THE IMPACT OF VITERLLARIA PARADOXA GAERTN, SHEA TREES’, DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY ON DEPLETION OF CIRINA FORDA WESTWOOD (LEPIDOPTERA: SATURNIIDAE) LARVAE IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The larvae of pallid emperor moth (Cirina forda) are edible. They are found in Niger State and are rare. This was investigated for three cropping seasons to determine the impact of the sole host trees, the Shea trees,(Viterllaria paradoxa) on larval distribution and abundance in Niger State, Nigeria. Evaluation was conducted on ten trees per 22 locations three local government areas. The occurrence of larvae of C. forda was evaluated by visual count of 3rd and 4th instars on ten randomly selected trees using hand lenses and binoculars. Simple descriptive statistics was used and results were expressed as Mean and percentages of number of larvae/tree/locations. The intensity of larval occurrence at various tree canopy heights ranged from 0 – 5.0, 5.1 - 10and 10.1 - 30 and >30 meters were noted while f-test ANOVA was to compare the p-value. The result gave precise locations of the larvae in3 local government areas in the three cropping seasons. The larvae across the sites in the state were not significantly different (p>0.05).Decreasing densities of Shea trees due to agricultural farming systems and deforestation possess a serious threat to host tree and larvae of C.forda. If C. forda is to be saved from extinction, indiscriminate removal of sole host trees must be curtailed.