Advances in the Knowledge of Quinoa Pests

Abstract

A wide range of quinoa pests are known throughout the world. The most serious of the Andean pests are Eurysacca melanocampta (Meyrick) and E. quinoae Povolný (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), found mainly in Peru and Bolivia, which cause considerable yield losses. Insects found elsewhere in the world are polyphagous pests constituting a wide range of potential pests if quinoa is implemented as a crop in those regions. Other major pests include a group of cutworms (Noctuidae). Apart from insects birds cause a major loss through foraging, damaging cotyledonous plants and inflorescences, with yield losses of up to 60%.Cultural practices and host plant resistances will be important components of integrated pest management (IPM). Biological control of the main pests is good; for example, up to 45% of Eurysacca melanocampta in the field are usually controlled by a range of parasitoid species as well as predators in the field.Future research should focus on the main pests in order to reveal basic information on interactions with the host plant. Population carryover from one growth season to another and the role of environmental factors on insect development and population size should also be studied.

Preference of Quinoa Moth: Eurysacca Melanocampta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) for Two Varieties of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) in Olfactometry Assays

“…Amarilla de Marangani). Although the quinoa moth is not considered as an insect specific to the quinoa cultivar, this cultivar is the main plant host of this insect species (Rasmussen et al, 2003). E. melanocampta completes its biological cycle on quinoa plants and is registered as the main pest, with a close interaction between plant and insect that allows the adult E. melanocampta to rapidly identify the odour source of quinoa plants.…”

“…The moth Eurysacca melanocampta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is the main pest in the cultivation of quinoa in the Andes in southern Peru (Delgado, 1989;Ormachea and Quispe, 1993;Rasmussen et al, 2000;Sequeiros, 2001;Rasmussen et al, 2003). The females lay their eggs on the leaves in the pre-flowering state when the grains are already developed (J.F.…”

“…Costa, personal observation). The larvae of the first stages feed on the leaves and subsequently on the developing and mature grains (Ortíz, 1991;Ochoa, 1996;Melo, 2001;Rasmussen et al, 2003). Mating occurs over quinoa plants or over plants nearby (J.F.…”

Herpetogramma bipunctalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) biology and techniques for rearing on leaves of the blackberry (Rubus spp., Rosaceae)

“…In Bolivia and Peru, H. bipunctalis is a pest of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (Amaranthaceae) (Rasmussen et al, 2003). In Uruguay, Biezanko et al (1974) reported the presence of H. bipunctalis on other species of the family Amaranthaceae, such as Atriplex hortensis L. and Chenopodium ambrosioides L., as well as on B. vulgaris.…”

Organic Production of Cash Cereals and Pseudocereals

“…But several species of cosmopolitan polyphagos pests (e.g., Agrotis ipsilon Hufnagel, Lepidoptera: nuctuidae) may cause economic losses. Some of widespread pests endemic to the Andean region may cause up to 50% loss of yield in quinoa, especially two species of moths (Eursacca quinoae Povolyny, E. melanocampta Meyrick) [52]. Emerging plants may also be damaged by flea beatles and caterpillars.…”