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Diamondback Moth and Its Natural Enemies in Jamaica and Some Other Caribbean Islands M

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Diamondback Moth and Its Natural Enemies in Jamaica and Some Other Caribbean Islands M 26 Diamondback Moth and its Natural Enemies in Jamaica and Some Other Caribbean Islands M. M. Alam CARDI, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Jamaica, W.I. Abstract Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella (L.)) is widely distributed in the Caribbean. In Jamaica, amongst 14 pest species feeding on cabbage, cauliflower and other crucifers, diamondback moth, cabbage white butterfly and armyworms inflict the highest damage. The combined crop damage from these pests ranges from 74 to 100%, averaging 79%. Of these, diamondback moth alone represents over 75% of the pest populations, causing up to 90% crop loss. The highest (February 1989) and lowest (August 1989) populations per plant were 43 and 1 larvae in Douglas Castle and 63 and 2 larvae, respectively, in Castle Kelly areas. In Jamaica, five parasite species, viz. Trichogramma sp., Diadegma insulare, Cotesia ( = Apanteles) sp. (glomeratus group), Oomyzus ( = Tetrastichus) sokolowskii and Trichospilus diatraeae were found parasitizing different developmental stages of the pest. Additionally, Coleomegilla maculata, Cycloneda sanguinea, Toxomerus dispar, Toxomerus watsoni and Pseudodorus clavatus; Ceraeochrysa claveri, and Belonuchus gagates were preying upon them. The fungi Beauveria bassiana, Hirsutella sp. and Paecylomyces sp. were found infecting larvae and pupae in the plains and sub-mountain areas. During March 1989, a larval parasite Cotesia plutellae was introduced from Barbados. Soon after its release at the University of the West lndies Mona Campus and Bodles Agricultural Experimental Station, it was recovered. Between March 1989 and July 1990, the levels of parasitism at Bodles, ranged from 5.4 to 88.7% (average 51%). As a result of high mortality caused by C. plutellae, the diamondback moth populations were reduced significantly. Since the establishment of C. plutellae in Jamaica, four species of hyperparasites, Aphanogmus (= Ceraphron) fijiensis, Horismenus sp. (a new species), Catolaccus sp. (a new species) and Spilochalcis sp. (a new species) were found attacking the cocoons. Spilochalcis sp. also attacks the cocoons of D. insulare. Introduction Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) , cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) and other cruciferous crops are important in the diet of Caribbean people. Cabbage is the most widely grown in Jamaica, fetching high market prices (US$0.22-0.68/kg).Between 1973 and 1986 cabbage production increased significantly (from 6985 to 15,150 tons) (Ministry of Agriculture, unpublished reports for 1973 to 1986). The potential for these crops is, however, limited because of insect pests. Out of 14 insect species feeding on crucifers, the diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae), is the most important. In Jamaica as well as other parts of the world, when insecticides are not used, crop losses caused by DBM may reach 50-100% (Calderan and Hare 1986 and Sagenmuller and Rose 1986). Because of its high reproductive capability and its ability to develop pesticide resistance quickly, it has become less susceptible to conventional insecticides (Ankersmit 1953, Calderon and Hare 1986, Lim and Khoo 1986; Miyata et al. 1986, Morallo-Rejesus 1986; and Suah and Ellis 1974). 233 234 Alam In Jamaica, insecticides recommended since 1968, and now ineffective, include malathion, galecron, gardona, dipterex, diazinon, carbaryl, surecide, DDT, belmark and deltamethrin (Suah and Ellis 1974), whilst Thuricide, Biotrol, permethrin, methomyl and profenofos are of questionable reliability. The general pest management and environmental, occupational and consumer health problems created by insecticides have forced the field entomologists to put greater reliance on biological control. In the Caribbean, the Ministry of Agriculture Barbados and the Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control (CIBC) (now International Institute of Biological Control (IZBC)) Trinidad, West Indies, initiated research on the biological control of DBM in the 1970s and was later extended to the eastern Caribbean islands by the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) (Alam 1974, 1982; Bennett and Yaseen 1972). This report deals with research done in Jamaica with brief mention of the status of natural enemies in other Caribbean islands. Methodology The evaluation of the insect pests and their natural enemies was done monthly. Field visits were made to a number of farm sites in different parishes in Jamaica. For more regular observations, fields were selected in three ecological zones; Castle Kelly (plains: elevation 457 m), Douglas Castle (610m) and Blue Mountain (hills : 1219 m) (Fig. 1). Besides