Pest Of Mango Research Articles

Developing a Systems Approach for Sternochetus mangiferae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in South Africa

Sternochetus mangiferae (F.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a quarantine pest of mango, Mangifera indica L., in South Africa. The aim of the study was to test cultural and chemical control measures in a systems approach for risk mitigation of S. mangiferae in South Africa. A large-scale experiment, using a randomized block design with three replicates, was undertaken on 'Tommy Atkins' mangoes in South Africa. Five treatment combinations were applied over two seasons: (1) untreated control; (2) sanitation and physical removal of egg-infested fruit (P+S); (3) thiamethoxam, P+S; (4) thiamethoxam, fipronil, P+S; and 5) thiamethoxam, two fenthion applications, P+S. A weekly random sample of eight fruit from 40 trees per orchard was taken from 5 wk to harvest over two harvest periods. In total, 57,600 fruit were sampled. In a separate experiment, the same variety was used to test the efficacy of covering fruit with paper bags over one season in a completely randomized design. In both trials, all the pests were recorded from internal and external fruit inspections. In trial 1, results after the first season showed >98% control in the three chemical combination treatments. In the second season, treatment 2 provided 19% and treatment 3 99.9% control, whereas no fruit were infested with S. mangiferae in treatments 4 and 5. Trial two showed that fruit bagging significantly reduced S. mangiferae infestation. The data showed that a systems approach for S. mangiferae control in South Africa can be effective and that bagging can be an effective organic control option.

Impact of meteorological parameters on population dynamics of mango hopper in high rainfall zone of Konkan region

Mango hopper is the important serious pest of mango in all over parts of Konkan region causing loss to the extent of 60%. The population dynamics of mango hopper for four consecutive years (2005 to 2008) as well as the average population were correlated with the weather parameters like maximum and minimum temperature and afternoon relative humidity. The results revealed that all the three weather parameters viz., maximum temperature (r=-0.525*), minimum temperature (r=-0.561**) and afternoon relative humidity (r=-0.556*) had a significant negative correlation with the average population of mango hopper. Hopper population was started from 42nd Std. Meteorological Week (SMW) and attained peak value during 2nd MW and decreased thereafter upto 9th SMW.

Evidence for Competitive Displacement of <I>Ceratitis cosyra</I> by the Invasive Fruit Fly <I>Bactrocera invadens</I> (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Mango and Mechanisms Contributing to the Displacement

Bactrocera invadens Drew, Tsuruta & White (Diptera: Tephritidae) invaded Kenya in 2003. Before the arrival of B. invadens, the indigenous fruit fly species Ceratitis cosyra (Walker) was the predominant fruit fly pest of mango (Mangifera indica L.). Within 4 yr of invasion, B. invadens has displaced C. cosyra and has become the predominant fruit fly pest of mango, constituting 98 and 88% of the total population in traps and mango fruit at Nguruman, respectively. We tested two possible mechanisms responsible for the displacement namely; resource competition by larvae within mango fruit and aggression between adult flies. Under interspecific competition, larval duration in B. invadens was significantly shorter (6.2 +/- 0.6-7.3 +/- 0.3 d) compared with C. cosyra (8.0 +/- 1.2-9.4 +/- 0.4 d). Pupal mass in C. cosyra was affected by competition and was significantly reduced (7.4 +/- 0.3-9.6 +/- 0.6 mg) under competitive interaction compared with the controls (12.1 +/- 1.5-12.8 +/- 1.1 mg). Interspecific competition also had a significant adverse effect on C. cosyra eclosion, with fewer adults emerging under co-infestation compared with the controls. Interference competition through aggressive behavior showed that fewer C. cosyra (3.1 +/- 0.8) landed on mango dome compared with the controls (14.2 +/- 1.5) when adults were mixed with B. invadens adults in Plexiglas cages. Similarly the number of times C. cosyra was observed ovipositing was significantly lower (0.2 +/- 0.2) under competitive interaction compared with the controls (6.1 +/- 1.8). Aggressive encounters in the form of lunging/ head-butting and chasing off other species from the mango dome was higher for B. invadens compared with C. cosyra. Our results suggest that exploitative competition through larval scrambling for resources and interference competition through aggressive behaviors of the invader are important mechanisms contributing to the displacement of C. cosyra by B. invadens in mango agroecosystems.

