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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #357439
Research Project: Methyl Bromide Replacement: Mitigation of the Invasive Pest Threat from the American Tropics and Subtropics

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: Development and behavioral ecology of Conopomorpha cramerella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Author
item NIOGRET, JEROME - Niogret Ecology Consulting
item EKAYANTI, ARNI - Niogret Ecology Consulting
item INGRAM, KEITH - Mars, Inc
item LAMBERT, SMILJA - Mars, Inc
item Kendra, Paul
item Alborn, Hans
item Epsky, Nancy

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/21/2018
Publication Date: 6/14/2019
Citation: Niogret, J., Ekayanti, A., Ingram, K., Lambert, S., Kendra, P.E., Alborn, H.T., Epsky, N.D. 2019. Development and behavioral ecology of Conopomorpha cramerella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). Florida Entomologist. 102(2):382-387.

Interpretive Summary: The cocoa pod borer is a moth that is the most devastating pest responsible of the decline of the cocoa production in South East Asia in the last decades. Despite its economic importance, the basic ecological knowledge of the pest is poorly understood, indirectly resulting in poor efficiency of current pest management methods. Therefore, ARS scientists in Miami and Gainesville, FL, in collaboration with scientists at Niogret Ecology Consulting LLC and Mars Inc, conducted research in Indonesia to learn more about the behavior and ecology of this pest. It was found that these moths rested on the underside of branches during the day, and showed a strong preference for branches that were near horizontal. Female moths moved farther after they were disturbed and rested closer to cocoa pods than males. Results of this study will provide new control methods for integrated pest management of this insect, which will be used by growers to increase cocoa production in areas affected by this pest.

Technical Abstract: Conopomorpha cramerella (Snellen, 1904) is the most devastating pest partly responsible of the decline of the cocoa production in South East Asia in the last decades. Despite its economic importance, the basic ecological knowledge of the pest is poorly understood, indirectly resulting in poor efficiency of current pest management methods. This study confirmed and updated the C. cramerella life cycle, and measured the natural distribution within trees in managed cocoa orchards and movement of adults after they were disturbed. These nocturnal moths rest underneath the branches during the day, with a strong preference for near horizontal branches. Females demonstrated a greater capacity for movement after disturbance (83.0 ± 89.9 cm in 9.1 ± 9.5 sec vs 57.7 ± 49.2 cm in 6.7 ± 5.3 sec, for females and males respectively) and rest closer to cocoa pods (61.0 ± 45.0 vs 76.0 ± 47.3 cm, for females and males respectively). Our observations described herein bring new ecological knowledge and provide new perspectives on potential IPM methods for C. cramerella populations.