Author(s):
The crop insect pest assessment was conducted at two zones of southern Oromia, West Guji and Borana Zone from 2020 to 2022 cropping seasons. The assessment was done in two districts of each zone and totally four districts were assessed. The districts were selected purposively based on potential of crop they cultivate. The major crops cultivated at the area were maize, teff and common bean. During, this assessment was done each crop was infested by insects and the pests causes high damage on some field. Insects identified from common bean fields, which leads to high yield loss were Striacosta albicosta (cutworm), Epilachna varivestis (ladybird beetle) and Maruca vitrata (pod borer). Cutworm was recorded only from Teltelle, while pod borer was mostly found in all surveyed districts. The Maximum damages percentage of pod borer was observed at Yabello (40%) followed by Teltelle (36%) whereas minimum damage percentage (27.78%) was detected at Bule Hora. On maize 3 major insect species, Spodoptera frugiperda (fall army warm), Aphis fabae (black aphids) and Busseola fusca (stem borer) were detected. Fall army warm was the dominant pest and accounts 50%, 73.7%, and 18.5% damage percentage at Teltelle, Yabello and Abaya districts respectively followed by stem borer. Atherigona hyalinipennis (Shoot fly) was the major pest on tef with infestation levels 23.39%, 19.7%, 30% and 33.64% in Teltelle, Yabello, Bule Hora and Abaya districts respectively.
