Parasitism of Mesohomotoma tessmanni Aulmann (Psylloidea, Carsidaridae) psyllid pest of Theobroma cacao and Octolobus spectabilis (Sterculiaceae) in Cameroon and taxonomy of parasitoids

Abstract

Mesohomotoma tessmanni is the pest of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) and Octolobus spectabilis W. in Cameroon. The parasitoids complex of this psyllid was studied in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2006 in some cocoa areas in Cameroon (Yaounde, Obala and Santchou). Two hundred and ninety eight (298) and three hundred and twenty nine (329) mummified larvae were collected on T. cacao and O. spectabilis, respectively. The rate of parasitism was estimate as 78.1%. The emergence level was 87.9% on T. cacao and 75.4% on O. spectabilis. The emerged parasitoids belong to the families Encyrtidae and Figitidae. The Encyrtidae's specie belongs to the genus Psyllaephagus; this specie is described, Psyllaephagus mesohomotomae sp.n.. The Figitidae's specie belongs to the genus Dilyta; this species is described, Dilyta camerounensis sp.n.. These important parasitoids will help to reduce the level of the infestations of cocoa during the process of the biological control of the psyllid in Cameroon. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information.