The role of the Crematogaster spp. in the natural control of Leptopharsa Gibbicarina in an oil palm plantation in the Central Zone
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Author
Aldana de la Torre, Rosa C.
Aldana de la Torre, Jorge A.
Calvache G., Hugo H.
Arias, Diego
Como citar
Publicación:
Revista Palmas; Vol. 19 Núm. 4 (1998); 25-32
0121-2923
Revista Palmas; Vol. 19 Núm. 4 (1998); 25-32
0121-2923
Abstract
The Pestalotiopsis is a sickness caused by a complex of weak fungi that requires previous damage for its penetration; its main inductor is the lace bug, Leptopharsa gibbicarina Froeschner (Hemiptera: Tingidae). This study evaluated the use of the Crematogaster spp. ant as a biological control agent of Z. gibbicarina and some factors that can influence the ants' foraging activity, bearing in mind their pillaging habit, their symbiosis with homopterous and their association with plants; and the presence of the ant was correlated with that of the lace bug under natural conditions. It was found that the presence of plants with extrafloral nectaries, such as Cassia reticulata and Urena trilobata, the presence of homopterous as a source of energy for the workers and the availability of places to build nests can influence the activity of the workers and, therefore, their efficiency as L gibbicarina pillagers. The ants protect at least nine species of homopterous; however, these do not become a problem for the crop, since their presence is restricted to the level 33 and 42 leaves and these are cut periodically during the crop pruning season. Furthermore a negative correlation was found, under natural conditions, between the presence of Crematogaster spp. and L gibbicarina (correlation = 0,71) and an exponential regression (R2 = 0,9563). La Pestalotiopsis es una enfermedad causada por un complejo de hongos débiles que requieren de un daño previo para su penetración; su principal inductor es la chinche de encaje Leptopharsa gibbicarina Froeschner (Hemíptera: Tingidae). Este estudio evaluó el uso de la hormiga Crematogaster spp. Como agente de control biológico de L gibbicarina y algunos factores que pueden influenciar la actividad de forrajeo de las hormigas, teniendo en cuenta su hábito depredador, su simbiosis con homópteros y su asociación con plantas, y se correlacionó la presencia de la hormiga con la de la chinche de encaje en condiciones naturales. Se encontró que la presencia de plantas con nectarios extraflorales, como Cassia reticulata y Urena trilobata, la presencia de homópteros como fuente de energía para las obreras y la disponibilidad de sitios para nidificar pueden influenciar la actividad de las obreras y, por tanto, su eficiencia como depredadores de Z. gibbicarina. Las hormigas protegen, por lo menos nueve especies de homópteros; sin embargo, éstos no llegan a ser un problema para el cultivo, ya que su presencia está restringida a las hojas de los niveles 33 y 42, las cuales se cortan periódicamente durante la poda de cosecha. Además se encontró, en condiciones naturales, una correlación negativa entre la presencia de Crematogaster spp. y Z. gibbicarina (correlación = 0,71) y una regresión exponencial (R2= 0,9563).
The Pestalotiopsis is a sickness caused by a complex of weak fungi that requires previous damage for its penetration; its main inductor is the lace bug, Leptopharsa gibbicarina Froeschner (Hemiptera: Tingidae). This study evaluated the use of the Crematogaster spp. ant as a biological control agent of Z. gibbicarina and some factors that can influence the ants' foraging activity, bearing in mind their pillaging habit, their symbiosis with homopterous and their association with plants; and the presence of the ant was correlated with that of the lace bug under natural conditions. It was found that the presence of plants with extrafloral nectaries, such as Cassia reticulata and Urena trilobata, the presence of homopterous as a source of energy for the workers and the availability of places to build nests can influence the activity of the workers and, therefore, their efficiency as L gibbicarina pillagers. The ants protect at least nine species of homopterous; however, these do not become a problem for the crop, since their presence is restricted to the level 33 and 42 leaves and these are cut periodically during the crop pruning season. Furthermore a negative correlation was found, under natural conditions, between the presence of Crematogaster spp. and L gibbicarina (correlation = 0,71) and an exponential regression (R2 = 0,9563).
Palabras clave:
palma de aceite
elaeis guineensis
formicidae
leptopharsa gibbicarina
crematogaster
control biológico
depredadores
palma de aceite
elaeis guineensis
formicidae
leptopharsa gibbicarina
crematogaster
control biológico
depredadores