Guava borer worm (Lepidoptera: Cossidae), a limiting pest in guava: biology, lifecycle and management alternatives

Abstract

In 2006, a new limiting pest in guava was reported in the provincia de Vélez , Santander, Colombia, known as the borer worm. There is no knowledge of the biology of this pest so far. The aim of this study, conducted between May 2013 and December 2014, was to establish the taxonomy, lifecycle, damage (distribution, incidence, and severity), and control alternatives of this new limiting pest in guava, as input for an integrated management program. Results showed that this pest corresponds to Simplicivalva ampliophilobia (Davis et al., 2008). The life cycle in the field lasts 330–360 days, with one generation per year (univoltine): egg, 15–30 days; larva, 270 days; prepupa, 15 days; pupa, 30 days; adult, 15–30 days. Under laboratory conditions the lifecycle lasts 259–266 days, unknown egg state duration; larva, 7–8 instars, 210 days; pupa, 42 days; imago, 7–14 days ( n = 60, α = 5%, 25.4 °C ± 4.93 °C, 55.6% ± 11.58% RH, photoperiod 0: 24). The incidence was 94% in 124 silvopastoral system farms with 7.51 ± 1.69 infested trees compared to 40.74 ± 5.52 observed trees ( n = 4,970). The technified system showed a reduction in the average incidence of 50.83% compared to the silvopastoral guava cropping system. Severity was moderate ( n = 48) in both systems. Morphometric descriptions of eggs, larvae, pupae, and imagos were performed. Damage and associated symptoms occur when larvae remove the conducting tissues of the plant adjacent to the medulla. Crop technification combined with the use of the parasitoid Apanteles sp., and the fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Lecanicillium lecanii represent an alternative control for this pest.

Carmenta theobromae ( ), pest of guava in Colombia: biology, life cycle and natural enemies

“…A sample of 96 eggs was examined, which were isolated and placed in Petri dishes. Morphology, color (Munsell color tables) and size (widthheight) data were recorded using a stereoscope and a microscope with a micrometric 1: 100 mm ratio at 4X and 10X magnification (Pulido-Blanco et al, 2019). The number of hatches and non-viable eggs were checked daily, according to the method of Sarmiento-Naizaque et al (2016).…”

“…The larvae collected (n ¼ 359) were measured using an entomological vernier to register and establish ranges by size (Pulido-Blanco et al, 2019). The intervals were established with a confidence level of 95%, corresponding to insects of small (5.1 AE 0.47 mm in length, α ¼ 0.05, n ¼ 50), medium (10.63 AE 0.31 mm long, α ¼ 0.05, n ¼ 76) and large sizes (14.29 AE 0.25 mm long, α ¼ 0.05, n ¼ 70).…”

“…The pupae (n ¼ 300) collected and obtained in the laboratory were kept in plastic cups containing cotton moistened with sterile water; the containers were sealed with tulle fabric and fastened with elastic bands. Dead pupae were kept in a glass container with a butyl stopper and alcohol at 70% v/v (Pulido-Blanco et al, 2019).…”

“…The adults that emerged in the laboratory were placed in entomological cages in a 5: 5 male to female ratio, 30 pairs in total, accompanied by a drinker, rehydrated guava flour, cotton impregnated with 10% sugar solution, another cotton impregnated with honey water at 10%, and 2 g of multiflora pollen (Pulido-Blanco et al, 2019). Several paper napkins were placed on the walls of the cage to collect the egg masses and quantify the number of eggs (Pulido-Blanco et al, 2019). Dead adults were conserved in the entomology laboratory of Cimpa and photographs of specimens were sent to specialists to corroborate the taxonomic identification.…”

Estado actual de la investigación para el cultivo de guayaba en Colombia

“…Se estima que la producción anual de guayaba en Colombia es de 81800 t año -1 , de las cuales cerca del 69 % se destina para consumo en fresco y el resto de la producción se usa para la preparación de dulces, conocidos en este país como bocadillo (López-Santos et al, 2017). Esta industria ha sido próspera en las regiones productoras de Santander en los municipios de Barbosa y Vélez y en el municipio de Moniquirá, en el departamento de Boyacá (Pulido-Blanco et al, 2019). En la producción para el consumo de fruta fresca se destaca el norte del departamento del Valle del Cauca, la zona cafetera y en años recientes, ha aumentado su producción en el piedemonte del departamento del Meta en especial en los municipios del alto Ariari (Canacuán-Nasamuez y Carabalí-Muñoz, 2015).…”