Brazil: Epagri researchers identify new pest of fruit trees in Santa Catarina

Fruits

Brazil

Sustainability & Environmental Impact

Innovation & Technology

Published Mar 6, 2024

Tridge summary

A team of researchers led by Janaína Pereira dos Santos has discovered a new insect pest, Zaprionus tuberculatus, in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The species, which poses a potential threat to fruit crops, was identified in 2023 during a study on pests associated with native fruit trees and strawberry cultivation. The first sightings of Z. tuberculatus were in strawberries in Caçador and in mountain guava and yellow araçá fruits in Videira. The species, originally from Africa, has also been reported in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, and Minas Gerais.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by a state-of-the-art LLM model and is intended for informational purposes only. It is recommended that readers refer to the original article for more context.

Original content

A team coordinated by researcher Janaína Pereira dos Santos, from the Epagri Experimental Station in Caçador, recorded a new insect pest in Santa Catarina, the Zaprionus tuberculatus (Diptera: Drosophilidae). According to Janaína, the presence of Z. tuberculatus in Brazil is worrying, as this species occupies niches similar to those of other drosophilid pests, such as Zaprionus indianus and Drosophila suzukii. The interaction of these species in the same crop can increase the potential for infestation and, consequently, damage to the fruits. “For fruit growing, this exotic pest represents a potential risk, as it is a generalist species that efficiently exploits both native and exotic fruit trees” warns the researcher. The identification took place in 2023 and was reported in an article published in the most recent edition of the magazine Agropecuária Catarinense, a scientific publication by Epagri. The discovery occurred during a study coordinated by Janaína to understand the ...

Source: NoticiasAgricolas