Ecology of Anacridium melanorhodon melanorhodon on Acacia senegal in North Kordofan, Sudan Ibrahim Mohammed Mustafa*, Abdalla Abdalla Mohamed University of Kordofan, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, 51111, El Obeid B.O. 160, Sudan *Email: mrmustafa1982@gmail.com
Online published on 5 February, 2019. Abstract The landuse pattern in some areas of North Kordofan State, Sudan are changing from natural pasture into plantations of Acacia senegal, the main producer of gum arabic. Here, the tree locust, Anacridium melanorhodon melanorhodon (Orthoptera: Acrididae), once considered as sporadic pest, is now being considered as a major pest jeopardising gum arabic production. This study explored such A. senegal plantations 35 km ex. southeast of Elobeid city, North Kordofan State during 2008–2009. The biology and ecology were studied with field surveys through weekly observations. Simultaneously, laboratory experiments were also done at the Gum Arabic Research Centre in the University of Kordofan, Sudan. Results revealed that the eggs were laid in moist soil during rainy season around mid-July. The incubation period was 40 days, after which the nymphal stages developed during August and early September. The last nymphal stage moults into fledgling adult in late September to October towards the end of the rainy season. The adults sexually mature in dry season but gonads restore activity at the onset of ensuing rainy season. The correlations of adults and nymphs’ density revealed variations showing different growth levels (4.71±1.257 and 8.20±0.034; and 0.05±3.636 and 0.31±0.107), respectively. The means of population structures varied (from 0.00 to 14.0783 to 0.00 to 4.8867 in 2008 and 2009, respectively). The adult development started from mid-September to October, with males developing earlier than females. Feeding was more on the new sprouts than the leaves. Top Keywords Anacridium melanorhodon, Acrididae, Acacia senegal, nymphs, adults, seasonal incidence, population density, feeding. Top |