Insetos broqueadores associados ao cajueiro

Abstract

The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.) is a deciduous tree with a crooked trunk, widely cultivated in Northeastern Brazil, where is concentrated more than 98% of the production of its main product, the cashew nut kernel. With regard to the production bottlenecks, one of the biggest factors that contribute to the reduction of national production is phytosanitary problems. Considering arthropods, 99 insects and 7 mites were listed in different regions of the country. In terms of diversity, the Orders Coleoptera and Lepidoptera had the highest number of species, with 34 and 28 different insects respectively. Among these, the borers consist of insects that penetrate and deepen the tissues of plants, feeding and residing in them. The borers can feed on any part of the plant, whether the material is alive or dead, and can lead to severe damage in orchards, from the reduction of the individual production of each plant to the death of the entire orchard. The objective of this work was to carry out a review of species with a boring habit belonging to the Orders Coleoptera and Lepidoptera associated with cashew trees, highlighting the species, their morphology, ecology and possible management. The list of boring insects in cashew trees was completed and updated by consulting the literature, collections were carried out in the experimental field and production areas, where the damage and identification of insects was carried out. 20 species of boring habit were identified in association with the cashew tree, totaling 18 Coleoptera and 2 Lepidoptera. Of the coleopterans studied, the Cerambycidae family had the highest number of insects with a boring habit. Among curculionids, Marshallius anacardii and M. bondari are responsible for a high mortality rate in orchards. Only two lepidopterans associated with cashew trees have a boring habit, these being Anacampsis phytomiella and Anthistarcha binocularis. The chestnut moth directly affects the main product of the cashew tree, being an important cause of economic damage. The occurrence of habit change in branch boring can make its control difficult and intensify its period of occurrence. With the exception of the chestnut moth and the cashew branch borer, there is no record of chemical products to combat other pests, and the producer must resort to cultural and alternative methods.