A comparison of alternative plant mixes for conservation bio-control by native beneficial arthropods in vegetable cropping systems in Queensland Australia.

Cucurbit crops host a range of serious sap-sucking insect pests, including silverleaf whitefly (SLW) and aphids, which potentially represent considerable risk to the Australian horticulture industry. These pests are extremely polyphagous with a wide host range. Chemical control is made difficult due to resistance and pollution, and other side-effects are associated with insecticide use. Consequently, there is much interest in maximising the role of biological control in the management of these sap-sucking insect pests. This study aimed to evaluate companion cropping alongside cucurbit crops in a tropical setting as a means to increase the populations of beneficial insects and spiders so as to control the major sap-sucking insect pests. The Population of beneficial and harmful insects, with a focus on SLW and aphids, and other invertebrates were sampled weekly oil four different crops which could be used for habitat manipulation: Goodbug Mix (GBM; a proprietary seed Mixture including self-sowing annual and perennial herbaceous flower species); lablab (Lablab purpureus L. Sweet); lucerne (Medicago sativa L.); and niger (Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass.). Lablab hosted the highest numbers of beneficial insects (larvae and adults of lacewing (Mallada signata (Schneider)), ladybird beetles (Coccinella transversalis Fabricius) and spiders) while GBM hosted the highest numbers of European bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) and spiders. Lucerne and niger showed little promise in hosting beneficial insects, but lucerne hosted significantly more spiders (double the numbers) than niger. Lucerne hosted significantly more of the harmful insect species of aphids (Aphis gossypii (Glover)) and Myzus persicae (Sulzer)) and heliothis (Heliothis armigera Hubner). Niger hosted significantly more vegetable weevils (Listroderes difficillis (Germar)) than the other three species. Therefore, lablab and GBM appear to be viable options to grow within cucurbits or as field boundary crops to attract and increase beneficial insects and spiders for the control of sap-sucking insect pests. Use of these bio-control strategies affords the opportunity to minimise pesticide usage and the risks associated with pollution.

Commercial products from bio-active extractives in cypress milling residues.

Extractive components obtained from milling residues of white cypress were studied for chemical identity and bioactivity with a view to developing a commercial use for these components, thus increasing the value of the residues and improving the economics of cypress sawn wood production. Extracts obtained by solvent or steam extraction techniques from cypress sawdust were each fractionated by a range of techniques into groups of similar compounds. Crude extracts and fractions were screened against a range of agricultural pests and diseases, including two fungi, subterranean termites, fruit spotting bugs, two-spotted mites, thrips, heliothis, banana scab moths, silverleaf whiteflies, cattle tick adults and larvae, and ruminant gastrointestinal nematodes. Additional screening was undertaken where encouraging results were achieved, for two-spotted mites, thrips, silverleaf whiteflies, cattle tick adults and ruminant gastrointestinal nematodes. After considering degrees of efficacy against, and economic importance of, the agricultural pests, and likely production costs of extracts and fractions, the crude extract (oil) produced by steam distillation was chosen for further study against silverleaf whitefly. A useful degree of control was achievable when this oil was applied to tomato or eggplant at 0.1%, with much less harmful effects on a beneficial insect. Activity of the oil against silverleaf whitefly was undiminished 3.5 years after it was generated. There was little benefit from supplementing the extract with co-formulated paraffinic oil. From the steam distilled oil, fifty-five compounds were characterised, thirty-five compounds representing 92.478 % of the oil, with guaiol (20.8%) and citronellic acid (15.9%) most abundant. These two compounds, and a group of oxygenated compounds containing bulnesol and a range of eudesmols, were found to account for most of the activity against silverleaf whitefly. This application was recommended for first progression to commercialisation.

