Bwa-yo - Société Audubon Haiti

Pests and Diseases 175
Species: Persea americana Miller
Creole Name: zaboka
Family: Lauraceae
Insect Pests: Mites of Oligonychus spp. suck and damage leaves. Scales (Melanaspis
aliena) occur on twigs and fruits. Larvae of the seed weevil (Conotrachelus perseae)
feed in or near the seed. The most important insect pests in Florida are scales, mites,
borers, and thrips.
Diseases: Root rot (Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands) causes branches to wilt and die
and feeder roots to decay, eventually killing the tree. Cercospora spot (Cercospora purpurea)
results in lesions on the fruit and leaves. Avocado scab (Sphaceloma perseae)
infects young tissue, deforming leaf development and producing a corky, cracked fruit
peel. The Lula variety is highly susceptible to this disease. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum
gloeosporoides) infects injured fruit, resulting in rot as the fruit ripens. Powdery mildew
(Oidium spp.) attacks the underside of leaves and impairs leaf vigor.
Reference: Mortensen and Bullard, 1970.
Species: Phoenix dactylifera L.
Creole Name: dat
Family: Arecaceae (=Palmae)
Insect Pests: Scales (Parlatoria spp.) attack leaves near the trunk. Wasps of several
species, including Polistes spp., feed on ripe or nearly-ripe fruit.
Diseases: The species is highly susceptible to lethal yellowing, caused by mycoplasmalike
organisms and transmitted by planthoppers, in Florida.
References: Howard, 1992; Mortensen and Bullard, 1970.
Species: Pinus caribaea Morelet
Creole Name: bwa pen
Family: Pinaceae
Insect Pests: Pine bark beetles (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmerman and D. mexicanus
Hopk.) are serious pests in Central America, frequently attacking healthy trees. Less
destructive are Hypothenemus eruditus, Ips calligraphus Germar, I. interstitialis, I.
grandicollis, I. avulsus Eich., and Xyleborus affinis in Central America and the
Caribbean. Gall midges (Retinodiplosis forsii) form galls at the base ofneedles in which
are found brightly-colored larvae in the Caribbean. Stingless bees (Trigonia silvestriana)
cut seedlings in Central America and the Caribbean. Conifer sawflies (Neodiprion
insularis) attack trees, causing massive defoliation in Central America. Lepidopteran
stem borers (Dioryctria clarioralis and D. horneana) bore into flowers, fruit, and buds
in Central America. Larvae of the Nantucket pine tip moth (Rhyacioniafrustrana) bore
into the base of needles and feed on bud tissue in Central America. The snout beetles
(Lachnopus sp. and Exophthalmus hybridus) perforate cones and nuts, as well as defoliate,
in the Caribbean. The pinhole borers (Platypus linearis and P. poeyi) attack lessvigorous
trees, constructing galleries in the wood to cultivate fungi. Less widespread
damage is caused by aphids, weevils, buprestid beetles, spider mites, leaf cutter ants,
termites, and moths.
Diseases: Damping off fungi (Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk., Rhizoctonia
solanti Kuhn, Pithium, and Fusarium) are common in nursery seedlings. Root patho-