Unknown
Namibian crop pests  #  98

unknown Order:  Family: 

During a field day at Ondobe ARDC, Ohangwena region, sweet potato tubers showed damage symptoms on the skin. The symptoms are quite different from the sweet potato weevil which penetrates much deeper and also attacks the stems. (We have not yet found sweet potato weevils in northern Namibia). It is more likely that the damage is done by some soil living larvae. 
 


Damaged sweet potato tuber

Tuber peeled to show the superficial damage

 

Common names: 

No vernacular names were recorded. 

Pest status:

The pest status is unknown. 

Distribution:

Unknown

Description:

Dark lesions on sweet potato tubers. The damage is rather superficial and only penetrates a few mm. When the tuber is peeled the remaining part is still edible.

Control:

No control is recommended until the pest is identified

Other notes:

Most tubers can still be eaten but the tubers cannot be sold at the market. Sweet potato is mainly grown as a cash crop and this damage is therefore important for the farmers.



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