| Abstrakt: |
Simple Summary: The fall armyworm and larger grain borer are two of the main invasive cereal insect pests of cereal crops in Africa. These pests cause successive synergistic damage to maize in the field and after harvesting, resulting in huge food losses in Africa. The two invaders share invasive characteristics such as a high reproductive capacity, high thermal tolerance, pesticide resistance and the ability to feed on numerous hosts—traits that help them outcompete native species. Along with these characteristics, climate change, increased anthropogenic activities and factors such as the lack and/or poor tracking of natural enemies in the case of larger grain borer and an increase in mixed cropping under smallholder farming systems enabling host-switching in the case of the fall armyworm, have inevitably facilitated the continental spread of the two pests. Cumulative losses from the successive attack of the two insect pests suggest that 30–100% food losses are incurred when the two co-exist within the same environment. Improved management and containment of the fall armyworm and larger grain borer through the curtailment of plant material smuggling, improved phytosanitary regulations, public awareness and integrated pest management strategies can contribute towards improving food and nutrition security in Africa. Invasive alien species (IAS) are a major biosecurity threat affecting globalisation and the international trade of agricultural products and natural ecosystems. In recent decades, for example, field crop and postharvest grain insect pests have independently accounted for a significant decline in food quantity and quality. Nevertheless, how their interaction and cumulative effects along the ever-evolving field production to postharvest continuum contribute towards food insecurity remain scant in the literature. To address this within the context of Africa, we focus on the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), two of the most important field and postharvest IAS, respectively, that have invaded Africa. Both insect pests have shown high invasion success, managing to establish themselves in >50% of the African continent within a decade post-introduction. The successive and summative nature of field and postharvest damage by invasive insect pests on the same crop along its value chain results in exacerbated food losses. This systematic review assesses the drivers, impacts and management of the fall armyworm and larger grain borer and their effects on food systems in Africa. Interrogating these issues is important in early warning systems, holistic management of IAS, maintenance of integral food systems in Africa and the development of effective management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
