The Rhinoceros Beetle Oryctes agamemnon arabicus in ... - Iresa

Fig. 3. Distribution of O. agamemnon arabicus in the oases of Djerid zone (Tozeur): F 1: Mrah Lahouarand Dhraa El Janoubi, F 2: Ibn Chabbat, F 3: Dhafria, F 4: El Oudia I et II (satellite photo, Google Earth).After 1987, the lack of necessaryprimary plant material to achieve theplantation of Ibn Chabbat oases (F 2 inFig. 3), located 5 Km in the North ofMrah Lahouar and in South of Chott ElGharsa, leaded to use offshoots originatedfrom infested oases of Mrah Lahouar.This action permitted the spread of O.agamemnon arabicus between distantoases both in intra- and inter- regionallevel. In early 90’s, the same caseoccurred in the five localities of RjimMaatoug zone (1434.5 ha) located in theextreme Southwest of Kebili governorateand approximately 8 Km on the Southedges of Chott El Djerid (F in Fig. 4), thelack of offshoots in Kebili oases imposedthe use of offshoots originated from IbnChabbat oases (800 ha), both to continuethe plantation process and to replace thelacks which favored more pest spread.During the 90’s decade and from IbnChabbat oases, the major site of thespread, O. agamemnon arabicus reachedthe oases of El Oudia (40 ha) and ElDhafria (250 ha) both situated in theNorth of Tozeur governorate (F 3 and F 4 inFig. 3). Thus, the most likely mode ofspread between regions and distantplantations is with offshoots removedfrom infested plantations (14).Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 182 Vol. 5, No. 2, 2010