Biocontrol of Chromolaena odorata in Papua New Guinea

Chromolaena odorata (L.) King and Robinson (Asteraceae) is a significant agricultural weed in Papua New Guinea (PNG), affecting plantations, food gardens and grazing lands. It was the focus of a collaborative biocontrol program funded by the Australian Government between 1998 and 2007. Chromolaena was recorded at 680 sites in 13 provinces of PNG through surveys, field releases of biocontrol agents and feedback from public awareness programs. Three biocontrol agents, the moth Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata Rego Barros (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), the stemgalling fly Cecidochares connexa (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and the leaf mining fly Calycomyza eupatorivora Spencer (Diptera: Agromyzidae), were introduced to control chromolaena. Cecidochares connexa was found to be the most effective of the agents introduced as it quickly established at over 300 sites where it was released and spread up to 100km in five years from some sites. Experimental field plots established to determine the impact of the agents on chromolaena, showed that the size of chromolaena infestations decreased with the presence of C. connexa. A survey was conducted to quantify the social and economic benefits of biocontrol of chromolaena to landholders. Chromolaena is considered to be under substantial/significant control in nine provinces in PNG, with about 50% of respondents stating that there is less than 50% of chromolaena remaining following the release of the gall fly. This has resulted in landholders spending less time clearing chromolaena and the re-establishment of small-scale subsistence farms and the regeneration of natural vegetation. Crop yield and income generated from the sale of agricultural produce have increased by at least 50% since chromolaena was brought under biocontrol. It is anticipated that the gall fly will continue to spread and control chromolaena in areas where it has not yet reached, thereby further reducing the impact of the weed in PNG.

Geospatial environmental data modelling applications using remote sensing, GIS and spatial statistics

This thesis presents novel modelling applications for environmental geospatial data using remote sensing, GIS and statistical modelling techniques. The studied themes can be classified into four main themes: (i) to develop advanced geospatial databases. Paper (I) demonstrates the creation of a geospatial database for the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia) in the Åland Islands, south-western Finland; (ii) to analyse species diversity and distribution using GIS techniques. Paper (II) presents a diversity and geographical distribution analysis for Scopulini moths at a world-wide scale; (iii) to study spatiotemporal forest cover change. Paper (III) presents a study of exotic and indigenous tree cover change detection in Taita Hills Kenya using airborne imagery and GIS analysis techniques; (iv) to explore predictive modelling techniques using geospatial data. In Paper (IV) human population occurrence and abundance in the Taita Hills highlands was predicted using the generalized additive modelling (GAM) technique. Paper (V) presents techniques to enhance fire prediction and burned area estimation at a regional scale in East Caprivi Namibia. Paper (VI) compares eight state-of-the-art predictive modelling methods to improve fire prediction, burned area estimation and fire risk mapping in East Caprivi Namibia. The results in Paper (I) showed that geospatial data can be managed effectively using advanced relational database management systems. Metapopulation data for Melitaea cinxia butterfly was successfully combined with GPS-delimited habitat patch information and climatic data. Using the geospatial database, spatial analyses were successfully conducted at habitat patch level or at more coarse analysis scales. Moreover, this study showed it appears evident that at a large-scale spatially correlated weather conditions are one of the primary causes of spatially correlated changes in Melitaea cinxia population sizes. In Paper (II) spatiotemporal characteristics of Socupulini moths description, diversity and distribution were analysed at a world-wide scale and for the first time GIS techniques were used for Scopulini moth geographical distribution analysis. This study revealed that Scopulini moths have a cosmopolitan distribution. The majority of the species have been described from the low latitudes, sub-Saharan Africa being the hot spot of species diversity. However, the taxonomical effort has been uneven among biogeographical regions. Paper III showed that forest cover change can be analysed in great detail using modern airborne imagery techniques and historical aerial photographs. However, when spatiotemporal forest cover change is studied care has to be taken in co-registration and image interpretation when historical black and white aerial photography is used. In Paper (IV) human population distribution and abundance could be modelled with fairly good results using geospatial predictors and non-Gaussian predictive modelling techniques. Moreover, land cover layer is not necessary needed as a predictor because first and second-order image texture measurements derived from satellite imagery had more power to explain the variation in dwelling unit occurrence and abundance. Paper V showed that generalized linear model (GLM) is a suitable technique for fire occurrence prediction and for burned area estimation. GLM based burned area estimations were found to be more superior than the existing MODIS burned area product (MCD45A1). However, spatial autocorrelation of fires has to be taken into account when using the GLM technique for fire occurrence prediction. Paper VI showed that novel statistical predictive modelling techniques can be used to improve fire prediction, burned area estimation and fire risk mapping at a regional scale. However, some noticeable variation between different predictive modelling techniques for fire occurrence prediction and burned area estimation existed.

