Population trends and damage patterns of Hypsipyla grandella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in a mahogany stand, in Turrialba, Costa Rica

Abstract

1 Population trends of Hypsipyla grandella and their relationship with abiotic (humidity, precipitation and temperature) and biotic factors (availability of mahogany shoots and natural mortality agents), as well as damage patterns, were studied for 16 months in Turrialba, Costa Rica. 2 Hypsipyla grandella was active in the field all year round, and its population density was influenced by temperature, availability of new shoots and natural mortality agents. 3 It was possible to predict four population peaks, which appeared approximately every 1881 degree-days. 4 Even though H. grandella larvae mainly attack shoots, they also fed on the bark of the bole, especially when green shoots were scarce. 5 Four parasitoid species were recorded (Bracon c. chontalensis, Brachymeria c. conica, Apanteles sp. and Dolichogenidea sp.) but their impact on H. grandella abundance was negligible.

Do multipurpose companion trees affect high value timber trees in a silvopastoral plantation system?

“…Whereas no major herbivore pest is known for T. rosea (Flores and Marín 2003), C. odorata is highly susceptible to infestations by the mahogany shoot borer Hypsipyla grandella Zeller and seldom escapes its severe attacks Pérez-Salicrup and Esquivel 2008). Damage by H. grandella generally retards or impedes height growth of C. odorata, particularly in saplings and younger trees (Griffiths 2001;Pérez-Salicrup and Esquivel 2008;Sands and Murphy 2001;Taveras et al 2004), and repeated attacks may even kill the trees (Newton et al 1993). In our study system, we found no differences in H. grandella infestation of C. odorata saplings among planting regimes, and mortality was seemingly unrelated to infestation with H. grandella (M. Plath et al, unpublished data).…”

First report of Hypsipyla grandella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on African mahogany Khaya ivorensis

“…Several natural enemies of H. grandella have been registered (Grijpma, 1972(Grijpma, , 1973Hilje and Cornelius, 2001;Nickle, 1981;Pinto et al, 2014;Taveras et al, 2004;Zaché et al, 2013). Nevertheless, these natural enemies cannot control effectively the populations of H. grandella in monocultures (Hilje and Cornelius, 2001;Taveras et al, 2004).…”

“…This pest is present in the field throughout the year (Taveras et al, 2004) and is a constant threat in the first years after planting (Wightman, 2008) when the plants are more susceptible (Ennion, 2003). Once the plantation is invaded by insects, almost all trees are damaged (Paul and Weber, 2013), and the damage threshold corresponds to one caterpillar per plant (Hilje and Cornelius, 2001).…”

“…Nevertheless, these natural enemies cannot control effectively the populations of H. grandella in monocultures (Hilje and Cornelius, 2001;Taveras et al, 2004).…”

Performance and genetic variation of big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) in provenance and progeny trials in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico

“…Hypsipyla populations vary with temperature (Taveras et al, 2004a), and multiple attacks are possible within 1 year (Taveras et al, 2004b). More frequent observations to measure intensity might have provided insight into attack rates.…”