Sugarcane stem borers of the Colombian Cauca River Valley: current pest status, biology, and control
Keywords:
augmentative release, Billaea claripalpis, Diatraea, Lydella minense, Tachinidae, Trichogramma exiguumAbstract
Sugarcane stem borers of the genus of Diatraea (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) form a species complex that causes serious economic losses to sugarcane production in the Cauca River Valley and other regions of Colombia. Two primary species, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) and D. indigenella Dyar and Heinrich, have been effectively managed for more than 4 decades through augmentative releases of the tachinid flies Lydella minense (Townsend) and Billaea claripalpis (Wulp) (Diptera: Tachinidae) and the egg parasitoid Trichogramma exiguum Pinto & Platner (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Here we review the current pest status of Diatraea species, damage assessment protocols, management tactics, and the environmental factors and cultural practices that can affect biological control outcomes. Recent changes in the cultivars grown have the potential to increase pest populations and diminish biological control efficacy. Additionally, recent outbreaks of new Diatraea species may further increase overall pest pressure. Thus, there is a need to develop supplementary tactics for the management of these pests that will be compatible with biological control, as well as more reliable protocols for assessing host plant resistance against the increase in infestation intensity.
Resumen
Los barrenadores del género Diatraea (Lepidóptera: Crambidae) constituyen un complejo de especies que causan pérdidas económicas importantes en la producción de caña de azúcar en el valle del río Cauca y otras regiones de Colombia. Dos especies principales, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) y D. indigenella Dyar y Heinrich han sido manejadas de forma satisfactoria, durante más de cuatro décadas, mediante liberaciones de las moscas taquínidas Lydella minense (Townsend) y Billaea claripalpis (Wulp) (Diptera: Tachinidae), y el parasitoide de huevos Trichogramma exiguum Pinto & Platner (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). En este documento se revisa el estatus actual de las especies de Diatraea, los métodos de evaluación, las alternativas de manejo, los factores ambientales y las prácticas del cultivo que interactúan con la acción del control biológico. Sin embargo, cambios recientes en el uso de nuevas variedades de caña, tienen el potencial de incrementar la presión por la plaga y disminuir la eficacia de las prácticas de manejo utilizadas hasta ahora. Adicionalmente, reportes recientes de brotes por la plaga debido al registro de nuevas especies, como Diatraea tabernella, tienen el potencial de incrementar la presión por la plaga a nivel regional. De acuerdo con lo anterior, existe la necesidad de desarrollar alternativas adicionales para el manejo, que sean compatibles con el control biológico, así como protocolos que permitan caracterizar la resistencia varietal, que en conjunto permitan contrarrestar el incremento en la intensidad de infestación.
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