Bwa-yo - Société Audubon Haiti

18 Pests and Diseases
Damaging agents, such as pests and diseases, reduce the productivity of Haitian
trees and cause considerable economic loss. However, very little has been reported on
the nature of tree pests and diseases in Haiti. Much of this lack has to do with the fact
that basic scientific research nearly has ceased in the country during recent decades.
For example, the only entomological work specific to Haiti is a dated treatment by
Wolcott (1927). Recent investigations of the pests and diseases that attack young
seedlings in the artificial environments of tree nurseries (Tourigny, 1987; Runion et al.,
1990; Josiah, 1990; Josiah and Allen-Reid, 1991) are by design quick and superficial.
The rapid reconnaissance work of consultants cannot possibly keep up with the longterm
evolution of tree pests and diseases. Such studies, requiring institutional commitments,
expertise and funding, fall hopelessly low on the national and international agendas
of governmental and development agencies operating in Haiti. Aside from a few of
the commercially important non-native species, the information we have about the pests
and diseases of Haitian trees is seriously inadequate.
Given the scarcity of data specific to Haiti, a preliminary investigation of the literature
was conducted to summarize the most important pests and diseases known to
attack tree species found in Haiti. Even if a particular pest or disease never has been
confirmed in the country, its spread to Haiti must always be considered possible.
Biological factors such as these have little respect for political boundaries.
Furthermore, as stresses to the island's ecosystems increase and the genetic erosion of
tree populations continues unabated, the situation becomes of greater concern.
The following information is arranged in alphabetical order by species. For each
species or genus, a summary ofthe pests and diseases are listed, followed in many cases
by a brief description of the type of damage or attack symptoms and the location(s) in
which the observations were made. No attempt has been made to include control measures,
though these occasionally can be found in the cited literature.
Species: Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth.
Creole Names: akasya, zakasya
Family: Fabaceae (=Leguminosae)
Insect Pests: Seedlings are vulnerable to crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) that clip the
stems or defoliate in the nursery.
Other Pests: Rabbits severely damage seedlings in Florida. Birds, attracted to the
bright orange aril, consume and disperse the seed in Haiti.
Diseases: Notable fungal diseases attacking nursery seedlings in Haiti include leaf spot
(Pestalotia), powdery mildew (Oidium), and damping off (Fusarium and Rhizoctonia).
References: Josiah and Allen-Reid, 1991; Morton, 1983; Runion et aI., 1990; Tourigny, 1987.
Species: Acaciafarnesiana (L.) Willd.
Creole Name: zakasya jon
Family: Fabaceae (=Leguminosae)
Insect Pests: The twig girdler (Oncideres pustulatus LeConte) attacks the tree in southern
Texas. Bruchid beetles (e.g., Caryedon gonagra Fabricius) infest seeds and pods in
Puerto Rico and India. The pomegranate butterfly (Virachola livia Klug) attacks green
pods in Egypt.
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