Trapping the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus, Germar: a mathematical perspective
Date
2019-08
Authors
Kweyunga Eliab Horub
Tumwiine, Julius
Karamura, Eldad
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
A logistic equation incorporating trapping is formulated and parameterized to
represent the population dynamics of the banana weevil, Cosmopolites Sordidus,
(Germar). The steady states are obtained and their asymptotic stability established.
The expression for the critical intrinsic growth rate is derived and its implications
analyzed. The existence of possible bifurcations is investigated. It is found out that
instability increases with the intrinsic growth rate and that as the intrinsic growth rate
approaches the critical value, a mathematical catastrophe occurs at which the equilibria
annihilate each other and coalesce into one. Numerical simulations are carried out to
validate the results.
Description
Paper presented at the 5th Strathmore International Mathematics Conference (SIMC 2019), 12 - 16 August 2019, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
Keywords
Asymptotic stability, Banana weevil, Bifurcation, Catastrophe theory