ISHS Acta Horticulturae 811: VI International Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal
BIO-ECOLOGY OF SAP BEETLES (NITIDULIDAE), A NEW DOUBLE IMPACT PEST ON CACTUS PEAR IN SOUTH AFRICA |
| Authors: | S. Louw, J.V. Parau, J.C. Olevano |
| Keywords: | Opuntia ficus-indica, Coleoptera, fruit damage |
| Abstract:
Many sap beetle species (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) are known to be agricultural pests of numerous field and stored products. In South Africa these beetles are also associated with cactus pear, where they are responsible for wide-ranging direct (feeding) and indirect (disease transmission) negative pressures concerning the health of the crop. Research conducted by INCroP recorded three species (Carpophilus hemipterus, C. ligneus and Urophorus humeralis) that occur on plants in the central Free State region. The cosmopolitan C. hemipterus was quantitatively dominant throughout all the surveys. In this study C. hemipterus bred prolifically in fermenting fruit, with the adults sheltering under the decaying, moist cladodes that have dropped from the plant. This species also transmits a wide range of diseases to the cactus pear plant. Following on initial field observations, lab trials have also shown a novel trait of this species whereby adults gain access to healthy, ripe cactus pear fruit by exploiting the spine- and glochid-bearing areoles as points of entry. This sap beetle behavior results in post harvest damage to healthy fruit, which could impact on the export market of this crop. Further trials to ascertain the pest status of C. hemipterus under field conditions are still to be done. | |
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