Delia Steiniella Emden: Newly Recorded Pest of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Its Infestation Levels at Sinana, Ethiopia

Abstract

Shoot fly species Delia arambourgi Seguy was expected to infest barley (Hordeum vulgare), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and tef (Eragrostis tef)] in Ethiopia. It was considered as major pest of barley and minor pest of wheat and tef. Currently, however,
differences have been recognized between the shoot fly species reared separately from barley and wheat. This study was conducted with the main objective of identifying the shoot fly attacking wheat down to the species level and to quantify its infestation levels.
Accordingly, the shoot fly reared from wheat was sent to the University Museum of Natural History, U.K. and was identified as D. steiniella Emden. It caused infestations ranging from 56.5 to 74.5 % on different bread wheat varieties at Sinana, Ethiopia, under natural infestation in the field. There was no significant (P > 0.05) variation in the levels of infestations between the varieties.