1. Inventory of arthropods associated with cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) in Panama.
- Author
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Atencio-Valdespino, Randy, Collantes-González, Rubén, Jaén, Melvin, and Aguilera-Cogley, Vidal
- Subjects
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CASHEW tree , *ARTHROPODA , *NUTS , *PITFALL traps , *ARTHROPOD diversity , *INSECT pests , *CASHEW nuts - Abstract
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae) is a plant frequently found in backyards; its false fruit and nut are consumed as a nutritional supplement, and prospects are high for increasing its commercial production in various regions of Panama. Its production can be affected by many factors, including the phytophagous entomofauna. This study was conducted from August 2020 to December 2021 on a plantation of 160 cashew trees. Ten trees were selected at random in Río Hato, Coclé Province, Panama. This study included an inventory of arthropods, especially insects, associated with cashew in Panama and used three capture techniques (direct captures, plastic traps, and pitfall traps), including feeding guilds. In this study, 8177 arthropod individuals were captured, representing five classes, 22 orders, 92 families, and 196 species. Insect pests found in the identified entomofauna included Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky), Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard), Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas), and Guayaquila gracilicornis Stål. The study demonstrated the great diversity of arthropods with different feeding guilds within the cashew tree. This knowledge constitutes the basis for integrated management programs that address harmful species within the entomofauna without being detrimental to the beneficial arthropod species that are natural enemies of the harmful species and are able to recycle nutrients and pollinate the trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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