ABSTRACT
Yam beetles are a perennial insect pest problem in most of the yam growing regions in Nigeria, particularly those areas found within the forest and derived savannah. The study was undertaken to assess the trends and various methods used to control the yam beetle menace. Aldrin dust an organochlorine insecticide was used widely and economically against the devastation of the beetle in the sixties and seventies until it was banned due to its persistence and residual environmental problems. Other insecticides evaluated to combat the problems were Furadan, Carbofuran and Chlorphyriphos which gave relatively satisfactory results. Cultural, resistant varieties, plastic mulch, biological agents did not give any economic control. It was suggested that more research should be focused on more environmentally safe and friendly insecticides since this is the only feasible option to control this pest for now. |
