Within-Canopy Distribution of Stenoma catenifer (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae) Infestation in Avocado Orchards
Open Access
- 18 September 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Insect Science
- Vol. 21 (5)
- https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieab055
Abstract
Native to the neotropics, the avocado seed moth Stenoma catenifer Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae) is a specialist pest of the family Lauraceae and considered one of the most important pests of avocados worldwide. However, little is known regarding its spatial distribution within a single tree. Therefore, we designed a study to evaluate the effects of canopy height and aspect (i.e., side of the tree) on fruit infestation by S. catenifer larvae in avocados. The study was conducted in three commercial organic avocado orchards located in Sao Paulo, Brazil. At each orchard, 40 fruit from 30 random trees were sampled weekly from October 2017 through February 2018, evaluating the number of fruits infested by S. catenifer larvae at three tree heights (bottom, middle, and top). In addition, fruits on the ground were also sampled. We also evaluated the effect of the side of the tree where the fruits were collected, i.e., whether they were on the side facing the east (sunrise) or the west (sunset). Within the avocado canopy, the level of fruit infestation by S. catenifer larvae was significantly higher at the top of the trees than in the middle and bottom. Fruit on the ground had lower levels of infestation than those on the tree canopy. The level of fruit infestation was also higher on the side of avocado trees facing the east (sunrise). Understanding the within-tree distribution of S. catenifer will help to better target monitoring and control activities against this pest in avocados.Keywords
Funding Information
- Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (001)
- National Council for Scientific and Technological Development
- São Paulo Research Foundation
This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit:
- Linhagens de Trichogramma e Trichogrammatoidea para controle de Stenoma cateniferPesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, 2007
- Distribuição vertical, danos e controle cultural de Stenoma catenifer Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae) em pomar de abacateNeotropical Entomology, 2006
- Thermal response in adult codling mothPhysiological Entomology, 2006
- POPULATION DYNAMICS OF STENOMA CATENIFER (LEPIDOPTERA: ELACHISTIDAE) AND RELATED LARVAL PARASITOIDS IN MINAS GERAIS, BRAZILThe Florida Entomologist, 2005
- Biologia de Stenoma catenifer Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae) em dieta natural e artificial e estabelecimento de um sistema de criaçãoNeotropical Entomology, 2005
- Exigências térmicas, estimativa do número de gerações de Stenoma catenifer e comprovação do modelo em campoPesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, 2005
- Biologia e tabela de vida de fertilidade de Deuterollyta majuscula (Lep.: Pyralidae) em abacateiro (Persea americana MILL.)Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, 2004
- The avocado fruit borer, Stenoma catenifer (wals.) (Lepidoptera: elachistidae): egg and damage distribution and parasitismRevista Brasileira de Fruticultura, 2003
- Pests and pollinators of avocado.Published by CABI Publishing ,2002
- The stenomatine moth, Stenoma catenifer Walsingham: a pre-dispersal seed predator of Greenheart (Chlorocardium rodiei (Schomb.) Rohwer, Richter & van der Werff) in GuyanaJournal of Natural History, 1999