MORPHOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION OF MAIZE WEEVILS (Sitophilus spp.) IN FCT-ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Five Area Councils were selected for the study from the six Area Councils of Federal Capital Territory (FCT-ABUJA) namely; Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, Abaji and AMAC. Three markets were surveyed in each of the Area Council to obtain one measure of infested maize with maize weevils (Sitophilus species) and ten of the insects were selected randomly from each measure and kept separately in a covered jar containing ethanol solution. The sample were taken to Insect Laboratory (Insect Museum), at the Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State for identification. MI scope was used to carry out the morphometric measurement. The features of the insect measured include the wholebody length, Body width, Hind limb, Fore limb, Head, Antennae, Tarsi, Width of Femur, Femur. Then Microscope was use to view and compare the collected insects with other genus of Sitophilus in the insect collection boxes in the museum. The features measured were converted from pixel per length (p/l) to millimeter and subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using statistical package version 9.0. The means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5 % level of probability. Results obtained indicated that Kuje and Abaji Area Councils had varied diversity of features of Sitophilus granarius and only Sitophilus granarius was identified in all the five Area Councils of FCT-Abuja, Nigeria.