Abundance and Incidence of Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L) Flies in the Korhogo Department of Northern Côte d’Ivoire and Pest Control Methods Used by Farmers

To improve the production of zucchini in Côte d’Ivoire and particularly in to Korhogo Department, a study was carried out at the Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University research site and at four farmers’ sites during dry and rainy seasons. On each plot, the number of healthy and attacked fruits was evaluated, based on a random sample of 100 fruits. The attacked fruits were transported to the laboratory and incubated to determine the causative agents. The methods and pesticides used to control insect pests by farmers were listed. During the rainy season, 86.06% of the fruit was attacked by flies while 13.94% remained healthy. In the dry season, for a total of 9,617 controlled fruits, 7,439 (77.35%) were healthy and 22.65% were attacked. Four insects species emerged from infested fruit. They were Bactrocera cucurbitae, Dacus ciliatus, Dacus bivittatus, belonging to the family of Tephritidae, and Scaeva pyrastri belonging to Syrphidae. The method used by farmers to control pests was not effective. In conclusion, flies represent the limiting factor of zucchini production during the rainy season in to Korhogo Department. At the end of this research, it emerges that the main zucchini pests in the Korhogo Department are Bactrocera cucurbitae, Dacus ciliatus, and Dacus bivittatus of the family Tephritidae. The species Scaeva pyrastri of the family of Syrphidae is not responsible for the loss of fruit; it comes only secondarily after the attack of Tephritidae. Pesticides used by growers in the control of pests are not indicated. Because of the strong presence of flies in the rainy season on zucchini and the damage they cause, the production of zucchini during this season may not be profitable.

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