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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #176579
Title: PAPAYA INSECTS, ECOLOGY AND CONTROL

Author
item PANTOJA, ALBERTO
item PENA, JORGE - UNIV. OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Encyclopedia of Pest Management
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/2005
Publication Date: 8/15/2006
Citation: Pantoja, A., Pena, J.E. 2006. Papaya insects, ecology and control. Encyclopedia of Pest Management. DOI: 10.1081/E-EPM-120041157.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Papaya, Carica papaya L., originated in tropical America and it is currently grown in all tropical and in many subtropical regions of the world. Papaya is mainly cultivated for its edible fruit, but medical, and industrial uses have been documented (1, 2). There are 134 species of arthropods that affect papaya (3). Most of the species belong to the Hexapoda, while twelve belong to the Acarina (Table 1). Twenty-six species are fruit flies in the family Tephritidae. Eighty-seven species can potentially attack or damage the fruit, but are mainly associated with the foliage or the trunk. One species is a seed borer. Five species affect the flowers, and three species are root feeders. At least twelve species are known vectors of important papaya diseases. In different papaya growing areas, fruit flies, leafhoppers, mites, mealybugs and scale insects are considered key pests requiring frequent pesticide applications. Fruit flies are the most important papaya pests either due to their direct effect on the fruit or for quarantine related issues. Aphids and leafhoppers are key pests due to their vector capacity, and mealybugs and scales for quarantine related issues.