Avocado Moth (Lepidoptera: Stenomidae) Damage in Two Avocado Cultivars

Abstract

Avocado moth, Stenoma catenifer (Wals.), damages the avocado, Persea americana Mill. Two cultivars, Beatriz and Margarida, were assessed during the fruit development period. The progression of fruit damaged was different in the two cultivars. The incidence of S. catenifer fruit damage at the beginning of fruit development was higher in Beatriz (72.1%) than in Margarida (28.4%). However, the differences in damaged fruit decreased between cultivars over the season. The number of borer holes per fruit was also higher throughout the season in Beatriz than in Margarida, as indicated on the first (3.99 and 1.41, respectively, on day 8) and last (13.35 and 6.08, respectively, on day 133) observation date. Percent fallen fruits were initially the same (2.00 and 0.38%, respectively, on day 8), but significantly higher in Beatriz at the end of the season (97.19 and 81.60%, respectively, on day 133). Margarida was less damaged than Beatriz, as evidenced by percent damaged fruits, but mainly in the earlier assessments. The use of Beatriz as a trap plant in avocado orchards is discussed.