The dimpling bug, Campylomma austrina Malipatil (Hemiptera: Miridae): the damage and its relationship with ants in mango orchards in the Northern Territory of Australia

The dimpling bug, Campylomma austrina Malipatil, has been recognised since 2002 as a serious mango pest in the Northern Territory, Australia. To fully understand the damage the bug causes and its relationship with ants, field experiments were conducted in five mango orchards in the Darwin area from 2001 to 2003 along with laboratory rearing trials. The latter revealed that the dimpling bug sucked sap mainly from the ovary of the flowers. As the ovary ripened, each puncture resulted in a black pimple on the skin of the marble-sized fruit (<5 mm in diameter). All of the most heavily damaged marble-sized fruits (>10 pimples/fruitlet) dropped from the trees. A field survey and field experiments showed that marble-sized fruit damage levels on trees bearing abundant weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius, were similar to those protected by chemical insecticides, however both suffered less damage than trees bearing fewer or no weaver ants or black ants, Iridomyrmex sp. We propose that the weaver ant is an efficient bio-control agent of the dimpling bug, and to limit the bug damage, high levels of weaver ant populations are required in mango orchards.

Microbial control of arthropod pests of tropical tree fruits

A multitude of insects and mites attack fruit crops throughout the tropics. The traditional method for controlling most of these pests is the application of chemical pesticides. Growing concern on the negative environmental effects has encouraged the development of alternatives. Inundatively and inoculatively applied microbial control agents (virus, bacteria, fungi, and entomopathogenic nematodes) have been developed as alternative control methods of a wide variety of arthropods including tropical fruit pests. The majority of the research and applications in tropical fruit agroecosystems has been conducted in citrus, banana, coconut, and mango. Successful microbial control initiatives of citrus pests and mites have been reported. Microbial control of arthropod pests of banana includes banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (with EPNs and fungi) among others Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) is one of the most important pests of coconut and one of the most successful uses of non-occluded virus for classical biological control. Key pests of mango that have been controlled with microbial control agents include fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) (with EPNs and fungi), and other pests. Also successful is the microbial control of arthropod pests of guava, papaya and pineapple. The challenge towards a broader application of entomopathogens is the development of successful combinations of entomopathogens, predators, and parasitoids along with other interventions to produce effective and sustainable pest management.

Mango Seed Weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae (Fabricius) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

EENY-371, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by Robert E. Woodruff and Thomas R. Fasulo, describes the synonymy, distribution, description, biology, hosts, detection, and management of this potential pest of mangoes in Florida. Includes selected references. This publication has been published as DPI Entomology Circular 93 and is also available on the Featured Creatures Web site by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, May 2006. EENY-371/IN666: Mango Seed Weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae (Fabricius) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (ufl.edu)

Reaction Orders for Thermal Mortality of Third Instars of Mexican Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), is a quarantine pest of several fruit, including citrus, avocados, and mangoes, from extreme southern Texas to Costa Rica. To provide information for modeling heat phytosanitary treatments, third instars were heated with an aluminum heating block between 44 and 50 degrees C for time intervals up to those causing 100% mortality. At 44 and 50 degrees C, 100% mortality was achieved at 100 and 2 min, respectively. Each 2 degrees C increase in temperature resulted in a three-fourths reduction in the amount of time required to achieve 100% mortality. Mortality was modeled using thermal death kinetics, and the most suitable reaction order was the 0.5th. The thermal death activation energy was 560.7 kJ/mol, which is very similar to the value found for Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), in a previous study, indicating similar modes of action for heat mortality. However, the Mexican fruit fly had a lower threshold for heat-induced mortality, resulting in less time at all temperatures studied to achieve 100% mortality compared with the Mediterranean fruit fly. This type of information being gathered for fruit flies could lead to the development of generic phytosanitary heat treatments, which are available for other major phytosanitary treatments, such as cold storage, methyl bromide fumigation, and ionizing irradiation.

