Abstract

Since its first appearance in Côte d'Ivoire in 2021, the jassid (Amrasca biguttula) has become a serious threat to food security and the national economy. The need to develop effective control strategies against this pest led to an inventory of jassid species and a comparative assessment of their abundance and the severity of the damage caused to okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and roselle (Hibiscus saddariffa) crops at the Bouaké Research Station. To achieve this, a Fisher block experimental design comprising three crops and three replicates was established. For the inventory, jassids were collected at different phenological stages using a mouth aspirator and were stored dry in vials with naphthalene. To estimate the abundance and severity of jassid damage, observations were made on twelve plants per plot, with jassids counting early in the morning on three leaves per plant and the severity of damage assessed using a standardized damage rating scale. Laboratory observations under a trinocular microscope revealed only one jassid species (Amrasca biguttula) on the three crops. The lowest numbers of jassids per plant and the lowest damage severity indices were recorded on roselle, indicating that it is the least attractive crop for jassids. In contrast, the highest numbers of jassids per plant and the highest damage severity indices were observed on okra. These results provide preliminary data that should be considered when developing control strategies for the sustainable management of this pest.