Monitoring and identification of insect pests in passionfruit (Passiflora spp.) for implementation of integrated pest management

Abstract

The passionfruit (Passiflora spp.) is a species of herbaceous climbing plant common in tropical
and sub-tropical regions that is a host for many species of insects. This study was conducted
in the community of Boa Fé, in Mojuí dos Campos, Pará with the objective of monitoring the
presence of pests and their natural enemies in a 1.2 hectare passionfruit plantation. Among the
identified pest species were Dione juno juno, Leptoglossus zonatus, Diactor bilineatus, Nezara
viridula, Diabrotica speciosaand Philonis passiflorae. The natural enemy species identified
were Chrysopa oculata, Cycloneda sanguínea, Apiomerus vexillarius, Mischocyttarus drewseni,
and a few arachnids. Management techniques adopted by producers that have been shown
to be effective to control these pests are monitoring, insect collection, pruning, irrigation, use
of natural pesticides such as sulfate fungicides, orange extract, neem (Azadirachta indica) and
citronella, among other measures.