Biology of Tortoise Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomel/dae) on Sweet Potato

Abstract

In  Ethiopia sweet potato is produced mainly for human consumption. Southern Ethiopia is the maiil s.weet potato growing region of the country where about 3% of the total crop area is annually allotted for sweet potato and more than 16% of the total volume of production of the country comes from this region (CSA 2002). Since sweet potato is mostly produced in low input agricultural system, losses due to insects may often reach 60-100% (Chalafant et al. 1990; Sorensen 2009). Several species of tortoise and leaf beetles
(Chrysomelidae), the sweet potato hornworm {Herse convolvuli) and the sweet potato butterfly (Acraea acerata) are defoliators sweet potato (Hill, 1983; Smit et al. 1997). Defoliators of sweet potato have previously been considered as pests of minor importance (Azerefgne, 1999). However, the sweet potato tortoise beetles have been economically important pest in parts of Africa (Hill 1983; Smit et al. 1997).