Effect of some climatic factors on insects associated with citrus agro-ecosystems in Ghana
Paper Details
Effect of some climatic factors on insects associated with citrus agro-ecosystems in Ghana
Abstract
The present study investigates the effects of some climatic factors on insects associated with citrus orchards in two different agro-ecological zones in Ghana. The study showed that, climatic factors affected insects differently in different agro-ecological zones. There was a negative and highly significant (P˂0.01) correlation between insect abundance and rainfall in the Coastal Savannah zone whereas the correlation between mean temperature and insect abundance was negative and significant (P˂0.05) in the Semi-Deciduous Rain Forest zone. Numbers of insect species peaked differently in some months during the study period due to favourable climatic conditions for their reproduction, growth and activities. The month of February was most favourable for the insects in the Semi-Deciduous Rain Forest zone whiles January was most favourable for the Coastal Savannah zone. Similarly, some months were more favourable for pests of citrus in Ghana; January and February for Ceratitis ditissima and Leptoglossus sp. in both agro-ecological zones and, January and February for Achaea sp. in the Semi-Deciduous Rain Forest and Coastal Savannah respectively. The months of October and September were most favourable for Zonocerus variegatus in the Coastal Savannah zone and Semi-deciduous rain forest zone respectively during the study period. Even though the two different agro-ecological zones had common pests, the proportions and peak periods however varied. The differences are crucial with regards to developing integrated pests management strategies to control insect pests of citrus in Ghana.
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Owusu Fordjour Aidoo, Rosina Kyerematen, Clement Akotsen-Mensah, Kwame Afreh-Nuamah (2014), Effect of some climatic factors on insects associated with citrus agro-ecosystems in Ghana; JBES, V5, N4, October, P428-436
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