Biological control of prickly acacia: Current research and future prospects

Prickly acacia, Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica (syn. Acacia nilotica subsp. indica) (Fabaceae), a major weed in the natural grasslands of western Queensland, has been a target of biological control since the 1980s with limited success to date. Surveys in India, based on genetic and climate matching, identified five insects and two rust pathogens as potential agents. Host-specificity tests were conducted for the insects in India and under quarantine conditions in Australia, and for the rust pathogens under quarantine conditions at CABI in the UK. In no-choice tests, the brown leaf-webber, Phycita sp. A, (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) completed development on 17 non-target plant species. Though the moth showed a clear preference for prickly acacia in oviposition choice trials screening of additional test-plant species was terminated in view of the potential non-target risk. The scale insect Anomalococcus indicus (Hemiptera: Lecanodiaspididae) developed into mature gravid females on 13 out of 58 non-target plant species tested. In the majority of cases very few female scales matured but development was comparable to that on prickly acacia on four of the non-target species. In multiple choice tests, the scale insect showed a significant preference for the target weed over non-target species tested. In a paired-choice trial under field conditions in India, crawler establishment occurred only on prickly acacia and not on the non-target species tested. Further choice trials are to be conducted under natural field conditions in India. A colony of the green leaf-webber Phycita sp. B has been established in quarantine facilities in Australia and host-specificity testing has commenced. The gall-rust Ravenelia acaciae-arabicae and the leaf-rust Ravenelia evansii (Puccineales: Raveneliaceae) both infected and produced viable urediniospores on Vachellia sutherlandii (Fabaceae), a non-target Australian native plant species. Hence, no further testing with the two rust species was pursued. Inoculation trials using the gall mite Aceria liopeltus (Acari: Eriophyidae) from V. nilotica subsp. kraussiana in South Africa resulted in no gall induction on V. nilotica subsp. indica. Future research will focus on the leaf-weevil Dereodus denticollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and the leaf-beetle Pachnephorus sp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) under quarantine conditions in Australia. Native range surveys for additional potential biological control agents will also be pursued in northern and western Africa.

Biological control of bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia) in Australia: South America as a possible source of natural enemies

Bellyache bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia, Euphorbiaceae), a deciduous shrub introduced as an ornamental from tropical America, is a major and expanding weed of rangelands and riparian zones in northern Australia. Biological control is the most economically viable and long-term management solution for this weed. Surveys for potential biological control agents for J gossypiifolia in Mexico,Central America and the Caribbean resulted in release of the seed-feeding jewel bug Agonosoma trilineatum (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), which failed to establish, and prioritisation of a leaf-rust Phakopsora arthuriana (Puccineales: Phakopsoraceae) for host-specificity testing, which is ongoing. With poor prospects for new agents from Mexico and Central America and the Caribbean, the search for candidate agents on J gossypiifolia shifted to localities south of the equator. Surveys were conducted on the purple-leaf form of J gossypiifolia, Jatropha excisa, Jatropha clavuligera and Jatropha curcas in Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay in 2012 and 2013. A total of 11 insect species, one mite species and the leaf-rust (P. arthuriana) were observed. These include a yet to be described leafmining moth (Stomphastis sp.) (Lepidoptera: Gracillaridae), a shoot and leaf-galling midge Prodiplosis longifila, and leaf-feeding midge Prodiplosis sp. near longifila (both Diptera:Cecidomyiidae) and an unidentified leaf-feeding moth larva (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae). The leafminer is widespread and damaging and has a field host range restricted to the genus Jatropha in Peru and Bolivia, holds the greatest promise as a biological control agent in Australia. Phakopsora arthuriana was recorded for the first time ever from Bolivia and Peru. Further exploration will be conducted in Peru and Bolivia during the wet season to confirm the field host range of collected agents,and to look for more new agents. Promising agents with field host-range restricted to Jatropha spp. will be imported into a quarantine facility in Australia for host-specificity testing.

