Entomology

The Entomology Division is one of the scientific divisions of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) mandated to investigate and find sustainable management options to insect pest problems of Cocoa, Coffee, Kola, Sheanut and Cashew. The Division carries out studies on the biology, ecology, population dynamics of the insect pests and natural enemies of the mandated crops as well as mealybug vectors of the swollen shoot virus disease of cocoa. Substantial human and material resources are used to screen insecticides against major pests of mandated crops with special emphasis on mirids/capsids of cocoa. The effect of insecticides on non-target organisms and their residues in produce especially cocoa is a major area of study. Much attention is given to developing integrated management strategies (IPM) involving the use of sex pheromones, natural enemies (parasitoids, predators and pathogens) for control of mirids/capsids and mealybugs. The study of termites has become important in recent times. The division has a museum with collections of insects associated with cocoa, coffee, kola and sheanut

Current Research Projects

(Cocoa)

• Integrated pest management programme in the cocoa industry in Ghana: the use of natural enemies and sex pheromones
• Screening and field trials on conventional insecticides for cocoa mirids.
• Screening and use of botanical pesticides for the control of cocoa mirids and other insects.
• Field evaluation of insect pest preferences for different cocoa progenies.
• Studies on termites (isoptera) associated with cocoa eco-system.
• Isolation, identification, formulation and use of semio-chemicals for the control of the cocoa stem borer, Eulophonotus myrmeleon in Ghana.
• Isolation, identification, formulation and use of semio-chemicals for the control ofCharacoma stictigrapta Hampson, a lepidopterous (Noctuidae) pest of cocoa in Ghana.
• Development of mycopesticides from Bauveriafor control of mirids/capsids

(Coffee, Kola, Sheanut & Cashew)

• Ecology of insect pollinators of cocoa, kola, coffee, shea and cashew
• Biology, ecology and control of kola pests; Arimetus costulata Labiossere (Coleoptera: Chysomelidae: Gerullinea), Balanogastris kolae (Debr.) and Sophorhinus Sp (Coleoptera:Curculionidae)
• Integrated Pest Management of coffee pests; nuisance ants and Hypothenemus hampei.
• Investigations into the biology, ecology and management of sap sucking bugs of cashew with particular reference to Helopeltis schoutedeni Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae), Pseudotheraptus devastans (Dist.) (Hemiptera: Coreidae) and Anoplocnemis curvipes (F.) (Hemiptera: Coreidae) in Ghana
• Investigations into the biology, ecology and management of the stem borer, Apate telebrans Pall. and the branch girdler, Analeptes trifasciata F. on cashew in Ghana
• Integrated control of some important insect pests, Cirina forda (shea defoliator), Nephopterix sp. (shea fruit borer) on sheanut tree
• Transplatation of Oecophylla longinoda colony, monitoring and establishment of the ants in commercial cashew plantations

Collaboration

Natural Resources Institute (UK), CABI-Bioscience (UK), Cocoa Research (U.K)