The Exploration of Indigenous Knowledge on Management of Magonono in Enhancing the Production of Crops in Thulamela Municipality

Abstract

Many flowering and fruit bearing plants are attacked by Magonono which feed mainly on flowers, with almost all flowering plants coming under attack, including roses and hibiscus as well as the flowers of vegetables like sunflower, sorghum, sweet potatoes, mangoes, beans, apples, pumpkin, alfalfa, beet, potato and tomato. Rose blooms can be partially or completely destroyed. Magonono also feed on the blossoms and fruit of stone-fruit and citrus and the aerial parts of green beans, especially the flowers, again causing considerable damage. At times, they cause lesions on fruit such as peaches as well as tomatoes when they are ripening, and sometimes the complete fruit is eaten. High numbers of Magonono can easily destroy a crop or reduce yields. Magonono can also cause lesions to fruit making it unmarketable. Special attention should be given to crops during flowering stage because it determines and affects the yield of the crop. During reproductive stages, there are lots of insects that linger around the beans because they are attracted by the flowers. Categories of these insects are pollinators such as bees and pests that feed on these flowers resulting to reduced production of the dry beans. Magonono are often known for their gregarious behaviour when attacking crops which can be catastrophic (Helm, 1992).