title: Liriomyza Leafminer (Diptera: Agromyzidae) Parasitoid Complex in Different Agroecological Zones, Seasons, and Host Plants in Kenya.
abstract: Liriomyza leafminers (Diptera: Agromyzidae) are severe pests of vegetables and ornamentals worldwide. Previous studies revealed low leafminer parasitism across different agroecological zones in Kenya. The present paper reports on the composition of leafminer parasitoids at different elevations, in different seasons, and on different host crops. Surveys were conducted monthly from January to November 2012, and nine parasitoid species were recovered. Total mean parasitism in the study sites was 31.23 ± 1.03% from a total of 20 different vegetable Liriomyza-infested crops belonging to seven families. Diglyphus isaea (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), Phaedrotoma scabriventris, a newly released parasitoid, and Opius dissitus Muesebeck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were the most abundant at all elevations, accounting for 67.3, 18.6, and 9.2% of total parasitoids, respectively. Elevation, season, and host crop significantly affected the parasitoid species present and their abundance. Diglyphus isaea was more abundant at the high- and mid-elevations at all seasons compared with the low-elevation, whereas the lower-elevation favored higher abundance of P. scabriventris and O. dissitus during the long rainy season compared with the high- and mid-elevations at all seasons. Of all the host crops surveyed, parasitoids were more abundant on tomato, local kidney bean, snow pea and French bean than other crops. The total parasitism rate observed in this study suggests a considerable improvement in leafminer parasitism compared with previous surveys in Kenya. The implications of these findings for leafminer management in vegetable and ornamental production in Kenya are discussed.
authors.affiliation: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Plant Health Division, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya (cfoba@icipe.org, dsalifu@icipe.org), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Department of Zoology, P.O Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya (zbisieri@yahoo.com, linusmgitonga@yahoo.co.uk).
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Foba
authors.affiliation: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Plant Health Division, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya (cfoba@icipe.org, dsalifu@icipe.org).
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salifu
authors.affiliation: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Department of Zoology, P.O Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya (zbisieri@yahoo.com, linusmgitonga@yahoo.co.uk).
authors.forename: Z O
authors.initials: ZO
authors.lastname: Lagat
authors.affiliation: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Department of Zoology, P.O Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya (zbisieri@yahoo.com, linusmgitonga@yahoo.co.uk), Karatina University (KarU), Administration Department, P.O. Box 1957-10101, Karatina, Kenya.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gitonga
authors.affiliation: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Plant Health Division, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya (cfoba@icipe.org, dsalifu@icipe.org).
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Akutse
authors.affiliation: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Plant Health Division, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya (cfoba@icipe.org, dsalifu@icipe.org), kfiaboe@icipe.org.
authors.forename: K K M
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Fiaboe
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development; D004175:Diptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D007630:Kenya; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D012621:Seasons; D014863:Wasps / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: elevation; establishment; parasitism rate; species composition