Monitoring adult sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata Rondani (Diptera: Muscidae), and related species in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Fish meal was used as attractant in four trap types for assessing the relative abundance and species composition of sorghum shoot flies, which are major pests in the wetter southern zones of Burkina Faso. Trapping was carried out in 1988 and 1989 during the rainy season in Bobo‐Dioulasso. Three trap models were effective in catching Atherigona soccata: (1) water trap, (2) Multi‐Pher and (3) ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for Semi‐Arid Tropics) traps. Multi‐Pher and water traps were the most efficient. The advantages and disadvantages of each model are discussed. Identification of male flies demonstrated the presence of 34 species of the subgenus Atherigona and two species of the subgenus Acritochaeta with Atherigona soccata, A. occidentalis Deeming and A. tomentigera van Emden being predominant. Thirteen species were new records to Burkina Faso: A. aberrans Malloch, A. africana Deeming, A. fililoba Deeming, A. gabonensis Deeming, A. gilvifolia van Emden, A. griseiventris van Emden, A. hyalinipennis van Emden, A. medleri Deeming, A. nigrapicalis Deeming, A. pulla Wiedemann, A. ruficornis Stein, Acritochaeta yorki Deeming. A new species Atherigona (s.s.) sp. n. will be described elsewhere.

Keywords:

• Sorghum shoot fly
• Atherigona soccata
• Atherigona spp
• Sorghum bicolor
• trapping
• Burkina Faso