Life cycle and host range of Phycitasp. rejected for biological control of prickly acacia in Australia

Prickly acacia (Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica), a native of the Indian subcontinent, is a serious weed of the grazing areas of northern Australia and is a target for classical biological control. Native range surveys in India identified a leaf webber, Phycita sp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) as a prospective biological control agent for prickly acacia. In this study, we report the life cycle and host-specificity test results Phycita sp. and highlight the contradictory results between the no-choice tests in India and Australia and the field host range in India. In no-choice tests in India and Australia, Phycita sp. completed development on two of 11 and 16 of 27 non-target test plant species, respectively. Although Phycita sp. fed and completed development on two non-target test plant species (Vachellia planifrons and V. leucophloea) in no-choice tests in India, there was no evidence of the insect on the two non-target test plant species in the field. Our contention is that oviposition behaviour could be the key mechanism in host selection of Phycita sp., resulting in its incidence only on prickly acacia in India. This is supported by paired oviposition choice tests involving three test plant species (Acacia baileyana, A. mearnsii and A. deanei) in quarantine in Australia, where eggs were laid only on prickly acacia. However, in paired oviposition choice trials, only few eggs were laid, making the results unreliable. Although oviposition choice tests suggest that prickly acacia is the most preferred and natural host, difficulties in conducting choice oviposition tests with fully grown trees under quarantine conditions in Australia and the logistic difficulties of conducting open-field tests with fully grown native Australian plants in India have led to rejection of Phycita sp. as a potential biological control agent for prickly acacia in Australia.

Bayesian analysis of community dynamics

Elucidating the mechanisms responsible for the patterns of species abundance, diversity, and distribution within and across ecological systems is a fundamental research focus in ecology. Species abundance patterns are shaped in a convoluted way by interplays between inter-/intra-specific interactions, environmental forcing, demographic stochasticity, and dispersal. Comprehensive models and suitable inferential and computational tools for teasing out these different factors are quite limited, even though such tools are critically needed to guide the implementation of management and conservation strategies, the efficacy of which rests on a realistic evaluation of the underlying mechanisms. This is even more so in the prevailing context of concerns over climate change progress and its potential impacts on ecosystems. This thesis utilized the flexible hierarchical Bayesian modelling framework in combination with the computer intensive methods known as Markov chain Monte Carlo, to develop methodologies for identifying and evaluating the factors that control the structure and dynamics of ecological communities. These methodologies were used to analyze data from a range of taxa: macro-moths (Lepidoptera), fish, crustaceans, birds, and rodents. Environmental stochasticity emerged as the most important driver of community dynamics, followed by density dependent regulation; the influence of inter-specific interactions on community-level variances was broadly minor. This thesis contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the structure and dynamics of ecological communities, by showing directly that environmental fluctuations rather than inter-specific competition dominate the dynamics of several systems. This finding emphasizes the need to better understand how species are affected by the environment and acknowledge species differences in their responses to environmental heterogeneity, if we are to effectively model and predict their dynamics (e.g. for management and conservation purposes). The thesis also proposes a model-based approach to integrating the niche and neutral perspectives on community structure and dynamics, making it possible for the relative importance of each category of factors to be evaluated in light of field data.

Native Phloem and Wood Borers in Australian Mediterranean Forest Trees

Native Mediterranean forests in Australia are dominated by two tree genera, Eucalyptus and Acacia, while Pinus and Eucalyptus dominate plantation forestry. In native forests, there is a high diversity of phloem and wood borers across several families in the Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. In the Coleoptera, cerambycid beetles (Cerambycidae), jewel beetles (Buprestidae), bark, ambrosia and pinhole beetles (Curculionidae) and pinworms (Lymexelidae) are some of the most commonly found beetles attacking eucalypts and acacias. In the Lepidoptera, wood moths (Cossidae), ghost moths (Hepialidae) and borers in the Xyloryctidae (subfamily Xyloryctinae) are most common. In contrast to native forests, there is a much more limited range of native insects present in Australian plantations, particularly in exotic Pinus spp. plantations, although eucalypt plantations do share some borers in common with native forests. This chapter reviews the importance of these borers in Australian forests primarily from an economic perspective (i.e. those species that cause damage to commercial tree species) and highlights a paucity of native forest species that commonly kill trees relative to the large scales regularly seen in North America and Europe.

