Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 121:10–13. 2008. Microlepidoptera Complex Affecting Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota van Royen) in Florida LISA MYERS1, JORGE E. PEÑA2*, RITA DUNCAN2, AND JOHN B. HEPPNER3 1Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Kingston, Jamaica 2University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center, Homestead, FL 33031 3 Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Department of Plant Industry, Gainesville, FL 32611 ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. Dichrorampha, sapodilla, banisis, chemical control The sapodilla (Manilkara zapota van Royen), also known as naseberry, nispero, zapote, zapotillo, chicozapote, native to Mexico and Central America is currently grown in southern Florida. Pests and diseases are not usually considered a major problem on sapodilla; however, the larva of the small moth Banisia myrsusalis has been reported as an occasional pest that causes extensive damage to sapodilla blooms in Florida. Damage to buds, flower drop, and damage to 70% of fruits have been observed (Peña, unpublished data). A preliminary survey of sapodilla groves was conducted from May to July 2002, since very little was known about this moth. The survey indicated the presence of lepidopterous pests feeding on the young leaves, flowers, or young fruits. Three Lepidoptera species were frequently encountered: Banisia myrsusalis (Lepidoptera: Thyrididae), Dichrorampha sapodilla (Lepdioptera: Tortricidae), and a Zamagiria sp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). A test was conducted in 2006 to determine the efficacy of Fury, Novaluron, Venom, Danitol, Thiamethoxan, and Alverde for control of the sapodilla moths. The sapodilla (Fig. 1; Manilkara zapota) is extensively planted Materials and Methods and consumed in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Colom- bia, and in some Asiatic countries (Balerdi and Crane, 2002). The SURVEY AND DESCRIPTION OF DAMAGE. A survey was carried sapodilla is a medium to large tree with small bisexual clusters of out from May to June 2002. Five sapodilla trees located at the flowers that will bear a round to oval-shaped fruit 2–4 inches in Tropical Research and Education Center were selected. Five diameter (Balerdi and Crane, 2002). The most important insect clusters of flowers and fruits were collected per tree. Samples problems are several microlepidoptera causing extensive damage were brought to the laboratory and inspected for eggs, larvae to flowers and fruit. While a new species of Tortricidae appears to and pupae of lepidopterans. Each sample was observed for the be the most common species (Heppner, 1981), less-known species presence of eggs, larvae, and pupae. Samples were placed in also cause damage to either fruit and flowers. Here we present 800-mL jars until moth emergence. Emerging insects were sent results 1) from a survey conducted during 2002, with a descrip- to the junior author (J.B.H.) for identification. tion of the insects and the damage caused to sapodilla, and 2) of PESTICIDE EFFICACY. The trial was conducted in an experimental a pesticide efficacy test against these lepidopteran pests. sapodilla row of trees located at the University of Florida Tropi- cal Research Center, 3 miles north of Homestead. The treatments were arranged in a RCB design consisting of four-tree plots. These trees were about 25 ft tall with 10-ft spacing between trees. One single tree was used as a barrier to separate treatments. Treatments were applied on 11 July 2006 with a hand-gun sprayer operating at 350 psi and delivering 100 gpa of finished spray (~1 gal/tree). The insecticides (Table 1) were compared for efficacy against the sapodilla moths by collecting two flower clusters (with about 3–9 flowers) from the periphery of each tree. Samples were collected before treatment and on 18, 25, 31 July and 7 Aug. 2006. Floral clusters were placed in plastic bags and brought to the laboratory where the number of damaged flowers per cluster was recorded. Data were analyzed using the GLM procedure. Means were separated (LSD) using the Student–Newman–Keuls test. Results and Discussion Fig. 1. The sapodilla (Manilkara zapota van Royen), also known as naseberry, nispero, zapote, zapotillo, chicozapote, native to Mexico and Central America, SURVEY. A range of 10–75 flowers and 2–10 fruits were col- is currently grown in south Florida. lected per sampling date. Flowers were abundant during collec- tion, while a very small number of fruits (n = 31) were collected. *Corresponding author; phone: (305) 246-7001, ext. 223; email: [email protected]fl.edu Flowers sustained an infestation range of 10% to 53%, while 0 10 Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 121: 2008. Table 1. Insecticides tested against microlepidoptera infestation of at the base of most primary setae. The frontal area of the head is sapodilla. sclerotized. The larva possesses two prespiracular setae on the Pesticide Product Dose/acre prothorax and the Pi group setae are bisetose on the mesothorax Fenpropathrin Danitol 2.4EC 15 oz and metathorax. Crochets are present on the ventral prolegs on