Phylogeography in continuous space: coupling species distribution models and circuit theory to assess the effect of contiguous migration at different climatic periods on genetic differentiation in Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Current population genetic models fail to cope with genetic differentiation for species with large, contiguous and heterogeneous distribution. We show that in such a case, genetic differentiation can be predicted at equilibrium by circuit theory, where conductance corresponds to abundance in species distribution models (SDMs). Circuit-SDM approach was used for the phylogeographic study of the lepidopteran cereal stemborer Busseola fuscaFüller (Noctuidae) across sub-Saharan Africa. Species abundance was surveyed across its distribution range. SDMs were optimized and selected by cross-validation. Relationship between observed matrices of genetic differentiation between individuals, and between matrices of resistance distance was assessed through Mantel tests and redundancy discriminant analyses (RDAs). A total of 628 individuals from 130 localities in 17 countries were genotyped at seven microsatellite loci. Six population clusters were found based on a Bayesian analysis. The eastern margin of Dahomey gap between East and West Africa was the main factor of genetic differentiation. The SDM projections at present, last interglacial and last glacial maximum periods were used for the estimation of circuit resistance between locations of genotyped individuals. For all periods of time, when using either all individuals or only East African individuals, partial Mantel r and RDA conditioning on geographic distance were found significant. Under future projections (year 2080), partial r and RDA significance were different. From this study, it is concluded that analytical solutions provided by circuit theory are useful for the evolutionary management of populations and for phylogeographic analysis when coalescence times are not accessible by approximate Bayesian simulations.

Distribution, relative importance and effect of lepidopterous borers on maize yields in the forest zone and mid-altitude of Cameroon.

Geographic distribution, relative importance, and effect of lepidopterous stem and ear borers on maize, Zea mays L., were studied in the humid forest and the mid-altitude zones of Cameroon from 1994 to 1997. Six villages were chosen in the forest zone and grouped into three blocks representing gradients in human population density. A single block with three villages was chosen in the mid-altitude. Farmers' maize fields were surveyed during the vegetative growth phase for Busseola fusca (Fuller) egg batches, and at harvest for number of larvae and pupae by species, plant damage, and ear weight. There was no significant block effect for any of the variables measured, and most of the overall variance (72-99%) was attributed to within-field variability. In the forest zone, the noctuid B. fusca and the pyralid Eldana saccharina (Walker) accounted for >80% of all species in almost all locations, followed by the pyralid Mussidia nigrivenella (Ragonot) and the tortricid Cryptophlebia leucotreta (Meyrick). The noctuid Sesamia calamistis (Hampson) was found in almost all locations during the first season but disappeared in most locations in the second season. B. fusco egg infestation was significantly higher during the second compared with the first season, whereas larval and pupal densities were much higher during the first season. E. saccharina was the predominant species during the second season, when densities increased fourfold. In the mid-altitude, B. fusca was the predominant species. No significant differences in pest densities, plant damage, and ear weight were found between years. Results of stepwise regression of stem and ear damage on pest densities verified the relative importance of the individual species. In the forest zone, ear and stem damage significantly reduced ear weight, whereas in the mid-altitude only stem tunneling was significant.

The role of wild grasses in the management of lepidopterous stem-borers on maize in the humid tropics of western Africa.

Sites in the humid forest of Cameroon and the derived savanna of Benin were selected to evaluate the effect of planting border rows of wild host plants on lepidopterous stem-borer infestations and on maize yield. Grass species were chosen that in surveys and greenhouse trials were highly attractive to ovipositing female moths but with offspring mortality of close to 100%, thus acting as trap plants. In Cameroon, elephant grass Pennisetum purpureum Moench significantly lowered infestations of Busseola fusca (Fuller), Sesamia calamistis Hampson and Eldana saccharina Walker and increased yields of maize though the differences were not significant during all three cropping seasons. In 1998 in Benin, the only grass tested, Pennisetum polystachion L., significantly increased parasitism of mainly S. calamistis eggs by Telenomus spp. and larvae by Cotesia sesamiae Cameron and reduced numbers of the cob-borer Mussidia nigrivenella Ragonot. In 1999, three grass species; P. polystachion, Sorghum arundinaceum (Desv.) Stapf and Panicum maximum Jacq. were tested. Panicum maximum was the most efficient species for suppressing S. calamistis and M. nigrivenella infestations and enhancing egg and larval parasitism. In the Benin trials, with the exception of M. nigrivenella damage to cobs, the grass species tested had no beneficial effect on yield because pest densities were too low and also rodent damage to maize was enhanced with grasses in the vicinity of the crop. By contrast, stand losses due to Fusarium verticillioides Sacc. (Nirenberg), were significantly reduced by border rows of grasses.

Natural enemies of lepidopterous borers on maize and elephant grass in the forest zone of Cameroon.

The importance, geographical and temporal distributions of parasitoids of lepidopterous borers on maize and elephant grass, Pennisetum purpureum, were assessed during surveys in farmers' fields in six villages and two on-station trials in the forest zone of Cameroon between 1995 and 1996. The borer species encountered were Busseola fusca (Fuller), Sesamia calamistis Hampson, Eldana saccharina Walker on both host plants, and Mussidia nigrivenella Ragonot on maize only. Busseola fusca was the predominant host accounting for 44-57% and 96% on maize and elephant grass, respectively, followed by E. saccharina on maize with 27-39%. Fifteen hymenopterous, two dipterous and one fungal species were found on these stem and cob-borers. Among those were six pupal, six larval, four egg, one larval-pupal parasitoid and four hyperparasitoids. The scelionid parasitoids Telenomus busseolae Gahan and T. isis Polaszek were found on B. fusca eggs in all locations. During the first season, mean egg parasitism was low and ranged between 3.1% and 27% versus 54-87% during the second season. Species belonging to the Tetrastichus atriclavus Waterston complex were recovered from all four borer species. The majority and most common larval and pupal parasitoid species belonged to the ingress-and-sting guild. Larval and pupal parasitism were very erratic and on more than 50% of the sampling occasions no parasitoids were recovered. Parasitoid diversity was higher on elephant grass than maize.