Biology, geographical distribution, prevention and control of the enset root mealybug, Cataenococcus ensete (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) in Ethiopia.

More than 15-million Ethiopians depend upon enset for their food, fibre, animal forage, construction materials and medicines. However, the sustainability of enset-based agriculture is threatened by a number of factors. The main biotic stresses are bacterial wilt, the enset root mealybug, nematodes, fungi and other vertebrate pests like mole-rats. Enset root mealybug, Cataenococcus ensete is a major pest of enset (Ensete ventricousm) in enset growing areas of southern Ethiopia. This paper reviews the recent body of work on integrated control measures for enset mealybug (Cataenococcus ensete). Its focus includes: biology and description of C. ensete; the pest’s behaviour within the enset plant; its geographical distribution; pest symptoms; mealybug dispersal methods and key means of mealybug management including prevention and cultural, biological and chemical control (including plant-extracts). The enset mealybug is difficult to control with insecticides, due to its cryptic nature, waxy-coat and life-style of forming dense colonies of multiple and overlapping generations. Besides, insecticides often prove too costly. This review should allow researchers and extension agents to make more informed choices regarding a more effective, integrated approach to control enset root mealybug. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________