Evaluación de seis variedades de tomate (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill),bajo un manejo Mip, para el complejo mosca blanca geminivirus, en el Valle de Sébaco

El cultivo de tomate es una de las hortalizas mas preferidas para consumo fresco, las altas poblaciones de mosca blanca han provocado que los agricultores realicen excesivas aplicaciones de Insecticidas quimicos los cuales provocan efectos colaterales. En busca de métodos alternativos para el manejo de la mosca blanca geminivirus se planteó este trabajo para evaluar seis variedades de tomate lndustrial: milano, Silverados, FMX-922, NH-4764,NHW-785 y UC-82 B, a través de un B.C.R. con seis réplicas,donde los resultados muestran que la mayor incidencias de mosca blanca se presentó de (10-20) días después del transplante d.d.t. en todas las variedades. Cuando se realizó el análisis de insectos acumulados no se encontró diferencias entre las variedades.La Incidencias de virosis resultó significativas en las fechas 24 y 37 d.d.t. El rendimiento comercial de tomate para todas las variedades fue similar, sobresaliendo la variedad NH-4764.EI daño de frutos por Heliothis sp fue mayor en la variedad testigo UC-82 B,las variedades Silverados,milanos,FMX-922,NH-4764 y NHW-785, presentaron los porcentajes de daño más bajo con respecto al testigo, el daño de fruto por enfermedades fungosas fué medido en dos momentos 67 y 68 ddt, presentando NHW-785 el porcentaje más alto 44.6% en la primer fecha 67 ddt, en la segunda fecha 78 ddt la variedad FMK-922 fue la que presento el porcentaje mas alto.

Utilización de "microorganismos efectivos" en el manejo de insectos-plagas del cultivo del tomate (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) variedad UC-82 en el Valle de Sébaco, Matagalpa

El trabajo se realizó de Octubre de 1996 a Marzo de 1997, en la Estación Experimental "Raúl González" del valle de Sébaco, Matagalpa. Se evaluó la utilización de "Microorganismos Efectivos" en el manejo de insectos-plagas y enfermedades en el cultivo del tomate (Lycopersicum esculentum Mili), variedad UC-82. Los tratamientos utilizados fueron: Tratamiento 1, Productos Químicos; Tratamiento 2, Neem (Azadirachta indica); Tratamiento 3, EM-5B (extracto de hierbas y microorganismos); Tratamiento 4, EM-5 (microorganismos); Tratamiento 5, Testigo absoluto (sin ningún tipo de aplicación). En la etapa de semillero los tratamientos EM-5 y EM-5B mostraron un efecto reductor sobre las poblaciones de mosca blanca (Bemisia tabaci Genn). Después del trasplante la mayor densidad de mosca blanca se observó en el tratamiento a base de productos químicos. El mayor porcentaje de poblaciones de Lyriomiza spp. lo obtuvieron los tratamientos químicos y EM-5. En cuanto al porcentaje de población de Diabrotica spp. no se presentaron diferencias significativas a lo largo del experimento. Referente al daño causado por Heliothis spp. se observó a los 77 DDT (días después del trasplante), los tratamientos en los que menos daños se presentaron fueron neem y químico. Sin embargo estos mismos tratamientos mostraron mayor incidencia de virosis a los 42 DDT, asi mismo no se observó diferencias estadísticas. La mayor altura la presentó el tratamiento EM-5B y el mayor número de hijos lo obtuvo el tratamiento químico y EM-5. También se presentaron resultados positivos entre los caracteres grosor del mesocarpio y diámetro polar y ecuatorial obteniendo los mejores resultados EM- 5 y EM-5B. En cuanto al rendimiento comercial de producción el tratamiento que dio valores más aceptables fue el de Neem con 26,974 Kg/Ha de frutos comercializables con rendimiento total 27,979 Kg/Ha; haciendo la salvedad que este tratamiento fue fertilizado con el biofertilizante EM-Bokashi

