Entomofauna of cucumber Cucumis sativus (L.), damage assessment caused by insect pests in Dabou in south of Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

One of the constraints of cucumber production is the pressure of insect pests. The need to effectively control these pests while maintaining entomological diversity has led to an inventory of the insects associated with the crop and to the damage caused by insect pests. This study was conducted from April to July 2014, in Dabou, in the Guinean zone of Cote d'Ivoire. Catches were made twice per a week, manually with pliers applying technique of mowing with sweep net and the plants have been inspected to identify damage caused by pests. 46 species grouped into 29 families and 11 orders were listed. The latter consisted of insect pests, predators and pollinators. The highest number of insects (1682 individuals) was registered to fruiting. The species of Tephritidae B. cucurbitae (237 individuals) and B. dorsalis (98 individuals) were the most harmful. At the before flowering stage, the attack rates of defoliating and sucking insects were 29.79 ± 4.79% and 13.12 ± 3.30%, respectively. At flowering stage, the attack rates of defoliating and sucking insects were 48.75 ± 6.58 and 29.16 ± 2.52, respectively. At fruiting stage, defoliating insects, sucking insects and the borer have induced attack rates respective of 72.08 ± 6.91%, 60.83 ± 2.30% and 63.65 ± 11.81%, respectively.