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Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research

Biology and damage inflicted by the sesame seed bug, Elasmolomus sordidus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) on groundnut

Osman,A. K,   Abdalla ,A. M, and ELBlaa, T.A. Abstract

Sesame seed bug, Elasmolomus sordidus (Fabricius), is one of the most important post-harvest insect pests of oilseed crops in western Sudan. This study was conducted in El Nahud locality at West Kordofan State during 2003 and 2004 seasons to investigate the insect life history and damage caused by sesame seed bug on groundnut. Duration of each of the developmental stages of the pest was determined in laboratory. The results indicated that egg incubation period was 4.5 ± 0.17 days, while the respective nymphal duration from the 1st, to the  6th instar were 1.85 ± 0.13, 6.3 ± 0.20, 4.95 ± 0.16, 5.0 ± 0.27, 5.3 ± 0.28 and 4.2 ± 0.15 days, respectively. The developmental period from egg to adult stage was 32.1 ± 0.52 days. The lifespan of adult female and male was 19.2 ± 0.38 and 9.85 ± 0.39 days, respectively. The lifespan from egg to adult death was 51.2 and 41.9 days for female and male, respectively. The male to female sex ratio was 1:1.2. Oviposition period was 4.9 ± 0.07days and the peak laying period was on the second day. The results showed that the insect caused losses in seed weight from 2 to 36%, reduction in oil content from 4 to 43%, increase in free fatty acids from 0.44 to 1.51% and increase in the shriveled seeds to 40% in comparison with the control.

Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 14 (2009) PP. 69-80