Insecticides evaluated for control of fall armyworm (Lepidóptera: Noctuidae) on Sorghum)

El gusano cogollero [Spodoptera fnugiperda (J.E. Smith) (lnsecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)], es uno de los principales insectos que afectan el cultivo de sorgo en El Salvador. En vista de lo anterior, durante los meses de septiembre de 2001 y enero de 2002, se realizó una investigación en la estación experimental dos del Centro Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria y Forestal (CENTA), ubicado en el valle de San Andrés, departamento de La Libertad. El objetivo de la investigación fue determinar la efectividad de productos químicos, botánicos y biológicos para el control del gusano cogollero. Se utilizó un diseño de bloques completos al azar, con nueve tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones. Los tratamientos fueron: insecticida botánico (Agrolnagor), Aceite de Nim, Beauveria bassiana, Virus de la Poliedrosis Nuclear (VPN), Lufenuron, Teflubanzuron, Agua azucarada, testigo relativo ( clorpirifos) y testigo absoluto (sin aplicación). Los datos de mortalidad se obtuvieron 24 horas y cuatro días después de las aplicaciones. Los resultados muestran diferencias significativas entre tratamientos en los porcentajes de mortalidad de la plaga. Los insecticidas inhibidores de la quitina, lufeneron y tetlubenzuron, mostraron mayor efectividad (superior al 90 por ciento) comparados con los otros tratamientos insecticidas, los cuales mostraron niveles de mortalidad interior al 65 por ciento cuatro días después de su aplicación. El porcentaje de mortalidad obtenido en parcelas tratadas con chlorpyrifos fue de 63.3 por ciento durante el primer muestreo. La mortalidad fue superior en larvas de los primeros estadios, comparada con larvas de los últimos estadios. Los tratamientos con Neem, productos biológicos (Beauveria bassiana y el virus de la poliedrosis nuclear) y agua azucarada presentaron los más bajos niveles de mortalidad. Hubo diferencias significativas en el rendimiento del cultivo, sin embargo, dichas diferencias no siempre estuvieron relacionadas a los niveles de mortalidad presentados por los tratamientos insecticidas.

Application of insecticide in various volumes of waterat stages of Sorghum development for control of fall armyworm (Lepidóptera: Noctuidae)

Una debilidad en las aplicaciones de insecticidas para el control de plagas del sorgo, es el desconocimiento existente acerca del efecto de los volúmenes de agua sobre la efectividad del producto químico aplicado. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar el efecto de diferentes volúmenes de agua aplicados en diferentes etapas fonológicas del cultivo sobre la efectividad de clorpirifos sobre el gusano cogollero (Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (lnsecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)) . El ensayo se estableció el 20 de Septiembre de 2001, en terrenos de la es~ación experimental numero 2 del Centro Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria y Forestal (CENTA), ubicado en SanAndrés, departamento de la Libertad, El Salvador .. Se efectuaron aplicaciones de chlorpyrifos en dosis de ~ .4 1 ha·, utilizando 285 y ~42 litros de agua, aplicado en dos etapas de crecimiento del cultivo de sorgo (25 y 45 días después de siembra). Los tratamientos incluyeron una aplicación a un determinado volumen y tiempo (25 días después de siembra), y dos a aplicaciones a determinados volúmenes y tiempo, una a los 25 y otra a los 45 días después de siembra. La aplicación de Chlorpyrifos redujo de significativamente la intestación de larvas a las 24 horas después de la primera aplicación, cuando se le compara con el tratamiento control. Sin embargo, no se determinaron diferencias significativas en la eficacia del insecticida, cuando se comparó la infestación de larvas en parcelas tratadas con diferentes cantidades de agua. El volumen mayor de agua pareciera que mejora la distribución del producto qufmico sobre la planta, lo que conduce a una mayor mortalidad de larvas. Una segunda aplicación de insecticida, 20 días después de la primera aplicación, redujo significativamente la infestación de larvas comparada con una sola aplicación. Esta información indica que el incremento en los volúmenes de agua mejora la eficacia del insecticida Chlorpyrifos contra el gusano cogollero en el cultivo de sorgo. Una segunda aplicación del tratamiento insecticida es efectiva contra relnfestaciones de larvas y sugiere que el cogollero que se alimenta de estructuras vegetativas del sorgo, en los ntveles encontrados en este estudio en el Salvador, puede reducir la producción de grano del sorgo.

