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International Journal of
Entomology Research
ARCHIVES
VOL. 5, ISSUE 1 (2020)
Effect of varying moisture content of kolanut on kolanut weevil: Balanogastriskolae (Desbr) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Authors
Popoola KOK, Obasi NI, Hassan AT
Abstract
This research work focused on the evaluation of feeding rate of kolanut weevil Balanogastris kolae on different moisture content levels of two Cola species (Cola. accuminata and C. nitida) during storage after infestation. Through a weighing method and the survival rate with a view of finding alternative means of storage to reduce economic loss encountered by most farmers. During the experiment, uninfested and infested (source of infestation) kolanuts were sampled and assessed using these parameters percentage moisture content and percentage weight loss from the two Cola species. Another set up consisting C. acuminate and C. nitida using male and female B. kolae in the ratio of 2 to 3 was introduced into it to study the biology of B. kolae on each species of kolnut with respect to their moisture content. C. acuminate was observed to have a higher percentage moisture content when compare to the C. nitida but not significantly different (p>0.05).It was recorded that, the weight of kolanut with higher moisture content reduced significantly (p<0.05) with time after infestation with B. kolae during storage. There was significant different between the total mean weight loss of C. acuminate (216.77 ± 70.14) and C. nitida (341.47±102.86) after infestation at p=0.022. Hundred percent (100%) level of weevil infestation and nut damage was recorded in kolanut with higher moisture content compared to about 40% level infestation and nut damage observed in kolanuts with reduced moisture content for the two species. Progeny emergence was observed first in C. acuminate within the first week of their life cycle study while C. nitida had higher percentage of total emergence. These research findings confirm that high moisture contents on both Cola species encourages weevil attack. There is therefore, an urgent need to use reduced moisture content method as an alternative method of storage rather than subjecting kolanuts to chemical treatments for the control of kolanut weevils.
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Pages:127-131
How to cite this article:
Popoola KOK, Obasi NI, Hassan AT "Effect of varying moisture content of kolanut on kolanut weevil: <em>Balanogastriskolae </em>(Desbr) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 5, Issue 1, 2020, Pages 127-131
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