Bwa-yo - Société Audubon Haiti

Pests and Diseases 173
Larvae of the leaf tier (Argyrotaenia amatana Dyar) and the cotton square borer
(Strymon melinus Hubner) feed on blossom panicles. The blossom anomala (Anomala
undulata Melsheimer) makes sporadic attacks on mango blooms. Maggots of the fruit
flies (Anastrepha spp. and Toxotrypara curvicauda Gerst) infest the fruit. Other fly
pests include the citrus whitefly (Dialeurodes citri Ashmead) and the citrus blackfly
(Aleuroncanthus woglumi Ashby) that infest leaves and lower their vigor. A treehopper
(Aconophora pugionata) feeds on leaves.
Diseases: Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz) infects young fruit,
leaves, and blossoms, causing much damage under humid conditions. Mango scab
(Elsinoe mangiferae Bit. and Jenkins) attacks the plant parts of young trees. Mango
malformation (Fusarium spp.) deforms the flower panicle and inhibits fruit from developing
properly. It also attacks the bud tissue of branches, causing bud swelling and
shortening of the internodes. Powdery mildew (Oidium spp.) infects the blossom,
inhibits fruit set, and deforms leaf development, a problem also in the nursery under
humid conditions. Additional diseases include Verticulum wilt, stem end-rot, and red
rust.
References: Mortensen and Bullard, 1970; Tourigny, 1987; Young and Sauls, [n.d.].
Species: Manilkara bidentata (A. DC.) Chev.
Creole Name: sapoti nwa
Family: Sapotaceae
Diseases: Sooty molds attack lower leaves of canopy in Puerto Rico. A canker of an
unidentified pathogen causes branches to die in Puerto Rico.
Reference: Weaver, 1990b.
Species: Manilkara zapota (L.) v. Royen
Creole Name: sapoti
Family: Sapotaceae
Insect Pests: The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata Wied.), the Mexican fruit
fly (Anastrepha ludens Lw.), and A. serpentina are the most damaging pests of the fruit
in its native range. Moth larvae (Eucosmophora sp.) have been observed feeding on
young leaves. The mining scale (Howardia biclavis Comst.), the green shield scale
(Pulvinaria psidii Mask.), the pustule scale (Asterolecanium pustulans Ckll.), and other
scale species typically infest the tree.
Diseases: Rust (Scopella sapotae Mains ex Cumm. and Uredo sapotae Arth. & lR.
Johnson) attacks the tree in its native range. A leaf spot (Septoria sp.) has been observed
to cause defoliation of trees in Florida.
Reference: Mortensen and Bullard, 1970.
Species: Melia azedarach L.
Creole Name: lila
Family: Meliaceae
Insect Pests: The stem borer (Apate monachus) attacks both living and dead wood,
retards growth, deforms trunks, and makes them susceptible to breakage in high winds
in the Caribbean.
Reference: CATIE, 1992.