Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #153153
Title: SUITABILITY OF LYCHEE ON AND OFF THE TREE FOR CRYPTOPHLEBIA SPP.

Author
item Follett, Peter
item DELUZ, S. - UHHILO
item Lower, Robert
item PRICE, D. - UHHILO

Submitted to: Hawaiian Entomological Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2003
Publication Date: 10/1/2003
Citation: Follett, P.A., Deluz, S., Lower, R.A., Price, D.K. 2003. Suitability of lychee on and off the tree for cryptophlebia spp.. Hawaiian Entomological Society Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary: Estimates of pest risk and likelihood of introduction for a quarantine pest are typically based on field infestation studies due to a lack of detailed postharvest information. These studies assume that the infestation rate at some future point when the fruit arrives at an export destination is equal to the infestation rate at harvest, which ignores pest survivorship on the host after harvest. Cryptophlebia illepida and C. ombrodelta larval establishment was studied in lychee fruit on and off the tree under field conditions. The proportion of larvae establishing from hatched eggs and the proportion of fruit with at least one larva establishing were significantly higher for C. illepida in fruit detached from the tree compared with fruit on the tree. The trend for C. ombrodelta was toward higher establishment in fruit attached to the tree compared with fruit detached from the tree but results were not significant. Although lychee is considered a poor host for C. illepida, the threat of introducing this pest in contraband fruit entering the U.S. mainland may be greater than previously thought.

Technical Abstract: Cryptophlebia illepida and C. ombrodelta larval establishment was studied in lychee fruit on and off the tree under field conditions. The proportion of larvae establishing from hatched eggs and the proportion of fruit with at least one larva establishing were significantly higher for C. illepida in fruit detached from the tree compared with fruit on the tree. The trend for C. ombrodelta was toward higher establishment in fruit attached to the tree compared with fruit detached from the tree but results were not significant. Although lychee is considered a poor host for C. illepida, the threat of introducing this pest in contraband fruit entering the U.S. mainland may be greater than previously thought.