Diversity of hymenoptera and lepidoptera in cashew (Anacardium occidentale) orchards in Northern Cote D'Ivoire: The case of the bagoue

Abstract

Cashew nuts remain one of the main sources of income for farmers in the Bagoué region. Generally, the increase in production depends on the extension of cashew plantations. However, this process is detrimental to biodiversity and in particular to animals. With the aim of increasing cashew nut production, this work aims to inventory the hymenoptera and lepidoptera families. To do this in 20 fields that were 10 and 15 years old and older en 2021 and 2022 by captured with yellow traps, insects were collected in the departments of Boundiali and Kouto. The trials lasted 6 months and were conducted every weeks in different orchards in the two locations. The results indicate that Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera visiting the cashew orchard belong to 9 families including 6 families (Hymenoptera) and 3 families (Lepidoptera). The order Hymenoptera (73.20%) was more abundant than the order Lepidoptera (26.80%) in the study area. Thus, the abundance of these insect families has been established on Anacardium occidentale. It appears that Formicidae (34.67%) and Apidae (21.83%) were more abundant. At the departmental level, Boundiali is the most abundant.