Variations in abundance of Imbrasia epimethea (Lepidoptera: Saturniidea) on Petersianthus macrocarpus in different forest types in Central Cameroon
Ambombo Onguene, E. M.1*, Kono, L. D.1, Ngola, J. B.2, Messi Effa, J. A.1, Menyene Etoundi, L. F.1,3, Mbarga Bindzi, M. A.1 & Youmbi, E.4
ABSTRACT
Edible caterpillars are of vital importance to rural communities in developing countries providing high protein values and income. However, their ecology particularly seasonal fluctuations in their numbers is still poorly understood. With the ongoing climate change and increasing deforestation, their survival is a crucial issue. The aim of this study was to assess the structural characteristics of Petersianthus macrocarpus (Lecythidaceae) on the abundance of edible caterpillars of Imbrasia epimethea (Saturniidea). The forest area on the outskirts of Yaoundé is an important production basin for edible caterpillars making a perfect medium to answer questions on the variations in the abundance of caterpillars of I. epimethea in relation to the forest type of P. macrocarpus. Concerning biometric parameters, the [20-30[ cm diameter class in agroforest had more edible caterpillars (31.1 %). In the secondary forest and swamp forest, it was the [50-60[ cm diameter class with respectively 34 % and 27.4 %. In terms of height, the [30-40[ m height class contained more edible caterpillars (68.50 %), whereas the [60-70[ m height class represented the stratum with the least edible caterpillars (5.10 %). In different forest types, the abundance of caterpillars of I. epimethea according to the social status of P. macrocarpus individuals showed that caterpillars are found in abundance preferentially on dominant individuals (52.7 % in swamp forest, 49.7 % in secondary forest and 45.6 % in agroforest). The mean abundance of I. epimethea caterpillars was higher in secondary forest (563 ± 62a caterpillars) compared to agroforest and swamp forest. In contrast, swamp forest had the lowest mean abundance of edible caterpillars (375 ± 24b caterpillars) according to the social status of P. macrocarpus. These results point way to a better understanding of the use and management of an economically important NTFP.
Keys words: Biometry, edible caterpillars, fluctuations, forest, Petesianthus macrocarpus.
Affiliations
1Laboratory of Botany-Ecology, Faculty of Science, Yaoundé I University, 812-Yaoundé-Cameroon.
2Environmental and Social Department, Nachtigal Hydro Power Company, 35 543-Yaoundé-Cameroon.
3Coordination of Forests, Soil and Environment, Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Ministry of Scientific Research an Innovation (MINRESI), 2123-Yaoundé Messa-Cameroon.
4Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology and Environment, Faculty of Science, Yaoundé I University, 812-Yaoundé-Cameroon.
African Journal of Tropical Entomology Research: 2 (2) pp. 39-49.
© 2023, Ambombo et al.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE/ OPEN ACCESS
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Received: 19 May 2023
Accepted: 18 July 2023
Published : 20 August 2023
Author(s) agree that this article remain permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
Citation : Ambombo Onguene, E. M., Kono, L. D., Ngola, J. B., Messi Effa, J. A., Menyene Etoundi, L. F., Mbarga Bindzi, M. A. & Youmbi, E. (2023).Variations in abundance of Imbrasia epimethea (Lepidoptera: Saturniidea) on Petersianthus macrocarpus in different forest types in Central Cameroon. African journal of tropical entomology research, 2(2), 39-49.