Abstract
Cordia africana is a highly-valued timber tree species that is quite dominant in riparian habitat, native to several countries in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is mainly propagated by pyrene, which is found to be attacked by an unidentified seed borer insect. The main objective of this study was to investigate the cause of pyrene deterioration of C. africana in Ethiopia. Drupes were collected from nine study locations. Paradecatoma bannensis has emerged from de-pulped drupes. The larval and adult stages of this wasp were also found inside crushed drupes. Of the pyrenes having no exit hole, 20.8% were noticed with the presence of dead and alive larvae and adults of the insect when examined after crushing. Percentages of infestation varied between the sites (nil to 17.5%). The float-and-sink test method that used to sort out infested against sound pyrenes were found not applicable in our trial for the reason that both pyrenes were found sunk. This wasp was reported for the first time on the pyrenes/drupes of C. africana in Ethiopia. Therefore, future studies need to address the biology and distribution of P. bannensis on C. africana in order to provide management options.