Emergence Holes Research Articles

A Borer-Specific Assessment Scheme for Identifying Sentinel Trees to Delimit Invasive Borers in Urban Forests

Aggressive insects like the emerald ash borer [Agrilus planipennis (Fairmaire)] (EAB) increasingly threaten the health of the urban forest. Early detection of exotic wood-boring pests is critical for rapid response efforts, and allows for effective management while populations are relatively low. During street tree inventories, arborists record subjective rankings of tree condition and pest incidence; however, the extent of insect attack is rarely quantified. Moreover, it is unknown how the assessment of tree vigor provided by city foresters during these inventories relates to the likelihood of wood-borer infestation. In this study, researchers developed a borer-specific tree vigor assessment scheme to rapidly evaluate street trees, and to identify when EAB populations begin to grow exponentially based on the health of the forest. This scheme incorporates common indicators of EAB attack, including canopy thinning and epicormic sprouts, as well as attack by common native wood-boring insects. This scheme was used to track the health of ash trees from 2010 to 2013 in one urban forest with advanced symptoms of EAB decline and one without (Indianapolis and Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., respectively). Trees declined more rapidly in Indianapolis where emergence holes from native borers were positively correlated with EAB in infested areas. Over the course of the study, first detections of EAB occurred on progressively weaker trees at both sites, suggesting that early detection of incipient EAB populations can be improved by surveying apparently healthy trees.

Container Wall Porosity and Root Pruning Influence on Swietenia mahogani Root Ball Architecture and Anchorage After Planting

The emerald ash borer (EAB), first discovered in North America in Michigan in 2002, continues to expand its distributional range. Early detection of EAB remains a major caveat in efforts to implement proactive management strategies. Past reports have shown that ash trees infested with EAB have an increased risk of branch failure and other symptoms associated with tree decline. Therefore, early detection efforts could be improved if a suite of tree symptoms—prior to visible signs of EAB infestation—can be identified. Researchers initiated a four-year study in Ohio, U.S. (2009– 2012) to investigate and document symptoms associated with the EAB–ash tree complex in urban sites. The prior history of EAB at the study sites ranged from ash trees with no visible evidence of infestation to those that were infested for more than two years. In trees shown to be recently colonized by EAB, visible signs of infestation, such as adult emergence holes, presence of EAB galleries, bark loss, and canopy loss were not always apparent. However, in EAB-positive trees, there was a significant tendency for the presence of cracks in scaffold branches, branch fractures within the upper canopy, and branch fractures specifically located closer to the union with the stem as opposed to at the branch tip or at the branch’s center of gravity. This study highlights tree symptoms associated with the initial colonization of EAB when host trees are still apparently healthy, which could greatly facilitate future detection efforts for EAB.

Evaluation of Ash Tree Symptoms Associated with Emerald Ash Borer Infestation in Urban Forests

The emerald ash borer (EAB), first discovered in North America in Michigan in 2002, continues to expand its distributional range. Early detection of EAB remains a major caveat in efforts to implement proactive management strategies. Past reports have shown that ash trees infested with EAB have an increased risk of branch failure and other symptoms associated with tree decline. Therefore, early detection efforts could be improved if a suite of tree symptoms—prior to visible signs of EAB infestation—can be identified. Researchers initiated a four-year study in Ohio, U.S. (2009– 2012) to investigate and document symptoms associated with the EAB–ash tree complex in urban sites. The prior history of EAB at the study sites ranged from ash trees with no visible evidence of infestation to those that were infested for more than two years. In trees shown to be recently colonized by EAB, visible signs of infestation, such as adult emergence holes, presence of EAB galleries, bark loss, and canopy loss were not always apparent. However, in EAB-positive trees, there was a significant tendency for the presence of cracks in scaffold branches, branch fractures within the upper canopy, and branch fractures specifically located closer to the union with the stem as opposed to at the branch tip or at the branch’s center of gravity. This study highlights tree symptoms associated with the initial colonization of EAB when host trees are still apparently healthy, which could greatly facilitate future detection efforts for EAB.

Impact of the goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus auroguttatus, on the health of coast live oak before and after treatment with two systemic insecticides.

