Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique.
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
J Econ Entomol. 2019 Aug 3;112(4):1705-1712. doi: 10.1093/jee/toz042.
Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) populations are maintained in wild host plants such as trees that act as pest reservoirs from where beetle infestation of maize granaries take place. In this study, we assessed the suitability of plant species sold and transported as firewood as well as other plant species in Mozambique as hosts for P. truncatus. Prostephanus truncatus was only recorded from three tree species, which are sold as firewood, i.e., Brachystegia spiciformis, Strychnos spinosa, and Colophospermum mopane. The pest survived and bred in 13 tree and 7 grass species. Dry wood of several tree species and the grasses Acroceras macrum and Hyparrhenia hirta were suitable hosts for pest development. Sale and transport of certain firewood species may be an important driver of the spread of this pest. The importance of dry maize stalks and several grass species in sustaining pest populations is described for the first time. Several grass species are used as thatch or fencing material and, together with maize crop residues close to small-scale granaries, may provide significant sources of beetle infestation.
Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (鞘翅目：Bostrichidae)种群存在于野生宿主植物中，如作为害虫储源的树木，甲虫会从那里侵袭玉米谷仓。在这项研究中，我们评估了莫桑比克作为 Prostephanus truncatus 宿主的销售和运输的薪柴以及其他植物物种的适宜性。Prostephanus truncatus 仅记录于三种作为薪柴销售的树种，即 Brachystegia spiciformis、Strychnos spinosa 和 Colophospermum mopane。该害虫在 13 种树木和 7 种草本植物中存活并繁殖。几种树木的干木材以及 Acroceras macrum 和 Hyparrhenia hirta 等草本植物是害虫发育的合适宿主。某些薪柴物种的销售和运输可能是该害虫传播的一个重要驱动因素。本文首次描述了干玉米秸秆和几种草本植物在维持害虫种群方面的重要性。一些草本植物被用作茅草或篱笆材料，与靠近小型谷仓的玉米作物残茬一起，可能是甲虫侵袭的重要来源。