Alverde BAS 320 16 oz abdominal segments A3–A6 and A10. The crochets are biordinal Dinotefuran Venom 70 SG 4 oz and are arranged in a circle on the ventral prolegs A3–A6 but Novaluron 0.83EC 10.3 oz are arranged as a uniordinal transverse band on A10. The mature E2Y45 DPX – E2Y45 0.088 lb a.i./acre larva becomes pinkish before pupation. The 12-mm-long pupa is + 0.5% MSO obtect and reddish brown. The adult moth is small and pinkish Thiamethoxam Actara 25WG 4.5 oz gray. Multiple black transverse bands can also be seen on both Zeta-Cypermethrin Fury 1.5 EC 4 oz fore- and hindwings. The wings are held away from the body when at rest. The wingspan varies between 18 and 23 mm with the forewings being slightly narrower than the hindwings. Two to 60% of the fruits were infested with larvae or pupae of the transparent discal spots are present towards the center of each microlepidoptera (Table 2). The microlepidoptera collected were forewing which are usually subdivided into seven cells (Arnett, B. myrsusalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Thyrididae), D. sapodilla 1985). The abdomen is stout, silvery gray with a pink tinge. Heppner (Lepdioptera: Tortricidae), and Zamagiria sp. (Lepi- BIOLOGY. In the US (South Florida) adults have been observed in doptera: Pyralidae). late spring and summer (May–July) but may be present throughout the year as long as flowers and fruit are present. Eggs are ovipos- Banisia myrsusalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Thyrididae) ited singly on the base of petals of floral buds. Upon hatching, Banisia myrsusalis, commonly known as the sapodilla borer, the larva wanders and starts boring into the bud. Buds are often bores and feeds on the ovary of flower buds and in the pulp and glued together by latex as the larva bores from one flower bud seeds of young sapodilla fruits. In India and Brazil, it is consid- to the next, consuming the ovaries. If both flower buds and fruits ered economically important (Carneiro et al., 2002; Jhala et al., are present, the larva will attack the flower buds first and then 1986; Patel et al., 1993). bores into the fruit. Large quantities of frass are produced as the DISTRIBUTION. Banisia myrsusalis is one of three Banisia larva feeds. The larva will pupate outside of the fruit, spinning species recorded in Florida (Heppner, 2002). It has also been silk threads to anchor the cocoon between leaves or on the fruit recorded in Costa Rica (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, epidermis. Adults emerge within 14 d of pupation. 1997), Brazil (Carneiro et al., 2002), Cuba (Bendicho-Lopez, 1998), Malaysia (Foon Fong, 2002; Ibrahim, 1992), Australia Dichrorampha sapodilla Heppner (Lepdioptera: Tortricidae) (CSIRO, 2004), Hong Kong (Hong Kong Lepidopterists Society, The adult moth of the sapodilla pod borer, D. sapodilla, was 2002), and India (Jhala et al., 1986). first described by Heppner (1981) from sapodilla flowers. The HOST RANGE. Banisia myrsusalis feeds primarily on flower buds larva was observed during this study feeding on the anthers and and young sapodilla fruits in the US and Brazil (Balerdi and Crane, ovary of the floral buds. 2000; Carneiro et. al., 2002). In Cuba it feeds on Chrysophyllum DISTRIBUTION. The species D. sapodilla has only been described oliviforme, also a member of the Sapotaceae family (Bendicho- in the US (Heppner, 1981). The genus Dichrorampha consists Lopez, 1998). In India and Malaysia, B. myrsusalis is described of about 115 species (Ulenburg, 2002) of which 14 have been primarily as a leaf feeder of young sapodilla leaves (Foon Fong, recorded in the US and Canada (Arnett, 1985). The distribution 2002; Ibrahim, 1992; Jhala et al., 1986; Patel et al., 1993). of the genus is Holartic (Ulenburg, 2002). DESCRIPTION. Eggs are conical and pink, changing to cream HOST RANGE. In the US, D. sapodilla has only been reported with conspicuous white ridges after eclosion. The ridges (n = feeding on the flowers of Manilkara zapota (Sapotaceae). Another 11) radiate from the base to the top. The ridges possess trans- related species, D. manilkara, feeds on wild dilly (Manilkara bu- verse white lines between them. The micropilar area shows a hamensis) in the US (Heppner, 1981). In the Netherlands, larvae of deep round depression. The mature larva is about 15 mm long, the genera Dichrorampa feed on a restricted number of host plant robust, and cylindrical. The integument is smooth with only species, all of which belong to the family Asteraceae (Ulenberg, primary setae, and white with conspicuous pigmented pinacula 2002). Dichrorampa simpliciana, a nondescript member of this Table 2. Infestation of microlepidoptera on sapodilla flowers and fruits between May and June 2002. Collection Flowers (no.) Fruits (no.) Larvae (no.) Pupae (no.) Infestation (%) date per sample per sample Flowers Fruit Flowers Fruit Flowers Fruit 21 May 75 6 34 0 1 0 46 0 25 May 15 8 8 0 0 0 53 0 28 May 20 0 5 --- 0 --- 25 --- 31 May 25 2 6 0 0 0 24 0 3 June 10 10 3 6 0 0 30 60 6 June 20 0 2 --- 1 --- 10 --- 10 June 20 5 4 2 0 0 20 40 18 June 15 0 4 --- 0 --- 26 --- 20 June 30 0 9 --- 1 --- 33 --- 21 June 35 0 12 --- 1 --- 37 --- Proc.