Bionomics and Importance of an Emerging Pest Pseudotheraptus devastans (Distant) (Heteroptera: Coreidae) in the Cocoa Orchards of Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

The cocoa tree is a very important plant in Côte d'Ivoire (formerly known as Ivory Coast) with a production of 2,15 million  tons. In spite of this performance, cocoa production is attacked by several pests of which the emerging ones are Pseudotheraptus devastans (Distant). These insects  attack  cherelles,  pods, gourmands and young shoots. This study aims to locate these pests and determine their importance in the different cocoa production areas. The device used is total  randomization. The leaching carried out in the orchard revealed the presence of P.devastans in all the cocoa producing districts. The means were 0,02 ± 0,00 to 2,35 ± 0,38 P. devastans  / tree.  The  districts of Sassandra-Marahoué, Comoé and Montagnes recorded  more  P.devastans.  However, the districts of Bas-Sassandra, Lagunes et Lacs had fewer P.devastans.