Insect pests and their natural enemies associated to cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale L.) in organic and conventional farming in Leon, Nicaragua

Abstract

This study was conducted during the period from July 2009 to
March 2010, in Chacraseca, department of León, the aim of this
study was to identify and describe the population fluctuations
and the role of the principal insect pest and their natural enemies
associated to organic and conventional cashew nut plots. To carry
out this study, three organic and three conventional farms were
selected; in each farm, a plot of 1 mz (0.7 ha) was studied,in each
plot, five fixed sampling sites were established, sampling was
conducted weekly through insects pests and beneficial insects
manual catches on foliage. Field collected insects were brought
to the entomology laboratory of the National Agrarian University
for their respective identification. The evaluated variables were:
Number of insects from the Homoptera, Heteroptera, Coleoptera,
Neuroptera, Diptera andHymenopterafamilies. The results were as
follow: A higher number of pest and beneficial insects were found in
organic than in conventional farms.It was identified and described
the population fluctuations of the members of the insect families:
Coreidae, Cicadellidae, Tenebrionidae, Chrysomelidae, Apidae,
Formicidae, Dolichopodidaeand Vespidae associated to cashew nut.
In addition, it was found thatinsect families such as Cicadellidae,
Tenebrionidae, Chrysomelidae, Coccinellidae and Formicidae
occurred more frequently during the period of vegetative growth of
the crop.Besides, insects of the family Dolichopodidaeand Vespidae
occurred more frequently during flowering of the crop; and finally,
insects of the family Coreidae and Apidae occurred more frequently
during fruiting of the crop.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/calera.v12i18.1120

Revista Científica Vol. 12. Nº 18, p. 09-17 / junio 2012