UNTRM warns of increasing risk of plague affecting pitahaya production in northern Peru

Pitahaya, one of the crops of greatest economic value in northern Peru, faces a growing threat due to the presence of the floral button fly (Dasiops saltans), an insect that attacks the flowers of the crop, causing them to fall and directly affecting the normal development of the fruits. A study developed by the Institute for Research on Sustainable Development of Ceja de Selva (INDES CES) of the National University Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza (UNTRM) identified the areas where this pest is most likely to occur currently and how its distribution could vary in the future in the face of climate change. The research analyzed climatic information, soil and terrain characteristics, determining that many areas where pitahaya is currently cultivated already have favorable environmental conditions for the presence of the pest, especially in areas with stable temperatures, high humidity, and suitable soils. Climate projections indicate that while the general distribution of the insect ...