Attack by Augosoma centaurus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) adults on rattan palm Laccosperma secundiflorum (Arecaceae) in Plateaux Batéké, Gabon
Poligui René Noel1*, Apinda Legnouo Emelie Arlette2 & Zandi Henri1
ABSTRACT
An unusual phenomenon consisting of attacks once every two years by adults of a horned beetle on the rattan palm Laccosperma secundiflorum (Arecaceae) (known as ‘French palmier-asperge’) was observed in the Plateaux Batéké (Gabon) over the past decade. Residents reported repeated devastation of rattan palm from May to June, pointing to Pandanus beetle as the pest killing many shoots within populations of this palm species, which is used as a non-timber forest product (NTFP) for alimentary purposes. The ecological area of these attacks includes gallery forests and groves surrounding Ossouele village and neighbouring villages across the border in Congo Brazzaville. The insect fed on and destroyed the rattan heart, starting at its tip, leading to the deterioration and death of L. secundiflorum. Our observations in 2022 allowed us to identify Augosoma centaurus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) as the insect pest devastating this climbing palm, reducing the resource quality and quantity for household consumption and trade. Further studies are needed to increase our understanding of the trophic relationship between the pest and its new adult host/feeding plant.
Mots-clés : Horned beetle, pest, French palmier-asperge, non-timber forest product, edible insect, Gabon.
Affiliations
1Laboratory of Crop Protection, Crop Production Department, National Higher Institute of Agronomy and Biotechnology (INSAB), University of Sciences and Technologies of Masuku (USTM), Gabon.
2Research Institute in Tropical Ecology (IRET), National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (CENAREST), Gabon.
African Journal of Tropical Entomology Research: 2 (3) pp. 85-89.
© 2023, Poligui et al.
SHORT COMMUNICATION/ OPEN ACCESS
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Received: 08 December 2023
Accepted: 22 December 2023
Published : 23 December 2023
Author(s) agree that this article remain permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
Citation : Poligui R. N., Apinda Legnouo E. A. & Zandi H. (2023). Attack by Augosoma centaurus (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) adults on rattan palm Laccosperma secundiflorum (Arecaceae) in Plateaux Batéké, Gabon. African journal of tropical entomology research, 2(3), 85-89.