The invasive goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus auroguttatus, is threatening the health and survival of oak trees in San Diego County, California. From two sites in the core area of the infestation, we report a 2.5 year investigation of the impact of A. auroguttatus on coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia, before and after treatment with two systemic insecticides, emamectin benzoate (EB) and imidacloprid (IC). None of the 446 survey trees died during the study. The crown dieback rating of most trees at both study sites remained unchanged, regardless of insecticide treatment. A higher cumulative increase in the number of A. auroguttatus emergence holes was observed on trees that were previously infested and on trees with larger diameters. Over the 2.5 year period, the new infestation rates of initially uninfested trees across the untreated and treated groups were 50% (EB) and 32% (IC), and neither EB nor IC treatment affected cumulative increases in the number of emergence holes. EB-injected trees did not have significant annual increases in the number of A. auroguttatus emergence holes at either 1.5 or 2.5 years compared with that at 0.5 years, whereas untreated trees had significant annual increases. Although IC-injected trees had a significantly greater annual increment in the number of emergence holes than untreated trees during the last year of the study, treated trees had significant reductions in annual increases in emergence holes at both 1.5 and 2.5 years compared with that at 0.5 years. Untreated trees had no significant reduction in the annual increase in emergence holes at 1.5 and 2.5 years. A. auroguttatus preferentially attacked previously infested and larger (diameter at breast height > 15-30 cm) oak trees, but the attacks led to very gradual changes in the health of the trees. Both EB and IC provided minor suppressive effects on A. auroguttatus emergence. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Evaluation of damage caused by Bruchus pisorum L (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on some parameters related to seed quality of pea forage cultivars (Pisum sativum L.)

It was evaluated the damage caused by Bruchus pisorum L (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on the germination ability of pea farage varieties (Pisum sativum L.). Result of damage by Bruchus pisorum in seeds with parasitized larva was significant decrease of the germination by 16.4% percentage points, the length and weight of primary radicle by 16.8 and 24.5%, the length and weight of plumule by 12.3 and 14.1%, the vigor index of primary radicle and plumule by 32.5 and 32.8% as well as the germination index by 17.4%. The inhibitory effect was on average 17.8%. Essential significant changes in regard to the studied parameters were found for damaged seeds with bruchid emergence hole. In these seeds the gewrmination decrease by 58.3% percentage points, the length and weight of primary radicle by 34.1 and 36.2%, the length and weight of plumule by 31.8 and 34.3%, the vigor index of primary radicle and plumule by 81.1 and 82.1% as well as the germination index by 83.1%. The inhibitory effect was on average 58.3%. It was found that the damaged seeds with parasitoid emergence hole provided better possibility for growth and development of plants whereas the damaged seeds with bruchid emergence hole had significantly low germination, vigor and sowing characteristics. These seeds could not provide the establishment of well-garnished stand and stable yields. As tolerant to damage by Bruchus pisorum was distinguished Glyans variety for which the values of parameters related to germination and vigor of seeds were influenced in the lowest degree from the damage unlike the sensitive Pleven 4 variety. Dominant factor influencing germination ability of seeds for all analyzed parameters was the type of seeds compared to varietal appurtenance.

Goldspotted oak borer effects on tree health and colonization patterns at six newly-established sites

Newly-established populations of invasive wood-inhabiting insects provide an opportunity for the study of invasion dynamics and for collecting information to improve management options for these cryptic species. From 2011 to 2013, we studied the dynamics of the goldspotted oak borer Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), a new pest of oaks in southern California, at six sites that had been colonized recently. At all sites, the percentage of coast live oaks Quercus agrifolia Née, colonized by A. auroguttatus increased between 2011 (6–33%) and 2013 (23–40%), although beetle densities did not grow rapidly at most sites. From 2011 to 2013, there were minor changes in signs and symptoms of A. auroguttatus infestation (adult emergence holes, bark staining, and evidence of woodpecker foraging), except at one site where an outbreak occurred. At some sites, noticeable negative changes in oak crown health occurred 1 year prior to positive A. auroguttatus population growth. Among sites, most of the A. auroguttatus population density (66–93%) was produced by a small number of heavily-infested trees (= brood trees). Early identification and removal of brood trees in newly-invaded areas could slow the growth of A. auroguttatus populations.

