Erinnyis ello (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) and Leptopharsa heveae (Hemiptera: Tingidae) in Hevea brasiliensis in agroforestry system

Abstract

Hornworm (Erinnyis ello) and lace bug (Leptopharsa heveae) are considered the most important pests of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). This study aimed to evaluate incidence and abundance of E. ello and L. heveae in three rubber tree clones (two promising clones and control IAN 873) in different planting systems with copoasu trees (Theobroma grandiflorum) and banana trees (Musa AAB) in two localities of Caquetá (Colombian Amazonia). A completely randomized design with three replications and split-plot arrangement, analyzed with a general linear mixed model, was used in each locality. Very low means of incidence and abundance in both of E. ello (< 5 % and < 1 insect per 100 leaflets per plant) and L. heveae (< 7 % and < 2 insects per plant per leaflet) were found for all factors studied, after 23 months of monitoring (six rainfall seasons). It was concluded that the incidence and abundance of E. ello and L. heveae in H. brasiliensis, are influenced not only by spatial and temporal variation, but also by implemented planting system, given by the fact the insect pests are present in the same rainfall season. Similarly, a season effect was observed in clonal reaction to L. heveae, where the clone FDR 5788 was the most tolerant for the four planting systems evaluated in this research.