Arthropod Pests of Stored Maize in Sidama Zone: Economic Importance and Management Practices

Abstract

We conducted surveys of stored maize grain arthropod pests and their natural enemies in four weredas of Sidama Zone, southern Ethiopia, in 1992 and 1993. We set out to determine the extent of losses due to these pests and explore farmers’ management
practices against stored maize grain insect pests. Results of the survey revealed a total of 14 arthropods in the groups of primary pests, secondary pests and parasitoids. Of the primary pests, the Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella) and the maize
weevils (Sitophilus spp) were found to be the most common and important, where they accounted for 77 to 95 percent of the total insect numbers counted. Sitotroga cerealella alone caused 11.2 to 13.5 percent weight loss while all other pests together caused 5.6 to 6.4 percent weight loss. As part of integrated management of stored maize grain insect pests, locally available materials were evaluated in the laboratory against S. cerealella in 1992 and 1993 at Awassa Research Centre. Of the local materials tested, tobacco dust, followed by wood ash-tobacco dust-saw dust-sand mixture gave the best control of the pest.