Bactrocera zonata

<i>Bactrocera zonata</i>

A new species of Anastrepha from Colombia related to Mexican fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Anastrepha manizaliensis Norrbom &amp; Korytkowski, new species, is described from Colombia. It breeds in fruit of Juglans neotropica Diels (Juglandaceae), commonly known in Colombia as “cedro negro”. The new species was previously confused with Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), a major pest of citrus and mango, leading to quarantine problems, but true A. ludens does not occur in Colombia.

Record of Parasitoids of some Scale and Mealybug Pests of Mango from West Bengal, India

A survey of parasitoids of scale and mealybug pests of mango was conducted in Malda district of West Bengal, India during 1999-2000. Chartocerus sp., Azotus sp. and Gyranusoidea tebygi Noyes was recorded on Rastrococcus invadens Williams. On Rastrococcus iceryoides Green, Chartocerus walkeri Hayat, Aproslocetus sp., Promuscidea unfascMtiventris Girault, Anagyrus pseudocacci Girault and Anagyrus mirzai Agarwal and Alam were recorded. Two species of Aprostocetus , Encyrtus sp. and Austroterobia maldica Narendran and Das were recorded on lcerya minor Green. Coccophagus ceropktstae (Howard) and Promuscidea unfascMtiventris were recorded from Pulvinaria polygonata (Cockll.).

Integrated pest management in mango orchards in the Northern Territory Australia, using the weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina , (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as a key element

Mango is the most important commercial fruit crop in the Northern Territory, Australia. Growers currently rely on insecticides to control insect pests of mango, resulting in environmental and social problems. To reduce dependency on insecticides, a suitable IPM programme is needed. Previous work showed that weaver ants can control the major mango insect pests, but they protect soft scales, damage fruits by their formic acid and annoy operatives during fruit harvest. Further research addressing these constraints showed that certain chemicals can reduce soft scale numbers without seriously affecting weaver ant populations, the isolation of ant colonies reduces fruit damage by formic acid, and water spray reduces the ant activity during harvest. A field experiment with two treatments, weaver ants plus soft chemicals (WPS) and weaver ants plus chemical insecticides (CI), was conducted at Howard Springs in the Northern Territory. In two out of the three years, the yield of first class fruit was 20% higher in WPS than in CI. This was mostly explained by lower insect pest damage, lower incidence of mango scab disease and lower infestation of lenticels in WPS. Trees in WPS produced significantly more fruits than in CI in 2002. Overall, trees in WPS resulted in a profit of A$14.50/tree per year, but trees in CI produced only A$8.38/tree per year. During harvest, farmers experienced only minor problems with ant disturbance. An IPM model using weaver ants as a key element is discussed with respect to ‘organic’ production.

Effectiveness of insecticides of synthetic, plant and animal origin against the mango stone weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Mango stone weevil (MSW), Sternochetus mangiferae Fabricius, is a widely distributed monophagous pest of mango. Assessment of the potential of non-pesticidal controls has indicated few alternatives to the use of insecticide sprays for control. Field studies were conducted over 3 years to evaluate the efficacy of selected synthetic, botanical and animal-origin insecticides in reducing MSW infestation in Alphonso mango. It was found that four synthetic insecticides—deltamethrin, acephate, carbaryl and ethofenprox—obtained levels of infestation of between 3.3% and 14.8% at harvest, in contrast with a level without control of 33.0%. Two biological-origin insecticides—azadirachtin (of plant origin) and fish oil rosin soap (of animal origin)—obtained intermediate levels of control, of 27.4 and 23.0% respectively, which were not significantly superior to no-treatment. In order to assess the reliability of pre-harvest evaluations, to address the risk of harvest data being lost, information was also gathered of infestation of mangoes in early and late seasons prior to harvest. Although the rank-ordering of controls in their performance varied between early season, late-season and harvest assessments, the pre-harvest assessments reflected the superior control by synthetic insecticides to that by agents of natural origin.

