Biology of Cephaloleia vagelineata Pic. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Pest of the Oil Palm in Colombia
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Author
Barrios Trilleras, Carlos Enrique
Castillo Villaraga, Natalia Julieth
Bustillo Pardey, Alex Enrique
Méndez González, Adalberto
Como citar
Publicación:
Revista Palmas; Vol. 39 Núm. 2 (2018); 59-65
0121-2923
Revista Palmas; Vol. 39 Núm. 2 (2018); 59-65
0121-2923
Abstract
The oil palm scraper-leaf beetle, Cephaloleia vagelineata Pic. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is a common oil palm pest in the northern and central oil palm producing zones of Colombia. Information about the biology and behavior of this insect is unknown. Therefore, the life cycle of C. vagelineata was studied under laboratory conditions (28 ° C, 80% RH), and its behavior and natural enemies were observed in oil palm plantations. Findings show that the life cycle of C. vagelineata is 130.4 days on average. The duration of developmental stages of C. vagelineata were as follows: egg 6.6 days, larva 78.4 days, pupa 14.4 days, adult 31 days. Adults of C. vagelineata are commonly found in the arrows of oil palms, where they copulate and feed. When disturbed they fall off the leaves or fly towards another palm tree. It was also found that their populations are larger in dry season, and that females lay their eggs individually at the bases of the petioles. Under field conditions adults of C. vagelineata were found infected by Lecanicillium lecanii and Metarhizium anisopliae. These results will allow to carry out research on population dynamics of C. vagelineata and to develop biological control strategies in order to regulate populations of this pest in oil palm plantations. El raspador de la flecha de la palma de aceite, Cephaloleia vagelineata Pic (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), es una plaga frecuente en los cultivos de palma de aceite en las zonas palmeras central (Tibú) y norte (María la Baja y Magdalena). Sin embargo, la información sobre la biología y el comportamiento de este insecto es poco conocida. Por lo tanto, en esta investigación se estudió su biología bajo condiciones de laboratorio (28 °C, 80 % HR) y se establecieron sus hábitos y la presencia de enemigos nativos en plantaciones de palma de aceite. Los resultados muestran que C. vagelineata completa su ciclo de vida en 130,4 días, en promedio. Además, la duración de sus estados de desarrollo es como sigue: huevo 6,6 días, larva 78,4 días, pupa 14,4 días, adulto 31 días. Los adultos de C. vagelineata se ubican en las flechas de las palmas donde copulan y se alimentan. Cuando son perturbados se dejan caer de las hojas o inician el vuelo en dirección a otra palma. Sus poblaciones son mayores en época de bajas precipitaciones. Las hembras depositan sus huevos individualmente en las bases de los peciolos. En campo se encontraron adultos de C. vagelineata infectados por los hongos Lecanicillium lecanii y Metarhizium anisopliae. Esta información permitirá desarrollar investigaciones sobre la dinámica poblacional y los controladores biológicos de C. vagelineata para su control en plantaciones de palma de aceite.
The oil palm scraper-leaf beetle, Cephaloleia vagelineata Pic. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is a common oil palm pest in the northern and central oil palm producing zones of Colombia. Information about the biology and behavior of this insect is unknown. Therefore, the life cycle of C. vagelineata was studied under laboratory conditions (28 ° C, 80% RH), and its behavior and natural enemies were observed in oil palm plantations. Findings show that the life cycle of C. vagelineata is 130.4 days on average. The duration of developmental stages of C. vagelineata were as follows: egg 6.6 days, larva 78.4 days, pupa 14.4 days, adult 31 days. Adults of C. vagelineata are commonly found in the arrows of oil palms, where they copulate and feed. When disturbed they fall off the leaves or fly towards another palm tree. It was also found that their populations are larger in dry season, and that females lay their eggs individually at the bases of the petioles. Under field conditions adults of C. vagelineata were found infected by Lecanicillium lecanii and Metarhizium anisopliae. These results will allow to carry out research on population dynamics of C. vagelineata and to develop biological control strategies in order to regulate populations of this pest in oil palm plantations.