in Ghana in 1996 and in Benin in 1993. It is not reported to have established in those countries, but it would appear that as a result of those releases N. albiguttalis is now present in Nigeria. The larval instars found were damaging only water hyacinth with bulbous petioles. The larval developmental periods ranged between 10 and 15 days (n = 3).