Knowledge of insects’ damage to Agroforestry species is prerequisite prior to promotion of domestication of the species. The study was conducted to assess foliage insect pests in 21 Sclerocarya birrea provenances. Assessment parameters included tolerance levels, tree canopy position of attack, mode of leaf defoliation and type of insect pests responsible for the damage. The results revealed that highly tolerant provenances to leaf defoliation included Kalanga, Magunde, Moamba, and Marracuene. Highly susceptible provenances comprised of Chikwawa, Rumphi, Ntcheu, Missira and Mangochi. Highly significant (P < 0.001) variations existed in tree damage basing on crown position. The top canopy was the most affected followed by the middle and bottom canopies. Leaf damage was found to be significantly (X² = 4.989, P = 0.026) associated with fruit production, and leaf damaged trees were found to produce three times (Odds Ratio = 3.2) less fruits compared to undamaged tree leaves. The most dominate form of leaf damage was defoliation (43%), followed by skeletonizing (18%). The least leaf damage trees were 37%. Leaf defoliators comprised of two orders namely Coleoptera (beetle) and Lepidoptera (caterpillar). Ceratitis (Pterandrus) capitata (fruit flies) were the most destructive to mature fruits. Although not the primary objective of the study, Ceratitis (Pterandrus) capitata (fruit flies) was identified as the major pest of Marula fruits. Future provenance or progeny trials should be replicated across different ecological areas in order to assess genotype-by-environment interaction effects resulting from differences in leaf flushing period.

在促进该物种的驯化之前，必须先了解昆虫对农林业物种的损害。进行该研究以评估21个Sclerocarya birrea种源中的树叶害虫。评估参数包括耐受水平，树冠的侵袭位置，叶片的落叶方式和造成损害的害虫类型。结果表明，叶片脱叶的高耐受性来源包括Kalanga，Magunde，Moamba和Marracuene。高度易感的种源包括Chikwawa，Rumphi，Ntcheu，Missira和Mangochi。高度显着（P <0.001）基于树冠位置的树木损害中存在变化。顶盖受影响最大，其次是中顶盖。发现叶片受损与果实生产显着相关（X ²  = 4.989，P  = 0.026），并且叶片受损的树木与未损坏的树木相比，果实产量减少了三倍（几率= 3.2）。叶片损坏的最主要形式是脱叶（43％），其次是脱叶（18％）。最小的叶片伤害树为37％。叶片脱叶器由两个目组成，即鞘翅目（甲虫）和鳞翅目（毛虫）。角膜炎（Pterandrus）capitata（果蝇）对成熟水果的破坏力最大。虽然不是研究的主要目的，实蝇（Pterandrus）结球甘蓝（果蝇）被确定为漆树果仁水果的主要害虫。未来的出处或后代试验应在不同的生态区域中重复进行，以评估因潮红期不同而导致的基因型与环境之间的相互作用。