Destitution, Biology, Yield Loss and Management of Sweet Potato Weevils (cylas formicaries (fabrcius) Insecta: Coleoptera) in Ethiopia

Abstract

Sweet potato weevil is the most destructive of all sweet potato pests. It affects both sweet potato stems and roots in the field and in the storage. Sweet potato weevil (Cylassp.) is the cosmopolitan insect and most serious insect pests of sweet potato in Central America, Africa and Asia; production losses often reach 60-100%. Three species have been identified in Africa: Cylasformicaries(F.), Cylaspuncticollis Boheman and Cylasbrunneus (Olivier). The weevil spends its entire life cycle on the host plant, and both larval and adult stages damage the tubers and vines. A number of management techniques of sweet potato weevils have been developed and used though out the world. Effective control of this pests requires implementing an integrated pest management approach. The most important measures are cultural control, use of resistant varieties, chemical control, mechanical, biological and integrated pest management. Integration of sweet potato weevils management has often been thought as one of the better pest management options in tropical sub tropical regions

Keywords: Sweet potato weevils; Integrated Pest Management (IPM); Life cycle; Cylas sp.