First report of Hypsipyla grandella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on African mahogany Khaya ivorensis

Ronald Zanetti,Stephannie Hellinet Prado Silveira,Eliana Donizete Andrade,Caroline Silva Abreu

doi:10.1590/1678-992x-2016-0362

Ronald Zanetti, Stephannie Hellinet Prado Silveira + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-992x-2016-0362

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Journal: Scientia Agricola	Publication Date: Dec 1, 2017
Citations: 8	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Universidade Federal de Lavras

Abstract

The mahogany shoot borer Hypsipyla grandella Zeller is an important economic pest in all American tropical forests, because it prevents monoculture of valuable timber trees species like mahogany and cedar. The shoot borer damages several tree structures, especially the apical shoots, impairing the formation of the commercial stem. This pest can attack the plants during the year and one larva per plant is enough to cause significant damage. In infested areas, the attack can reach up to 100 % of the trees. The Australian cedar and African mahogany have been cultivated in Brazil for timber production, because they are considered resistant to H. grandella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) attack. However, in this work we report for the first time the H. grandella attack to African mahogany Khaya ivorensis.

Highlights

The forest species of Meliaceae family, native to Tropical America, is largely explored due to the high commercial value of its timber
The Australian cedar and African mahogany have been cultivated in Brazil for timber production, because they are considered resistant to H. grandella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) attack
In this work we report for the first time the H. grandella attack to African mahogany Khaya ivorensis

Summary

Introduction

The forest species of Meliaceae family, native to Tropical America, is largely explored due to the high commercial value of its timber. Mahogany monoculture, along with other American Meliaceae, is impaired due to mahogany shoot borer Hypsipyla grandella (Zeller) attack (Lunz et al, 2009; Paul and Weber, 2013) This shoot borer is a Lepidopteran that co-evolved with some Meliaceae species. Mahogany shoot borer occurs in South America (except Chile), Central America and South Florida and it follows the Meliaceae distribution pattern of which they feed (Griffiths, 2001; Horak, 2000) This borer may attack several plant structures and its main damage involves the perforation of young branches, especially the apical shoot, causing tree bifurcation, significantly reducing the economic value of the timber.

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