effect of the weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), on the mango seed weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in mango orchards in the Northern Territory of Australia

The mango seed weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae (Fabricius), is one of the major mango insect pests in northern Australia. A reasonable level of control can be obtained with insecticide sprays together with orchard sanitation, but the only option available for organic growers is the latter. Weaver an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of pest management 2007, Vol.53 (1), p.15-24
Main Authors: Peng, R, Christian, K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biocontrol agent
biological control agents
Cryptorhynchus mangiferae
fruit damage
fruit grades
insect control
integrated control
integrated pest management
Mangifera indica
Mango insect pest
mangoes
Oecophylla smaragdina
orchard sanitation
orchards
organic production
pest monitoring
population density
predatory insects
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Summary:The mango seed weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae (Fabricius), is one of the major mango insect pests in northern Australia. A reasonable level of control can be obtained with insecticide sprays together with orchard sanitation, but the only option available for organic growers is the latter. Weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius), are effective in controlling the main insect pests in citrus, cashew and mango orchards. To determine whether weaver ants, which are usually abundant in non-sprayed mango orchards, have the potential to control the mango seed weevil, field experiments together with regular monitoring programmes at six orchards in the Northern Territory of Australia were conducted from 2001 to 2003. Data from two conventional orchards showed that the treatment with weaver ants plus soft chemicals produced lower levels of downgraded fruits (
ISSN:0967-0874
1366-5863
DOI:10.1080/09670870600968859