Apriona cinerea

<i>Apriona cinerea</i>

Habitat and estimated density of Magicicada septendecula (Hemiptera: Cicadidae), a 17-year periodical cicada newly discovered in Connecticut, United States of America

AbstractPeriodical cicadas in the genus Magicicada Davis (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) of brood II emerged in the eastern United States of America in 2013. In Connecticut, only Magicicada septendecim (Linnaeus) had been recorded until this emergence when Magicicada septendecula Alexander and Moore was found on Totoket Mountain in North Branford, Connecticut, United States of America. This discovery represented the northeastern-most record of this species. In two 0.25-ha plots where M. septendecula and M. septendecim emerged and chorused, species of Carya Nuttall (Juglandaceae) comprised 59.9–63.7% of the total basal area, with Carya glabra (Miller) Sweet, accounting for 43.9–60.0%. In one plot, 31.6% of the total basal area was Fraxinus americana Linnaeus (Oleaceae). By using the proportion of exuviae of M. septendecula (hind tibial length&lt;6.3 mm) and M. septendecim (length ⩾ 6.3 mm) near trees and the mean number of emergence holes per 0.25-m2 quadrat (1.88), it was estimated that 1487 M. septendecula and 17 313 M. septendecim emerged in one 0.25-ha plot. Mean tibial length of M. septendecula was significantly smaller in males (5.53 mm) than females (5.99 mm), and the sex ratio did not depart significantly from 1:1. Magicicada septendecula may be threatened by the decline of F. americana and Juglans cinerea Linnaeus (Juglandaceae), the first a known host and the second a suspected host.

Developing monitoring techniques for the invasive goldspotted oak borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in California.

The goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is an invasive species that has colonized oak woodlands in southern California. To better define its seasonal flight activity, assist with forest and integrated pest management activities, and define the current distribution in California, an effective monitoring technique for A. auroguttatus is necessary. We assessed the efficacy of two colors of flight-intercept prism traps, the placement of these traps at three heights, and several commercially available lures [Manuka oil, Phoebe oil, and a green leaf volatile, (3Z)-hexenol] for monitoring the flight of adult A. auroguttatus. Landing rates and the densities of D-shaped emergence holes of A. auroguttatus adults were assessed on the lower stems of coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia Née, of varying size and crown health classes. Purple flight-intercept prism traps placed at heights of 3 m and 4.5 m caught significantly more female A. auroguttatus than green prism traps. In one experiment, males also responded at a significantly higher level to purple than to green prism traps placed at 3 m height. The addition of commercially available lures significantly enhanced male, but not female, A. auroguttatus trap catch when compared with unbaited control traps. There were no differences among male flight responses to the three lures. A. auroguttatus landing rates and emergence hole densities were significantly greater on the largest-diameter trees (>76.2 cm diameter at breast height) and on trees with severe crown thinning or complete crown collapse. The annual increment in emergence hole densities was also significantly greater on trees with severe crown thinning or complete crown collapse. In three trapping studies over multiple years in southern California, the adult flight period began as early as mid-May, peaked in mid-June to early July, and ended in early- to mid-September. To demonstrate the efficacy of the detection method for A. auroguttatus (unbaited purple traps at 3 m height), a delimitation survey conducted from 2009 to 2012 confirmed that the species was only present in San Diego Co., but that the distribution was expanding northward.

Densities of Agrilus auroguttatus and Other Borers in California and Arizona Oaks

We investigated within-tree population density of a new invasive species in southern California, the goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus auroguttatus Schaeffer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), with respect to host species and the community of other borers present. We measured emergence hole densities of A. auroguttatus and other borers on the lower stem (bole) of naïve oaks at 18 sites in southern California and on co-evolved oaks at seven sites in southeastern Arizona. We sampled recently dead oaks in an effort to quantify the community of primary and secondary borers associated with mortality—species that were likely to interact with A. auroguttatus. Red oaks (Section Lobatae) produced greater densities of A. auroguttatus than white oaks (Section Quercus). On red oaks, A. auroguttatus significantly outnumbered native borers in California (mean ± SE of 9.6 ± 0.7 versus 4.5 ± 0.6 emergence holes per 0.09 m2 of bark surface), yet this was not the case in Arizona (0.9 ± 0.2 versus 1.1 ± 0.2 emergence holes per 0.09 m2). In California, a species that is taxonomically intermediate between red and white oaks, Quercus chrysolepis (Section Protobalanus), exhibited similar A. auroguttatus emergence densities compared with a co-occurring red oak, Q. kelloggii. As an invasive species in California, A. auroguttatus may affect the community of native borers (mainly Buprestidae and Cerambycidae) that feed on the lower boles of oaks, although it remains unclear whether its impact will be positive or negative.

