Susceptibility of two Cocoa Progenies to Attack by Insect Species

Abstract

SUMMARYTwo cocoa progenies, T85/799×T17/359 and E1:C43/291×T63/967 (Series IIB hybrid), were compared for degree of infestation by 17 insect species comprising a Coccid, an Aphis, a Mirid and six ants. A significantly greater proportion of trees of the second variety was infested by the mealybugs Planococcus citri Risso and Pseudococcus hargreavesi Laing, by the Lecaniid scale Gascardia sp. nr. zonatus Newst., by the aphis Toxoptera aurantii Boys, by attendant ants Camponotus spp., and Crematogaster spp., and by the ant Polyrhachis laboriosa F. Smith. Because of differences in habitat requirement between the four Hemiptera, it is postulated that it is more likely that the response is due to a physiological difference between the two progenies than to a purely environmental difference.