Occurrence and damage of soursop pests in northeast Brazil

Field studies from 1995 to 1997 in the Paraipaba county state of Ceara, Bra zil evaluated the occurrence and potential damage of soursop Annona muricat a L. pests. The most important pests were the fruit borer Cerconota anonell a and the "irapua" bee Trigona spinips, the maximum fruit damage being 62 a nd 53%, respectively. The seed borer Bephratelloides maculicollis caused th e least fruit damage. Different species of Membracidae, Coccidae, Diaspidid ae and Aphididae were also evaluated with plant damage that varied from 16 to 20%. The leafminer Prinomerus anonicola was continuously present during the three-year period with plant damage varying from 17 to 22%. Other less important pests were stem borer Cratosomus sp, ants, stink bugs and defolia tors that together caused on an average 19-32% plant damage. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.