C. T. Bandeira

Occurrence and damage of soursop pests in northeast Brazil

Abstract Field studies from 1995 to 1997 in the Paraipaba county state of Ceara, Brazil evaluated the occurrence and potential damage of soursop Annona muricata L. pests. The most important pests were the fruit borer Cerconota anonella and the “irapua” bee Trigona spinips , the maximum fruit damage being 62 and 53%, respectively. The seed borer Bephratelloides maculicollis caused the least fruit damage. Different species of Membracidae, Coccidae, Diaspididae and Aphididae were also evaluated with plant damage that varied from 16 to 20%. The leafminer Prinomerus anonicola was continuously present during the three-year period with plant damage varying from 17 to 22%. Other less important pests were stem borer Cratosomus sp, ants, stink bugs and defoliators that together caused on an average 19–32% plant damage.

Occurrence of Fulcidax coelestina (Lac.)(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Fulcidacinae) in Barbados cherry Malpighia glabra L.

Desde janeiro de 1996, o crisomelideo Fulcidax coelestina (Lac.), pertencente a subfamilia Fulcidacinae, tem sido encontrado atacando severamente ramos laterais e principal de plantas da acerola Malpighia glabra L. nos municipios de Pacajus e Paraipaba no Estado do Ceara. As larvas fazem o anelamento do ramo principal e dos laterais da planta, provocando o bloqueio floemico com consequente seca dos ramos ou planta. A mortalidade pode chegar a 100% em plantas jovens. Este e o primeiro registro da ocorrencia da praga atacando a aceroleira no Brasil. A presenca continua do inseto nos plantios de acerola tem forcado o uso sistematico do controle quimico para reduzir as populacoes. O adulto apresenta corpo azul metalico com superficie extremamente rugosa. O ultimo estadio larval constroi um envoltorio em forma de coracao utilizando seu proprio excremento onde completa o ciclo.