Triple bag hermetic technology for post-harvest preservation of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.)

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of hermetic triple bagging using Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags for storage of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.). One set of experiments used grain heavily infested by Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) while a second set began with a low level infestation. Each experiment consisted of V. subterranea grain kept in four replicate 50 kg PICS bags or two replicate woven bags as controls. Two to five days after the beginning of the experiments, oxygen level inside the bags averaged about 21% (v/v) in the controls but decreased significantly in PICS bags, reaching 10% (v/v) with the heavily infested grain but falling only slightly in the lightly infested grain. After 7 months of storage, (i) the number of C. maculatus adults found between and within the grains, (ii) the 100 seed weight, (iii) the number of seed with holes, and (iv) the percentage germination of grain stored in PICS bags did not differ from what had been measured on the day that the experiment was set up. In woven bags, by contrast, there was a massive increase in C. maculatus numbers with means of 309 and 251 adults per 500 g in heavily and lightly infested grain, respectively. Grain weight losses in the woven bag controls ranged from 8 to 19% and the percentage of C. maculatus emergence holes per 100 seed increased from 51 to 135%.

Occurrence and development of Eucryptorrhynchus brandti and E. chinensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Ailanthus altissima trees subjected to different levels of mechanical damage

Eucryptorrhynchus brandti (Harold) and E. chinensis (Oliver) are herbivores of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (tree of heaven) in China. Eucryptorrhynchus brandti has been recommended as a potential biological control agent of A. altissima in North America. In China, the majority of adults of both species were found on tree trunks 0–5 m above the ground, from May to September. In October and November, most adults were found at the base of A. altissima trees. Trees were subjected to different levels of mechanical injury: very low mechanical injury, one to two 0.015 m2 bark sections were removed; low, two to four bark sections were removed; moderate, 8 to 22 bark sections removed; high, tree was girdled; and extreme, tree was felled and the remaining stump was sampled. Very low and low mechanical injury trees had very few adult emergence holes with few larvae developing beyond the first or second instar after 29 months. The health of these trees remained good. An increase in adult emergence holes occurred in moderately injured trees that appeared as healthy as very low to low mechanically injured trees. This may indicate that only a small increase in tree stress can increase the adult emergence rate and thus hasten a decline in tree health. Moderate, high and extreme mechanically injured trees had significantly more emergence holes/m than very low and low injured trees and late larval stages were present. The development of Eucryptorrhynchus species was more successful the greater the degree of mechanical injury. Based on this study both Eucryptorrhynchus species appear to be secondary pests of A. altissima in China.

Laboratory Evaluation of Insecticidal Potentials of Kane Plant (Anogeissus leiocarpus Guil and Perr) for the Control of Bambara Groundnut Weevil (Callosobruchus subinnotatus Pic.) on Stored Bambara Groundnut ( Vigna subterranean (L.)Verdcourt)

Laboratory experiment was conducted during the year 2010 to evaluate the insecticidal potentials of different parts of Kane plant, Anogeissus leiocaipus Guil and Perri (leaves, stem and root barks), compare their efficacy with conventional insecticide (pirimiphos-methyl) and determine the concentration/rate that is effective in the control of damage caused by Bambara groundnut weevil, Callosobruchus subinnotatus Pic. on stored grains of Barn bar a ground nut (Vigna subterranae (L.) Verd.). The different parts of the plant materials were tested in powdered form at three different concentrations viz: 1, 3 and 5g/100g grain while the synthetic insecticide was applied at the recommended rate of 0.25g/100gseed. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with each treatment replicated three times. The result shows that root bark at 1g/100g grain was the most effective in reducing oviposition (10.78) thereby bringing about a significant reduction in adult emergence (4.72), number of emergence holes (4.72), mortality (4.69) at 3 days after treatment (DAT) and grain damage (3 .07) while it competed favorably with the synthetic insecticide (pirimiphos-methyl). A significantly higher mortality of 2.89 and 2.89 in the first generation progeny was recorded in the leaf treated grains at 60 and 90 DAT, respectively. All the three different plant parts did not exhibit any significant negative effect on viability of the seeds tested. The stem bark and the leaves proved equal in efficacy to the root lark only at the highest rate/concentrations of 5g/100g grain. Based on the results of the experiments conducted, applications of the root bark of A. lelocarpus at the rate of 1- 5g/100g grain is recommended for an effective, cheap and safe protection of V. subterranean grains against damage caused by C. subinnotatus in storage.

