The eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB) is a devastating pest of eggplants (Solanum aethiopicum L. and Solanum melongena L.) in Ghana, causing significant economic losses. Although initially thought to be the Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee species found in Asia, recent European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization reports suggest its absence in Africa. However, eight Leucinodes species have been recently described in Africa, including two new species, Leucinodes africensis sp. n. and Leucinodes laisalis Walker, which were intercepted in eggplant fruits exported from Ghana to the United Kingdom. Despite the reported absence of L. orbonalis in Africa, it remains on the pest list of Ghana as a species known to attack eggplants. To accurately determine the identity of the EFSB complex occurring on eggplant in Southern Ghana, molecular and morphological taxonomic tools were employed, and adult male populations were monitored in on-farm conditions. Our results revealed the presence of two EFSB species, L. africensis and L. laisalis, in the shoot and fruits of eggplants, with L. africensis being the dominant species and widely distributed in Southern Ghana. Notably, L. africensis males were attracted to the pheromone lure of L. orbonalis despite the two species being biologically distinct. This study provides crucial information on correctly identifying the EFSB species attacking eggplants in Southern Ghana and has significant implications for developing management interventions against these pests and their effects on international eggplant trade.

中文翻译：

---

加纳南部农田中首次报告非洲亮氨酸和莱萨利亮氨酸对埃塞俄比亚茄和墨西哥茄的影响

茄子果蛀虫（EFSB）是一种毁灭性的茄子害虫（埃塞俄比亚茄土地茄子L.）在加纳造成重大经济损失。虽然一开始以为是亮氨酸在亚洲发现的 Guenee 物种，最近欧洲和地中海植物保护组织的报告表明非洲不存在这种物种。然而，八亮氨酸最近在非洲描述了一些物种，其中包括两个新物种，非洲亮氨酸sp。名词和莱萨亮氨酸Walker，在从加纳出口到英国的茄子水果中被截获。尽管有报道称没有奥博纳利斯在非洲，它仍然作为一种攻击茄子的物种而被列入加纳的害虫名单上。为了准确确定加纳南部茄子上出现的 EFSB 复合体的身份，采用了分子和形态分类工具，并在农场条件下对成年雄性种群进行了监测。我们的结果揭示了两种 EFSB 物种的存在，非洲乳杆菌和莱萨利斯，在茄子的芽和果实中，非洲乳杆菌是加纳南部的优势种并广泛分布。尤其，非洲乳杆菌雄性被信息素的诱惑所吸引奥博纳利斯尽管这两个物种在生物学上是不同的。这项研究提供了正确识别攻击加纳南部茄子的 EFSB 物种的重要信息，对于制定针对这些害虫的管理干预措施及其对国际茄子贸易的影响具有重要意义。