EVALUATION DE LA FAUNE ENTOMOLOGIQUE ASSOCIEE A BALANITES AEGYPTIACA (L.) DEL. DANS LE SUD-OUEST DU NIGER

Balanites aegyptiaca (Desert date) is one of the pioneer agro-forestry species in the Sahel.The different parts of the tree are used in human and animal food, and the fruits are an important source of revenue for the rural population. This study aims at reducing the research data gapon in the entomofauna associated with B. aegyptiaca in countries like Niger. Tree and fruits samples were taken in the rural area of SansaneHaoussa in the South- western part of Niger to inventory insect species present and assess the level of damage. The germination potential of attacked fruits was also assessed. The plant is attacked by various insect pests belonging mainly to the orders of Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera with a predominance of the first. However the most dangerous ones are the species which cause damage to the fruits, including Ephestiakuehniella Zeller, 1879 (Lepidopèra Pyralidae) which perforates the fruits and damages the grains hindering the germination of seeds of B. aegyptiaca.