Performance of triple bagging hermetic technology for postharvest storage of cowpea grain in Niger

Triple bagging technology for protecting postharvest cowpea grain from losses to the bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) is currently being adopted on a fairly large scale in ten West and Central African countries, including Niger. The triple bag consists of two inner high-density polyethylene bags acting as oxygen barriers, which in turn are encased in an outer woven polypropylene bag that serves primarily for mechanical strength. These hermetic bags, available in either 50 or 100 kg capacity, are called Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage (PICS) bags. Adoption of PICS technology in West and Central Africa has been driven by its effectiveness, simplicity, low cost, durability, and manufacture within the region. From surveys on adoption we discovered that farmers have begun to re-use bags they had used the previous year or even the previous two years. In the present study, we compared the performance of three different types of PICS bags: (1) new 50 kg (2) new 100 kg bags and (3) once-used 50 kg bags, all filled with naturally infested untreated cowpeas. In these PICS bags the O2 levels within the bags initially fell to about 3 percent (v/v) while the CO2 rose to nearly 5 percent (v/v). After five months of storage, new and used 50 kg bags and new 100 kg bags preserved the grain equally well. There were greatly reduced numbers of adults and larvae in the PICS bags versus the controls, which consisted of grain stored in single layer woven bags. The proportion of grain having C. maculatus emergence holes after five months of storage in PICS bags was little changed from that found when the grain was first put into the bags. The PICS technology is practical and useful in Sahelian conditions and can contribute to improved farmers' incomes as well as increase availability of high quality, insecticide-free cowpea grain as food.

Restoration of habitats for a threatened saproxylic beetle species in a boreal landscape by retaining dead wood on clear-cuts

Forest restoration measures, such as dead wood retention and creation at the time of final felling, increase the amount of dead trees and should benefit a large proportion of species dependent on sun-exposed dead wood. In this study, the value of retained dead wood and high-cut stumps was evaluated in terms of how much they contribute to the population of the red-listed beetle Peltis grossa in a forest landscape. The evaluation was based on a population estimate before and after restoration started in the study landscape. The restoration started in 1994 with 425 high-cut stumps of Norway spruce on six experimental clear-cuts and continued 4years later with high-cutting and retention of dead trees becoming a standard measure in the 10,000-ha forest landscape. Ten years after high-cutting, adults of P. grossa started to emerge from the stumps on the experimental clear-cuts and the number of emergence holes was counted each year during the following 8years (2003–2010). During this period, the average yearly recruitment of P. grossa from these stumps were c. 300 individuals, adding up to a total of c. 2250 emergence holes. In 2005, all clear-cuts made during 1990–2000 and random samples of young and old forest stands were inventoried in transects across the landscape. In total, 1219 emergence holes were found in 2005; all of them on the clear-cuts and none in the forest stands. Our study is the first to show that habitat restoration can increase population growth of a threatened saproxylic species on a landscape scale.

Lesser Grain Borers,Rhyzopertha dominica, Select Rough Rice Kernels with Cracked Hulls for Reproduction

Tests were conducted to determine whether the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae), selects rough rice (Oryza sativa L. (Poales: Poaceae)) kernels with cracked hulls for reproduction when these kernels are mixed with intact kernels. Differing amounts of kernels with cracked hulls (0, 5, 10, and 20%) of the varieties Francis and Wells were mixed with intact kernels, and the number of adult progeny emerging from intact kernels and from kernels with cracked hulls was determined. The Wells variety had been previously classified as tolerant to R. dominica, while the Francis variety was classified as moderately susceptible. Few F 1 progeny were produced in Wells regardless of the percentage of kernels with cracked hulls, few of the kernels with cracked hulls had emergence holes, and little firass was produced from feeding damage. At 10 and 20% kernels with cracked hulls, the progeny production, number of emergence holes in kernels with cracked hulls, and the amount of firass was greater in Francis than in Wells. The proportion of progeny emerging from kernels with cracked hulls increased as the proportion of kernels with cracked hulls increased. The results indicate that R. dominica select kernels with cracked hulls for reproduction.

