GNANVOSSOU Desire, Benin

Abstract (taken from original project proposal)

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) rank among the most serious agricultural pests that affect tropical fruit and vegetable production in Africa. In 2003, a preliminary research work was initiated on solanaceous and cucurbit crops in Benin and in Cameroon. The four tephritid species Dacus bivittatus, D. punctatifrons, D. ciliatus and Bactrocera cucurbitae were most common in traps and/or infested fruits. Of these fruit flies, D. punctatifrons was the most common in cuelure traps in Cameroon and in Benin, but has not been recorded from tomato in Benin while it is a widespread pest of tomato in Cameroon. This descrepency points either to the emergence of new host type of D. punctatifrons in Cameroon, or that presently available taxonomic and curatorial tools are not sufficient to distinguish the Cameroon and Benin populations. This calls for further taxonomic studies to clarify the identity and diversity of various geographic and host populations of D. punctatifrons.

Training location: Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels and Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren.

Read Mr GNANVOSSOU's GTI reports to find out more about his received training