Abundance and Incidence of Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L) Flies in the Korhogo Department of Northern Côte d’Ivoire and Pest Control Methods Used by Farmers

To improve the production of zucchini in Côte d'Ivoire and particularly in to Korhogo Department, a
study was carried out at the Peleforo Gon Coulibaly University research site and at four farmers’ sites
during dry and rainy seasons. On each plot, the number of healthy and attacked fruits was evaluated,
based on a random sample of 100 fruits. The attacked fruits were transported to the laboratory and
incubated to determine the causative agents. The methods and pesticides used to control insect pests
by farmers were listed. During the rainy season, 86.06% of the fruit was attacked by flies while
13.94% remained healthy. In the dry season, for a total of 9,617 controlled fruits, 7,439 (77.35%) were
healthy and 22.65% were attacked. Four insects species emerged from infested fruit. They were
Bactrocera cucurbitae, Dacus ciliatus, Dacus bivittatus, belonging to the family of Tephritidae, and
Scaeva pyrastri belonging to Syrphidae. The method used by farmers to control pests was not
effective. In conclusion, flies represent the limiting factor of zucchini production during the rainy
season in to Korhogo Department. At the end of this research, it emerges that the main zucchini pests
in the Korhogo Department are Bactrocera cucurbitae, Dacus ciliatus, and Dacus bivittatus of the
family Tephritidae. The species Scaeva pyrastri of the family of Syrphidae is not responsible for the
loss of fruit; it comes only secondarily after the attack of Tephritidae. Pesticides used by growers in
the control of pests are not indicated. Because of the strong presence of flies in the rainy season on
zucchini and the damage they cause, the production of zucchini during this season may not be
profitable.