Comparative evaluation of six storage methods for postharvest preservation of cowpea grain

Several technologies reputedly minimize losses of stored cowpea grain to bruchid beetles on low resource farms in Africa. Side by side comparison of these different postharvest storage methods can provide the basis for deciding which performs best. We compared six different technologies for cowpea storage: (1) grain mixed with ash; (2) mixed with sand; (3) fumigated with phostoxin; (4) admixed with the stems and leaves of Boscia senegalensis (Pers) Lam ex Poir, a potential botanical insecticide; (5) disinfested using a solar heater, and; (6) hermetically sealed in triple-layer plastic bags. Sampling was done at thirty-day intervals over five months of storage. Counts were made of (i) adult emergence holes, (ii) dead larvae and (iii) surviving bruchid larvae and adults. Controls, which consisted of infested cowpea grain stored in cloth bags, were damaged extensively. Boscia senegalensis-treated grain suffered similar severe damage. All other treatments suppressed bruchid population increases as was evident from the much lower counts of emergence holes and lower numbers of surviving or dead insects.

English

Three newly isolated and two existing isolates of M. anisopliae and B. bassiana were tested against aphids, whiteflies and beneficials, individually and with chitin synthesis inhibitor. Hundred percent of aphids have died of fungal treatments 7 days post inoculation, but number of individuals that developed mycosis varied depending on the isolate used. Whiteflies, however, were slightly more resistant. All tested isolates appeared to be fast killing fungi requiring only one or two days for reducing aphid population by half and needing 4 to 6 days for 50% of whiteflies to succumb to the disease. Both, aphid and whitefly, mortalities increased with increasing dose. The estimated LC50 values against M. persicae were 10 3.88 and 10 4.75 conidia ml -1 , respectively. These results were comparable with values obtained for the same isolates tested against whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Hundred precent of parasitized aphids by whitefly parasitoid demonstrated the emergence hole in the controls and in the individuals treated with new M. anisopliae isolate and 87% of emergence holes in the individuals treated with new B. bassiana. Exposure of mealybug predator to new isolates resulted in high mortalities. Native B. bassiana isolate in combination with diflubenzuron significantly reduced population of 1 st instar larvae of whiteflies under greenhouse conditions 14 days post treatment.

World Distribution of Heterobostrychus aequalis Waterhouse (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae)

Heterobostrychus aequalis is a major pest of seasoned hardwood. It attacks many timber and wood from other plant species and caused damage to a broad range of wood products. Their attacks are confined to starch-rich sapwood and often unsuspected until the emergence hole and frass is produced. The repeated introduction of this pest into new areas indicates that it is poorly inspected and ignored. In some cases, this species succeed in establishing its population in the wild. Hence, by providing the world wide distribution of this pest could be the pioneer step in developing better prevention, monitoring, quarantine and control programmes. From the review, it was found that H. aequalis distribute dominantly in tropical and sub-tropical areas. It is widely distributed in Asia, particularly Southeast Asia to Oceania, some parts of Africa, Central America and Caribbean region. The distribution map derived indicates the limits of distribution for H. aequalis to be 40° north and south of the equator. The recent reports and records showed that this pest is potentially becoming a high-risk pest and can establish its population whenever the condition is favourable.

Damage Caused By the Bean Bruchid, &lt;i&gt;Callosobruchus Maculatus&lt;/i&gt; (Fabricius) on Different Legume Seeds on Sale in Awka and Onitsha Markets, Anambra State, South Eastern Nigeria

The damage caused by the bean bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) on eight different legume seeds on sale in Awka and Onitsha markets in Anambra State, Southeastern Nigeria, were studied between January and April, 2008. Clean legume seeds purchased from local markets were screened to remove previous infestations. Laboratory reared strain of bruchids from local markets were used to infest the legumes. Samples of 200g weights of different legume seeds were artificially infested with the weevils at different male: female ratios. Six different legume seeds out of the eight used were attacked by the weevils. Emergence holes and weight loss were the observed effects to the seeds. The highest number and percentage of exit holes and weight loss were observed in legumes challenged with bruchids at higher male: female ratios.