INSECT DIVERSITY OF COCOA (THEOBROMA CACAO L.) BEANS STOCKS FROM HAUTSASSANDRA REGION AND THEIR IMPACTS (DALOA, COTE DIVOIRE)

Cocoa storage is a potential opportunity for insect infestation. The objective of this study was to identify insects and assess their damage to stored cocoa beans from the Haut-Sassandra region. To do this, 3 samples of 3 Kg of cocoa beans were collected per locality. These samples were stored for 30 days in jute bags. After this month of storage, each sample was sieved every 15 days in a muslin observation cage for 120 days. The living or dead adults collected in each lot were observed with a binocular magnifying glass, counted and identified using manuals. The livings are returned to the batches from which they were removed. For the estimation of the damage, three samples of 1 kg cocoa beans without holes were made and followed for 120 days. Counting after sieving revealed the presence of 876 individuals divided into 2 orders, 10 families and 12 species. The most abundant species was Ahasverusadvena (24.89%) followed by Triboliumcastaneum with 18.38% presence. The estimated damage caused by insects to cocoa beans was 26.88% at the 120th day of storage.