Identification Guide Major Pests of Callaloo Dionne Clarke-Harris1, Shelby Fleischer2 and Andrea Fender1 Hawaiian Beet Armyworm Contents (Spoladea recurvalis) .......... 10 Coleoptera Introduction ................. 1 Banded Cucumber Beetle Lepidoptera (Diabrotica balteata) ........... 12 Fall Armyworm Flea Beetle (Disonyca laevigata) .... 12 (Spodoptera frugiperda) .......... 2 Homoptera Southern Armyworm Leafhopper (Empoasca spp.) ...... 13 (Spodoptera eridania) ........... 4 Acarina Beet Armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) .6 Red Spider Mite (Tetranychus spp.) .14 Southern Beet Armyworm References ................. 15 (Herpetogramma bipunctalis) ...... 8 Acsknowledgements .......... 16 Introduction Callaloo, Amaranthus viridis L. (Amaranthaceae) is an annual herb grown in Jamaica as a leaf vegetable. Other common names used in the Caribbean region are Bhaji, Calalu, Pigweed, Spinach and White Caterpillar. The plant grows from 10 centimeters to about one meter in height under natural conditions and will grow at middle or low elevations. Traditionally, callaloo Callaloo leaves are severely damaged by has been cultivated in Jamaica on small foliage feeding insects. The photo above holdings and backyard gardens for local shows sieve holes and window-pane feeding markets as a main source of iron in the patterns of some pest species. Jamaican diet. been and still is heavily relied upon, but Over the last 10 years callaloo has poses health hazards, insecticide become an important export crop. resistance and environmental contami- Unfortunately, the leaves of this plant are nation. This guide was developed to plagued by numerous pest species which identify the major insect pests of callaloo adversely affect yield and marketability and to help create an Integrated Pest of the crop and have required extensive Management (IPM) approach that chemical controls. Chemical control has minimizes reliance on chemical controls. 1. CARDI, Jamaica 2. IPM CRSP, The Pennsylvania State University, USA 2 Major Pests of Callaloo Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) Family: Noctuidae (Owlet Moths and Underwings) Wing span of this species is 31- Young larvae are light coloured, 34mm. The forewings are mottled sparsely covered with black setae greyish-yellow with black, white and and the head capsule is prominent reddish-brown markings, while the and dark coloured with an inverted hindwings are white with dark veins “Y”. Later larval instars have and a fringe of dark hairs. blackish lateral stripes and a greyish Hindwings of adults are lightly or yellowish dorsal stripe which is iridescent purple in fresh specimens. twice as wide as lateral stripes with Adults hide in plants during the day four black dots on each segment and are attracted to light at night. within the dorsal stripe. They feed Fresh eggs are green and laid in on the upper leaf surface causing masses (50-300 eggs) of more than windowing, or leaf tearing. Larvae one layer and covered in moth migrate to the soil where they scales, while older eggs are dark pupate in a tunnel shaped pupal brown close to time of hatching. chamber near the soil surface. Eggs may be laid on upper or lower Pupae are 13mm long, dark and leaf surfaces of plants, fences and shiny with two minute spines. buildings. Spodoptera frugiperda larva Major Pests of Callaloo 3 Adult Spodoptera frugiperda Typical Spodoptera frugiperda egg mass covered with moth scales. Pupa of Spodoptera frugiperda with characteristic spines at the distal end. 4 Major Pests of Callaloo Southern Armyworm Spodoptera eridania (Cramer) Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) Family: Noctuidae (Owlet Moths and Underwings) S. eridania moths have a wingspan (common to most S. eridania). The of about 32mm. Forewings are intensity of the subspiracular stripe greyish-brown and hindwings are fades from the point adjacent to this white. Eggs are green and laid in spot up towards the head (character- masses of about 200, with each egg istic of S. eridania). In some indi- being 0.45mm long, 0.35mm wide viduals this stripe may be pale or and dome-shaped. The clusters are absent, however the dorsal triangle covered with moth scales from the on the first abdominal segment is adult female’s abdomen. The head always relatively large compared to capsule of the larva is a uniform other dorsal triangles. The maxi- brown colour. There is a lateral spot mum length of the final instar larva in the first abdominal segment just is 34mm. Pupation occurs in a pupal above the subspiracular stripe chamber in the soil. Major Pests of Callaloo 5 Late instar of Spodoptera eridania.The intensity of the subspiracular line fades from the first abdominal segments toward the head. Adult Spodoptera eridania 6 Major Pests of Callaloo Beet Armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Hb.) Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) Family: Noctuidae (Owlet Moths and Underwings) The body length of adult S. exigua the adult female’s abdomen. Larvae ranges from 10-14mm with a wing are light green with conspicuous span of 25-30mm. The forewings lateral stripes. They feed on lower are greyish-brown with a small, leaf surfaces, leaving the upper round, rust coloured spot above a surface intact, though sometimes the smaller kidney-shaped spot. The leaves are punctured. The full grown hindwings are white with dark brown larva is 30mm with pupation occur- veins and margins. Eggs are laid in ring in the soil. Pupae are 10-14mm masses on the lower leaf surface long, brown and shiny. and covered with white scales from Major Pests of Callaloo 7 Full grown larva of Spodoptera exigua. Adult Spodoptera exigua. 8 Major Pests of Callaloo Southern Beet Armyworm Herpetogramma bipunctalis (Fabr.) Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) Family: Pyralidae (Pyralid, Grass and Wax Moths) The wings are metallic golden-brown surface when viewed under X20 with black spots, two on the fore- magnification. Neonate larvae are wing and one on the hindwing. Dark yellow and gradually darken to a brown markings on both wings form translucent dull green as the larvae three continuous wavy lines which grow. The head is either dark brown are roughly parallel to the wing or black and mottled. The cervical margins. The wing span is about shield has a kidney shaped spot on 20mm. Eggs are translucent and either side. The body appears nearly colourless, oval shaped sacs spotted due to the pigmentation (0.6 x 0.5)mm, laid on the underside around the base of setae. Fully of leaves in clusters of about ten grown larvae are 20-23mm long. eggs. The side attached to the leaf is Larvae feed on leaves and web flattened. Empty egg sacs are leaves together with a silken thread iridescent and appear as shiny flecks to form a protective covering where to the naked eye. Irregular polygonal they pupate. Pupae are dark brown reticulations can be seen on the and about 10mm long. Larva of Herpetogramma bipunctalis. Prepupal stage turns yellowish cream, and spots are prominent. Major Pests of Callaloo 9 Late instar of Herpetogramma bipunctalis webs leaf around itself. Adult Herpetogramma bipunctalis Left: Cluster of translucent Herpetogramma bipunctalis eggs laid on underside of leaf. Right: Empty egg sacs 10 Major Pests of Callaloo Hawaiian Beet Armyworm Spoladea recurvalis (F.) Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) Family: Pyralidae (Pyralid, Grass and Wax Moths) The adult is a dark brown moth with There are two longitudinal white two white translucent bands on the wavy lines sandwiching the green forewings and one on the hindwings; band formed by the gut. The head these bands form a continuous arch capsule is light coloured. In the pattern when the wings are spread. prepupal stage the larva changes The wing span is about 20mm. The colour from green to yellow to brown eggs are scale-like, shiny translucent to bright pink. The larva webs the yellow sacs, 0.6 x 0.5mm. The leaf around itself using silken larvae are a translucent green with threads and pupates there. Pupae the gut visible through the integu- are 8-10mm long and straw ment as a pulsating dark green band. coloured. Middle instar larva of Spoladea recurvalis Major Pests of Callaloo 11 Adult Spoladea recurvalis Egg cluster of Spoladea recurvalis attached to the underside of leaf. 12 Major Pests of Callaloo Banded Cucumber Beetle Diabrotica balteata LeC. Order: Coleoptera (Beetles) Family: Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetle) The adult beetle is 6mm long with a Adult Diabrotica reddish-brown head, dark eyes and balteata long antennae. The body is greenish with yellow bands. Eggs are laid in the top 10cm of soil near the base of the host plant. These beetles gnaw holes in the leaves. Larvae are whitish and wireworm-like and feed on roots. Pupation takes place in soil. Flea Beetle Disonyca laevigata (Jacoby) Order: Coleoptera (Beetles) Family: Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetle) These beetles are 7-8mm long. Their gnaw holes in the leaves. Eggs are elytra are striped with alternating dark ellipsoidal with one end more pointed brown and yellow bands. The head, than the other and are scattered in soil thorax, abdomen and legs are red- near the base of host plants. Larvae orange in colour. The femur of the are wireworm-like with a whitish- hind legs are enlarged because these brown head. They feed on roots and beetles are strong jumpers. They pupate in soil. Left: Adult Disonyca laevigata Right: Adult Disonyca laevigata (color variation) on damaged leaf Major Pests of Callaloo 13 Leafhopper Empoasca spp. Order: Homoptera (Aphids, Leafhoppers, Planthoppers, Scale insects and Allies) Family: Cicadellidae (Leafhoppers) Adult leafhoppers are about 3mm piercing plant tissue with slender long, slender bodied and shiny green needle-like mouthparts and remov- in colour. Eggs are oviposited in ing plant juices. Linear yellow stems or leaf ribs. Nymphs are etchings on the leaf surface result bright green and feed on the under- from feeding, and a very heavy side of the leaf where they run infestation affects the health, vigor about.