Biology, rearing and field release on Guam of Euplectrus maternus, a parasitoid of the fruit-piercing moth, Eudocima fullonia

The eulophid parasitoid, Euplectrus maternus, is a gregarious ectoparasitoid of the larvae of thefruit-piercing moth, Eudocima (Othreis) fullonia. This parasitoid is indigenous to India and was released into Guam in 1998–99 to aid in the biological control of E. fullonia, an important pest of ripeguava, banana, mango, pomegranate, litchi,papaya, tomato, orange and other fruit crops.In the laboratory, biology and rearing of E. maternus on the larvae of E. fulloniawere studied. In no-choice tests, ovipositionby E. maternus was significantly greateron first and second instar larvae than on thirdinstar larvae. However, in free-choice tests,oviposition by E. maternus wassignificantly greater on second instar larvae,followed by first and third instar larvae. Thisparasitoid did not lay eggs on later instars,either in no-choice or free-choice tests.Females laid a significantly greater number ofeggs (>80%) on the dorsal surface of thelarvae than on either lateral or ventralsurfaces (1 to 8%). In general, more eggs werelaid on abdominal segments 1–3 on larvalinstars one to three. The survival of theimmature stages (from egg to adult) of E. maternus on second instar E. fullonialarvae was 61%, which was significantlygreater than the survival rates on first andthird instar larvae (32% and 26%), indicatingthat second instar host larvae are ideal formass rearing of the parasitoid. Mated femaleE. maternus continuously laid eggs on thesecond instar larvae of E. fullonia forup to 30 days, but the greatest number of eggswere laid during the first week after exposure.When E. maternus laid more than two eggson host larva, more female progeny wereproduced, indicating female-biasedreproduction. Adult parasitoids lived longerwhen fed with a honey: water (50% w/v)solution than with pure honey. Similarly, thefecundity of females increased significantlywhen fed with the honey-water solution whencompared to feeding with pure honey. To date,E. maternus has not established in Guam.

The weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), an effective biological control agent of the red-banded thrips, Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in mango crops in the Northern Territory of Australia

Weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius), have been successfully used to control the main insect pests of cashew plantations in northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. The red-banded thrips, Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard), is an economically important insect pest of mango, Mangifera indica L., orchards in the Northern Territory. This work was undertaken to evaluate whether weaver ants, which are abundant in mango orchards, have the potential to control the red-banded thrips. Field surveys, field experiments and laboratory trials were carried out in four mango orchards in the Darwin area over four years. In field surveys, the number of shoots damaged by the thrips was significantly lower on trees with abundant weaver ants (2.8%) than with fewer ants (21.1%), or without the ants (30.3%). Trees with abundant weaver ants also produced the highest numbers of flower panicles. Leaf examinations revealed that newly mature leaves on trees with abundant weaver ants had significantly fewer thrips than on trees with fewer or no ants. Field experiments showed that weaver ants were as effective as chemical insecticides in limiting fruit damage by thrips. In laboratory trials, seedlings without weaver ants were heavily damaged, and lost all their leaves within six weeks, while seedlings with weaver ants grew well and lost no leaves. This work suggests that the weaver ant is an effective biological control agent of the red-banded thrips, and the use of weaver ants in mango orchards is discussed.

MANGO INDUSTRY IN BRAZIL

Brazil has favorable climate and soil for mango growth and production. It is the major mango producing country in South America with cultivated area around 67,6 thousand hectares and production of 970 thousand tones. Northeast Region is the most important producing area, representing 60% of the total cultivated area and 50% of the mango production. Brazil exported 94,2 thousand tons of mango in 2001, which represents a value of 60,8 millions of dollars. Europe and North America, especially USA, are the major Brazilian mango importers. Cultivated area is around 79% concentrated on Tommy Atkins cultivar and the remaining area is planted with 'Haden', 'Palmer' and 'Keitt' and some Brazilian varieties, such as 'Espada', 'Rosa', 'Bourbon' and 'Uba'. Fruit fly is the most important mango pest in Brazil. Antracnose, oidium and malformation are the most important pre-harvest diseases, while stem-end rot has been the biggest concern on postharvest disease for mango growers. Other aspects related to mango introduction, dispersion, cultural practices, as well as main research results and market statistics will be also discussed in this paper.

