The main known pests affecting cocoa in Côte dIvoire are mirids, defoliating caterpillars and stem borers. However, a study conducted in the sub-prefecture of Gnagbodougnoa in the region of Gagnoa following complaints from farmers identified the green bug, iBathycoelia thalassina/i, and the brown bug, iPseudotheraptus devastans/i, as pests of cocoa pods. The overall objective of this study is to assess the impact of attacks by these two bugs on cocoa production. The study consisted of delimiting one (1) sampling plot of one (1) hectare in three different plantations and, in each plot, five (5) 100 m² sections arranged in a W shape. In each section, all pods and cherries attacked by bugs were counted and the attack rates determined. Losses were assessed by monitoring newly pierced cherries and pods during their maturation, determining their abortion rates and the loss of mass of beans that reached maturity after the attacks. The average attack rates were 66.66% for cherries and 62% for pods. Attacked pods abort completely after two months and only fifteen (15) out of 50 attacked pods reach maturity. The attacks led to a 36.38% loss in bean mass. The impact of green and brown bug attacks on cocoa is very significant. Better management of these factors will reduce their impact on production for optimal yield.
Franceline et al. (Tue,) studied this question.