Determinación de insectos y patógenos en la vegetación arbórea de la reserva natural Meseta Tisey-Estanzuela, Estelí

El estudio se realizó con el propósito de determinar insectos y patógenos asociados a la vegetación arbórea de la Reserva Natural Meseta Tisey-Estanzuela y resaltar aquellos insectos de importancia forestal. Se hicieron colectas de insectos y material enfermo, por medio de capturas manuales en sitios preestablecidos para tal fin, según las formaciones boscosas más representativas de la zona. Los insectos y patógenos se identificaron en los laboratorios de la Universidad Nacional Agraria. De la colecta general de insectos, se determinaron 9 órdenes y 47 familias, sobresaliendo los órdenes Co/eoplera, Lepidoptera e Hymenoptera. Entre los insectos de importancia forestal sobresalen los descortezadores de los géneros Dendroctonus e lps, Scolytidae-Coleoptera, en pino y el defoliador del género Hylesia, Saturnidae-Lepidoptera, también en regeneración de pino. Otro resultado importante es el reporte de un defoliador en los robles de hoja ancha (Quercus segoviense). perteneciente al género Orgyia, Lymantriidae-Lepidóptera, del que se presume es Orgyia fa/cata y cuya importancia radica en ser un reporte nuevo de este género y especie para Nicaragua. Entre los patógenos sobresalieron la roya de los conos del pino Cronartium conigenum, una exudación resinosa en los conos atribuida a Fusarium sp y una enfermedad en los robles de hoja ancha atribuida posiblemente a Pestalotia sp.

Período crítico de protección contra plagas del follaje y frutos del cultivo de la sandia (Citrullus vulgaris sugar baby) de exportación

Se hizo un experimento para determinar el efecto de periodos de protección de plagas del follajes y frutos sobre el rendimiento y la ganancia neta en el cultivo de sandía para exportación. el experimento fue ubicado entre Nagarote y la paz centro, realizándose en los meses de febrero a abril de 1988, bajo riego. Para la protección del cultivo de las plagas se utilizó el insecticida prfenofos más riopcord (tambo 880 ecu). La dinámica poblacional mostró que las plagas que provocaron daños directo a los frutos como larvas de spodoptera spp. (lepidóptera: noctuidae) y heliothis ssp. (Lepidóptera: noctuidae), se acentuaron desde los 40 días después de la emergencia (DDE) de las plantas hasta el final de la cosecha. Las plagas que afectaron principalmente los follajes como lyriomiza spp. (Díptera: agromizidae) y aphis spp. Homóptera: aphididae) fueron más constante pero que a partir de los 38 DDE aumentaron sus poblaciones y provocaron un daño severo. El tratamiento que fue protegido desde la emergencia de la planta hasta la cosecha ocupo el primer lugar en fruto/mz, pero sin diferencias significativas entre los periodo de protección a excepción del testigo (sin protección). Así también se colocó en el primer lugar en el número de cajas con frutos exportables por su tamaño/mz, pero sin diferencia significativas con los periodos protegidos desde los 19 y 43 DDE hasta la cosecha. El periodo protegido en ninguna fase de cultivo y el periodo protegido desde la emergencia hasta los 43 DDE ocuparon el primer lugar en fruto no exportable por su tamaño demasiado pequeño. El tratamiento protegido desde los 19 DDE hasta la cosecha presento la mayor ganancia neta. Se presentó deformación de frutos entre 70 y80 %, no presentándose efecto de periodo de protección.