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING TECHNIQUES FOR MANGO PESTS

A good sampling and monitoring program for insects and mites is essential for implementing an integrated pest management program for mango pests. While some progress has been made for individual species, precise and pro-active sampling programs in mango agroecosystems continue to be in their infancy. Mango flowers are attacked by midges, leafhoppers, caterpillars, thrips, as well as mites. A sequential sampling plan for monitoring hopper populations has been developed in India, whereas sampling techniques for the mango blister midge or mango gall midge, Erosomyia mangiferae Felt, and Dasyneura mangiferae (Felt) are unknown. Fruit fly numbers are easily monitored with pheromone traps, although trap catches have not been related to the risk to the crop in different areas.[...]

Economic evaluation of the integrated management of the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) in mango in India

Bactrocera dorsalis is a serious pest of mangoes in India. Between 1985 and 1996 assessments of the effectiveness of a locally recommended IPM package, in comparison with no control, on a susceptible variety were carried out near Bangalore. The IPM package was applied over the 45 days before harvest and comprised (1) weekly removals of fallen fruit, (2) 3-weekly inter-tree ploughing and raking and (3) three fortnightly cover sprays of insecticide. Infestation reductions attributable to the package were between 77% and 100% in different years. Cost-benefit returns were dependent on the level of pest pressure, and in years of low pressure the package may not recover its costs, necessitating a threshold approach.

Socio-economic impact of biological control of mango mealybug in Benin

Mango mealybug, an exotic pest of mango, was first observed in Benin in 1986. In a biological control programme, natural enemies were successfully released in the following years. The present study is the first attempt to measure the impact of the biological control of mango mealybug over a large area, through a survey of mango producers. Most producers attributed the observed improvement of mango production to the success of biological control. Based on production estimates by producers, the negative impact of the pest on plant production and the positive impact of the introduced natural enemy were demonstrated. Interviewed mango producers gained on average US$ 328 per year by the biological control programme. Extrapolated to all producers of Benin, a yearly gain of US$ 50 million in mango production can be estimated. The present value of accrued benefits is estimated at US$ 531 million over a period of 20 years. The total cost of the biological control of mango mealybug is estimated at US$ 3.66 million, which includes initial costs in other African countries and the introduction of the natural enemy from India, resulting in a benefit–cost ratio of 145:1 for benefits in Benin alone.

Development and reproduction of Oligonychus coffeae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on tea

The red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae, has been known as an important pest of tea, coffee, mango, cotton and jute in the tropical and subtropical regions. Ehara et al. (1997) reported that O. coffeae infests mango plants grown on Okinawa Island, which was the first record of this species identified in Japan. This paper reports the developmental and reproductive traits of a population collected from tea on Okinawa Island. The developmental time declined as temperatures increased from 15-32°C. The threshold temperature for development and the total effective temperature for the egg-to-egg period were 10°C and 232.6 degree-days, respectively. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) was 0.186 at 25°C, which is close to the value for Tetranychus kanzawai, another serious pest of tea plants, when reared on tea.

Farmers' knowledge, perceptions and practices in mango pest management in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

A survey of mango farmers' knowledge, perceptions and practices in pest management was conducted during the dry season of 1998 in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Identification and control of pests was often based on damage symptoms, rather than on recording of causal agents. Damage caused by the seed-borer Deanolis albizonalis (Hampson) was often wrongly attributed to the fruit flies Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel. Nearly all farmers applied calendar sprays of insecticides (97%) and fungicides (79%) from pre-flowering until harvest, with on average 13.4 and 11.6 applications per year, respectively. Pyrethroids were most popular (57%), followed by organophosphates (25%) and carbamates (15%). Around 20% of the insecticides used belonged to WHO Toxicity Class I, while the rest nearly all belonged to Class II. Half of all the target sprays were done with three pyrethroid products only. Farmers' estimated yield loss due to insect pests was strongly correlated to estimated pest severity. Due to pesticide sellers' recommendations, farmer's sprayload significantly increased from 26 to 37 sprays per year, whereas the number of insecticide products used per farmer increased from 2.6 to 3.9 with advice fromextension staff and media. Expenditure for pesticides was correlated with that of fertilizers. There was no relationship between the amount of pesticides sprayed and yield. On-farm research is needed to evaluate whether significant savings can be obtained given a more judicious use of pesticides. Only 10% of the 93 participating farmers knew about natural enemies, all of which were predators.