Occurrence and assessment of damages provoked by phytophagous insects in dwarf elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott) and Guatemala grass (Tripsacum laxum Nash)

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Nurys Valenciaga
Madelen Herrera
C. R. Garc?a
Ciro Alejandro Mora

Abstract

The research was conducted to evaluate the presence and damages provoked by phytophagous insects associated with dwarf elephant
grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott) and Guatemala grass (Tripsacum laxum Nash). Non-parametric methods were used in the data analysis. During the first two years (2006 and 2007) there were no differences between the pastures, as to the pest insects. However, they indeed differ in 2008, with higher ratio (P < 0.05) for Pennisetum, compared with Tripsacum. The Diptera insects were those of higher ratio (P < 0.001) in 2007 and 2008, differing from the rest of the phytophagous. Among the most frequent phytophagous insects in the pastures under study, there were the chrysomelids: Epitrix sp. and Centrinaspis penicellus, the leafhopper: Hortensia similis, and the hemipterous: Zicca taeniola and Jalysus reductus. There were no differences between the bioregulators. The most frequent were spiders and ants, earwigs (Doru taeniatum), syrphids, milkweed assassin bugs (Zelus longipes), coccinellids (Diomus bruneri), and little fire ants (Wasmannia auropunctata). The season was not significant in both pastures during 2006, as well as Tripsacum during 2008. However, 2007 was significant for both pastures, with higher ratio favoring the rainy season (P < 0.01). This performance was repeated in 2008, only for Mott, whose results were related to the performance of the climatic factors. It was concluded that the Mott and Tripsacum pastures showed resistance to the attack of harmful organisms, mainly chewing insects, by showing few visible damages during the evaluations. Further studies in pest insects associated with the crop and its performance are recommended in the different months.
Key words: Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott, Tripsacum laxum, damages, arthropods.

Article Details

How to Cite
Valenciaga, N., Herrera, M., Garc?a, C. R., & Mora, C. A. (2011). Occurrence and assessment of damages provoked by phytophagous insects in dwarf elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott) and Guatemala grass (Tripsacum laxum Nash). Cuban Journal of Agricultural Science, 45(2). Retrieved from https://cjascience.com/index.php/CJAS/article/view/143
Section
Pasture Science and other Crops
Author Biographies

Nurys Valenciaga

Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San Jos? de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba

Madelen Herrera

Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San Jos? de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba

C. R. Garc?a

Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San Jos? de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba

Ciro Alejandro Mora

Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San Jos? de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba

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