Integrated pest management (IPM) is difficult to implement when one knows little
about the pest complex or species causing the damage in an agricultural system.
To implement IPM on Sub-Saharan African melolonthine pests access to taxon
specific knowledge (their identity) and what is known (their biology) of
potential pest species is a crucial step. What is known about Sub-Saharan
African melolonthine white grubs and chafers has not yet been amalgamated, and
this review thus synthesizes all available literature for the Region. The
comprehensive nature of the review highlights pest taxon trends within African
melolonthines. To facilitate the retrieval of this information for IPM purposes,
all relevant taxonomic and biological information is provided for the taxa
covered including an on-line supplementary annotated-checklist of taxon, crop,
locality and reference(s). Based on the literature reviewed, recommendations are
made to promote effective and efficient management of African melolonthine
scarab pests. An on-line supplementary appendix provides a list of specialists,
useful internet resources, keys, catalogues and sampling methods for the larvae
and adults of melolonthine scarab beetles for subsequent morphological or
molecular work.