Azamora penicillana occurrence in sour passion fruit in the state of Minas Gerais

Abstract

Azamora penicillana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is popularly known as exotic passionflower caterpillar, passionflower web, cloak or pouch. It is considered an emergent pest of passion fruit crop due to damages caused to the plant and management difficulties related to insect habit. This species is recorded for the first time infesting passion fruit in the state of Minas Gerais attacking leaves, fruits and branches. Pest attacks have been widely reported throughout the orchard.

First record and economic losses of the passionflower caterpillar in two biomes from Brazil

“…The caterpillar of passion Azamora penicillana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), attack leaves of passion (Santos and Costa, 1983) and fruits (Pirovani et al, 2020). However, A. penicilliana damage in different biomes has not yet been studied because these studies are restricting to one municipally, evaluating just one area and not evaluated economic losses.…”