Biology, ecology, and control of durian fruit borers, Tonica lagaropis Meyrick (Oecophoridae: Lepidoptera) and Conogethes punctiferalis (Guene) (Pyralidae: Lepidoptera)
1995
Evangelista, C.C.
Tonica lagaropis complete its life cycle in 26-37 days while Conogethes punctiferalis in 31-40 days. There are several (2-3) generations in a fruiting season. T. Lagaropis larva feeds on skin surfaces and internal part of fruit locules leaving reddish frass on the skin. Under serious infestation the flesh is infested and inedible. On-set of infestation is 3-5 weeks after fruitset (WAFS). Usually 1-7 larvae are present per fruit. Larva is fully grown in 17-26 days. For C. punctiferalis, larva feeds on floral buds, flowers, young and mature fruits. Infestation can begin on small fruits of marble size (1-2 WAFS) and is marked by the presence of massy fecal materials between spines on the fruit. Damage is more external and common on fruits that clump to each other. It seldom feeds on flesh or seed. Fruits damaged by Tonica or Conogethes are sometimes exposed to secondary infection by pathogens that lead to fruit rot. The alternate hosts include chico, marang, rambutan, jackfruit, and cacao. The population of both species is relatively high during the period from August to September and March to April which coincides with the peak of harvest of durian. The natural enemies include a larval-pupal parasite, braconid wasps (Suallonius sp.) and larval predator, earwig (Euborellia annulata). Spraying of lamdacyhalothrin or deltamethrin (0.00625 kg ai/ha) from 3 WAFS for 2 months significantly reduces borer infestation from 47.4 percent to 6.66 and 8.09, respectively and increases yield by 6,254.48 and 4,704.70 kg/ha over the untreated control. Bagging at one month after fruitset is equally effective against durian fruit borers reducing infestation to 9.2 percent
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