Economic injury level for sugarcane caused by the spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål) (Hemiptera:Cercopidae)

Abstract

The sugarcane spittlebug, Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål), is currently one of the most important pests of the sugarcane crop in Brazil. In spite of its economic importance, advances in the management of this pest have been limited by the lack of information on the economic injury level. In this study, the economic injury level for M. fimbriolata was estimated in a field experiment, over areas harvested in September, applying thiamethoxam at 200 g a.i. ha -1 or imidacloprid at 720 g a.i. ha -1 . In one of the experiments, insecticide applications were made at pest infestation values of 4.2 (11/12/04), 7.1 (01/11/05), or 16.3 (01/18/05) insects m -1 , and in experiment 2 when pest populations were 5.6 (11/12/04), 8.5 (01/11/05), or 15.3 (01/11/05) insects m -1 . Control plots without insecticide were maintained. After the applications, spittlebug infestations were estimated monthly, and the experiments were harvested in September 2005. Spittlebug control with the application of insecticides resulted in stalk and sugar yield increases in relation to the control, for both experiments. Applications performed under smaller infestations resulted in higher yields than applications made under higher populations. There were no differences between insecticides in one of the experiments; in the other, however, thiamethoxan contributed to greater yield increases than imidacloprid. Insecticide applications made under lower infestations resulted in greater profits. Regression analyses allowed the estimation of the pest economic injury level to be between 2 to 3 insects m -1 for the conditions of this experiment.

Damages of spittlebug on sugarcane quality and fermentation process

“…Dinardo-Miranda et al (2008) found that a delayed harvest of sugarcane infested by M. fimbriolata would originate a reduction in production (t ha -1 cane) with a consequent reduction of apparent sucrose (pol ha -1 ) in the raw material delivered to the industry. pH values in sugarcane from the treatments with the highest percentages of damage were close to 5.0, indicating deterioration, since deteriorated sugarcane normally presents pH values lower than 5.0 (Stupiello, 1999).…”

Resistance mechanisms of sugarcane cultivars to spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata

“…Recent studies have been conducted to estimate the economic injury level (Dinardo-Miranda and Gil, 2007;Dinardo-Miranda et al, 2008), to determine the temporal and spatial distribution of the pest in sugarcane fields and to evaluate the efficacy of chemical and biological insecticides (Dinardo-Miranda et al, 2002; or cultural practices against the pest (Dinardo-Miranda and Fracasso, 2013). However, information on resistance of sugarcane cultivars to M. fimbriolata is very limited.…”

Control of Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stl) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) with entomopathogenic fungus and insecticides using two sampling methods on sugarcane fields

“…to translocate the nitrogen of the parasitized insect to the plants (Behie et al, 2012). Besides, plant age can also influence the sugarcane productivity (Dinardo-Miranda et al, 2008). Thus, the plants at a more advanced developmental stage may show a higher TRS yield.…”

“…Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål, 1854) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) is one of the major pests in sugarcane fields of Brazil (Dinardo-Miranda et al, 2008;Tiago et al, 2012;Garcia et al, 2011). Nymphs and adults of M. fimbriolata can cause injuries in sugarcane plants compromising the productivity and quality of this crop (Dinardo-Miranda et al, 2004a, b;Madaleno et al, 2008;Carvalho et al, 2011;Korndörfer et al, 2011).…”