Evaluation naturelle de l’impact de <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> : Champignon enthomopathogène dans la dynamique de population de <i>Hypothenemus hampei</i>, scolyte de baies des cerises de <i>Coffea canefora</i>

Abstract

A study of finding out natural enemies of the coffee cherry borer beetle Coffea canephora, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera, Scolytidae) was carried out at two ecologically different sites of Cameroon: Nkoemvone in the South region of the country and Nkolbisson around Yaoundé in the central region. For six months, 500 berries were randomly collected monthly at each site. The presence of entomopathogenic fungus was observed on berries infested by the borer beetle. Rates of borer insect mortality due to Bauveria bassiana at Nkoemvone are: 70.6% in August, 64.6% in September, 32% in October, 43.2% in November, 39.2% in December and very low in January (8.6%). On the other hand, these rates at Nkolbisson are: 42.6% in October, 10% in November, 3.4% in December, 2.6% in January, 1.4% in February and 0% in March. From these observations, it was possible to carry out a research on the pathogenicity tests through its natural presence and on artificial-infection trials of the borer beetle with this fungus in order to protect better the coffee grains with a biological product.