Azamora penicillana occurrence in sour passion fruit in the state of Minas Gerais

Ocorrência de Azamora penicillana em maracujazeiro-azedo no estado de Minas Gerais

Abstract

Azamora penicillana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is popularly known as exotic passionflower caterpillar, passionflower web, cloak or pouch. It is considered an emergent pest of passion fruit crop due to damages caused to the plant and management difficulties related to insect habit. This species is recorded for the first time infesting passion fruit in the state of Minas Gerais attacking leaves, fruits and branches. Pest attacks have been widely reported throughout the orchard.

Index terms
exotic passionflower caterpillar; Passiflora edulis; emergent pest

Resumo

Azamora penicillana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) é conhecida popularmente como lagarta exótica do maracujazeiro, de teia do maracujazeiro, do capote ou cartucheira. É uma praga emergente da cultura do maracujazeiro em função dos danos provocados à cultura e das dificuldades de manejo em função do hábito do inseto. Esta espécie é registrada pela primeira vez infestando a cultura do maracujazeiro, no Estado de Minas Gerais, atacando folhas, frutos e ramos. Os ataques da praga foram registrados de forma generalizada em todo o pomar.

Termos para indexação
lagarta exótica do maracujazeiro; Passiflora edulis; praga emergente

Introduction

The genus Passiflora L., belonging to the Passifloraceae family, originates from South America, whose area with greater geographical distribution is located in the Center-North of Brazil (LOPES, 1991). It has over 530 species described for the genus, of which about 150 are native from Brazil (CROCHEMORE et al., 2003; FLORA DO BRASIL, 2020).

Worldwide, there are six species of mites and 91 insect species (distributed in seven orders) described as pests or associated with passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) culture (AGUIAR-MENEZES et al., 2002).

Among the pest insects, there is a moth about 2.5 cm wingspan and gray-brown color (Figure 1) (PRATISSOLI; CARVALHO, 2015) popularly known as exotic passionflower caterpillar, passionflower web, cloak or pouch [Azamora penicillana (Walker, 1863) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)] (FANCELLI, 1993).

Figure 1
Adult of Azamora penicillana.

This moth is an emerging pest for passion fruit plant related to crop damage and management difficulties due to its insect habit (PRATISSOLI; CARVALHO, 2015; FANCELLI, 1995).

The occurrence of A. penicillana is reported in the state of Bahia, in infestations in wild passion fruit (FANCELLI, 1993) and in the state of Espirito Santo, in sour passion fruit (PRATISSOLI; CARVALHO, 2015).

Figure 1. Adult of Azamora penicillana. Damage caused by A. penicillana occurs in flowers, buds and young fruits, which significantly reduce yield.

Moreover, it can cause burning in the passion fruit foliage as the caterpillars release a greenish-colored liquid with phytotoxic action. (MATTA; NASCIMENTO, 1976; FANCELLI, 1995).

A. penicillana caterpillars were observed infesting passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims.) crop in the Fruit Sector of the Federal Institute of Minas Gerais, São João Evangelista campus (18°33’20.5”S+42°45’05.5”W), state of Minas Gerais in the 2015, 2016 and 2017 harvests.

Fruits and leaves of infested passion fruit (Figure 2) were transported to the Entomology Laboratory of the Federal Institute of Minas Gerais, São João Evangelista campus and packed in plastic pots with moistened sand to obtain the adults. After this period, the adults were assembled and identified.

Figure 2
Passion fruit infested with Azamora penicillana.

Thus, the occurrence of A. penicillana is recorded for the first time in passion fruit crops in the state of Minas Gerais.

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• FLORA DO BRASIL 2020 em construção. Passiflora. Rio de Janeiro: Jardim Botânico, 2019. Disponível em: http://reflora.jbrj.gov.br/reflora/floradobrasil/FB12506 Acesso em: 23 mai. 2019.
  » http://reflora.jbrj.gov.br/reflora/floradobrasil/FB12506
• PRATISSOLI, D.; CARVALHO, J.R. Lagartas exóticas do maracujazeiro. In: PRATISSOLI, D. (org.). Pragas emergentes no estado do Espírito Santo. Alegre: Unicopy, 2015, v.1, p.106-111.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  21 Feb 2020
• Date of issue
  2020

History

• Received
  09 Oct 2019
• Accepted
  06 Dec 2019