Entomofauna of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in 4 production basins in the West-Cameroon region

Abstract

Because of insect damage, tomato yields are low in relation to the area under cultivation. The aim of this study was to identify the entomofauna of four tomato agroecosystems in Western Cameroon during the dry and rainy seasons 2020 and 2021. Insects were collected using yellow traps, an entomological net and a mouth aspirator, preserved in 70% ethanol and identified at the Universities of Dschang and Yaoundé I. A total of 25321 insects from 7 orders of 66 families were collected and 17 Arachnida-Araneidae. 16437 individuals and 8884 were collected respectively in the dry and rainy season. Using yellow traps, 14209 individuals were collected and 11112 using net. Here, Hemiptera represented 72.56%, Diptera 14.61%, Lepidoptera 9.42%, Hymenoptera 2.34%. Hemiptera Aleyrodidae, Aphididae, Cicadellidae and Miridae, Diptera-Drosophillidae, Lepidoptera-Gelechiidae, Hymenoptera-Formicidae and Orthoptera-Acrididae are the families with the most individuals. Hemiptera-Aleyrodidae account for 51.49% of all invertebrates. More insects were collected in the dry season (64.91%). District of Bangangté, Nkong-Ni and Foumbot were the most attacked. Beneficial insects include Hymenoptera Formicidae, Halictidae and Figitidae, Odonata and Arachnida-Araneidae. This work is an essential step in setting up integrated pest management strategies.