their ecological differences, these are major cabbage-growing areas. Trial plots were also established at Bodles Agricultural Experimental Station. The following sampling technique was adapted: From a 0.04 ha field five cabbage plants were taken at random and brought to the laboratory for detailed examination. The plants were weighed, every leaf examined and all stages of the pest(s) recorded. Eggs, larvae and pupae of the pests were isolated in glass vials and kept to rear out their natural enemies or the adult stage. Data on the amount of damage caused to each cabbage head by various insect pests, and their relative abundance, were measured on a rated scale. The parasites reared from immature stages of the pests (i.e. eggs, larvae and pupae) were recorded and their levels of parasitism calculated. Adults and immature stages of predatory insects and pathogens collected in the field were also recorded. Information on hyperparasites attacking primary parasites was gathered. The biology of important parasites was studied in the laboratory. Fig. 1. Areas of observation for DBM studies in Jamaica. Natural Enemies in Jamaica 235 Results Fourteen species of insect pests and three species of slugs were found feeding on cabbage, cauliflowers and other crucifers. The most important of these were the DBM, cabbage looper (CL) (Trichoplusia ni Hübner), armyworms (Spodoptera/frugiperda (J. E. Smith) and Spodoptera latifascia (Walker), (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), cabbage white-butterfly [Ascia monuste (L.), Lepidoptera: Pieridae] and cabbage aphid [Brevicoryne brassicae (L:), Hemiptera: Homoptera: Aphididae]. In the Blue Mountain areas, besides these pests, a pyralid [Evergestis rimosalis (Guenee), Lepidoptera:Pyralidae] was found damaging the crop. In Douglas Castle three species of slugs Leidyula portoricensis, Leidyula sp. and Sarasinula plebeia (Veronicellidae) caused heavy crop losses. Pest Status Alam (1982) reported that in the Caribbean where crucifers are grown throughout the year, and conditions exist for continuous breeding of DBM which causes serious crop losses to farmers, the application of insecticides at short intervals (two or three applications/ week) resulted in the development of insect resistance to some chemicals (Alam 1974). In Jamaica, the combined crop damage caused by various defoliators ranges from 74 to 100%. Of these, DBM represents over 75% of the pest population, causing up to 90% of the crop damage. When the DBM population is reduced, it gives way to the build-up of other defoliators, particularly CL. Distribution and population levels of DBM in Jamaica Between March 1988 to July 1990, irrespective of the ecological variations, DBM was equally important in the plains, sub-mountains and hilly areas. Peak population varied for each area. In Castle Kelly the highest number of DBM was recorded in February 1988, June 1989 and February 1990, in Douglas Castle in April and July 1988, February, May and December 1989 and January and February 1990 and in Blue Mountains in May and September 1989 with a moderate peak in July 1989. Generally the population tended to be low in August and October in all observation sites. In Castle Kelly, the lowest number of DBM was recorded in March, May, August and November 1988, May and July to December 1989, and May 1990. In Douglas Castle it was in August 1988 and August to October 1989, and in Blue Mountains in June, August and October 1989. Larval population per plant also varied. The maximum number of DBM larvae per plant recorded in Castle Kelly and Douglas Castle was 63 and 43 respectively in February 1989, and the minimum of two larvae/plant from the former and one larva/plant from the latter locality in August 1989. In Blue Mountains 38 larvae/plant were collected in May and 23 larvae/plant in June 1989. At Bodles Agricultural Experimental Station the sample populations from each field investigation varied from 34 to 518 larvae per month, with an average of 229 larvae/month for the period April 1989 to March 1990. Natural enemies In spite of heavy use of chemical insecticides against DBM and other defoliators on cabbage and cauliflowers in the Caribbean, a number of natural enemies remain active in the fields, providing significant control. Alam (1974, 1982) reported Trichogrammasp. (Hymenoptera:Trichogrammatidae), Cotesia (= Apanteles) sp. (ater group) (Hymenoptera:Braconidae:Cotesiini)and Spilochalcis hirtifemora (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera:Chalcididae) attacking eggs, larvae and pupae of DBM, respectively, in Barbados. Besides these, three species of coccinellids, seven of ground beetles (Carabidae), two of ‘Jack Spaniard’ wasps (Vespidae), three of ants (Formicidae), two of lacewing 236 Alam bugs (Chrysopidae) and one each of earwig (Carcinophoridae) and centipede (Scolopendridae) were found preying upon the pest(s). Yaseen (1974) reported Cotesia sp. (ater
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