A SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF PEST INFESTATION ON FLUTED PUMPKIN IN THREE FARMING COMMUNITIES IN LAGOS STATE.

Adedayo, V.*, Edeh, N., Adeyemi, O. and Fashua, K.

The study investigated the pest infestation activities on fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) in three farm locations in Lagos State (Ojo, Badagry and Ikorodu). It evaluated the spatial differences in the insect pest infestation affecting fluted pumpkin plant in selected farms in Lagos state. A field inspection was carried out in wet and dry season to identify dominant insect pest and their seasonal variation, part and growth stage of fluted pumpkin affected. Insect pest was identified by carefully examining the collected insect pest specie. Parts of fluted pumpkin affected were determined by assessing physically the feeding point of insect pest on the fluted pumpkin plant. Damaged growth stage was determined by carefully assessing the growth stage of fluted pumpkin damaged by insect pest while dominant insect pest population was determined by quadrant method. A visual count of all insect pest collected in the quadrant was done. The result revealed that black garden ant was the most dominant insect pest that affects fluted pumpkin in all the study locations with estimated population (1067/100m² Ojo, 1700/100m² Ikorodu, and 1200/100m² Badagry) in wet season while 933/100m² Ojo, 1300/100m² Ikorodu and 1,033/100m² Badagry in dry season with more impact on Ikorodu farms in wet season. Insect pest affects all parts of fluted pumpkin but the leaf is the mostly affected part with the majority of the identified insect feeding on it. Five out of the seven identified insect pests feed on the leaf (leaf caterpillar-666, grasshopper-1100, black garden ant-1700, field cricket and bush cricket-433). Insect pest affects vegetative growth (seedling stage, young plant stage and adult fluted pumpkin plant stage) with the majority of the identified insect pests (6 out of 7) infesting on this stage. The study therefore recommends the development of an effective method for controlling black garden ant and other insect pests at the vegetative growth stage.

Key words: Farming communities, Fluted pumpkin, Pest infestation, Spatial analysis.