Ecological Modelling, 44 (1989) 275-298 275 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam - Printed in The Netherlands RAGHUVA: A COMPUTER SIMULATION OF RA GHUVA ALBIPUNCTELLA POPULATION DYNAMICS, AND PENNISETUM AMERICANUM AND P. TYPHOIDES PHENOLOGY M. BERNARDI * FA O-IPM Project, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Niamey (Niger) J.W. MISHOE and J.W. JONES Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Florida, Fraziers Rogers Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611 (U.S.A.) (Accepted 25 July 1988) ABSTRACT Bernardi, M., Mishoe, J.W. and Jones, J.W., 1989. RAGHUVA: a computer simulation of Raghuoa albipunctella population dynamics, and Pennisetum americanum and P. typhoides phenology. Ecol. Modelling, 44: 275-298. A millet-head caterpillar, Raghuva albipunctella de Joannis, population dynamics model (RAGHUVA) was developed for use in a pest management program in the Sahelian zone of Africa. RAGHUVA simulates the biological stages of the most important millet pest as well as the phenology of the host plants (Pennisetum americanum L., Pennisetum typhoides S. & H.). Many parameters can be changed to forecast the emergence of adults in different places and the coincidence with millet heading. Because drought and soil water availability controls the appearance of this pest, emphasis is given to the modeling of water stress. INTRODUCTION In the Sahel region of Africa much of the agricultural production in in the rain forest zone with a climate dominated by cyclic wet and dry periods each year. Crops are planted with the first rains and their survival is dependent upon the rainfall being timely and sufficient to maintain soil moisture adequate for plant growth. Various insects attack these crops often resulting in severe crop yield losses. The Sahelian Integrated Pest Management * Present address: Early Warning Project for Food Security, c/o FAO, P.O. Box 3730, Harare, Zimbabwe. 0304-3800/89/$03.50 © 1989 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.