Bwa-yo - Société Audubon Haiti

180 Pests and Diseases
sume dead branches and occasionally tree trunks in Puerto Rico. Marine borers (Toredo
spp.) attack the heartwood and powderpost beetles (Lyctus caribeanus Lesne) attack the
sapwood. The long-horned beetles (Acanthoderes circumflexa and Plectomerus dentipes)
attack trees in Central America. The leaf hoppers (Draculocephala cubana and
Hortensia similis) damage and deform leaves of trees in the Caribbean.
Other Pests: The tree is occasionally attacked by heavy infestations of mistletoe in
Haiti.
Diseases: Heart and butt rot are common in older trees, apparently entering through
basal scars and branch stubs. Leaf blight (Phyllosticta swietenia) results in defoliation
under humid nursery conditions in Puerto Rico. Diseases of seedling nurseries in Haiti
include: leaf spot (Alternaria); anthracnose (Colletotrichum); leaf blister (Taphrina);
damping off (Fusarium and Macrophoma); and stem blight (Colletotrichum, Fusarium,
and Macrophoma).
References: CATIE, 1992; Francis, 1991d; Josiah and Allen-Reid, 1991; Runion et aI.,
1990.
Species: Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston
Creole Name: porn woz
Family: Myrtaceae
Insect Pests: An ant (Myrmelachista ramulorum Wheeler) bores into twigs and kills
terminal shoots of trees in Puerto Rico. Numerous other insect species feed on leaves,
twigs, flowers, and fruit. Wet-wood termite (Nasutitermes costalis Holmgren) consume
dead wood. The wood is highly susceptible to dry-wood termites (Cyrptotermes brevis
Walker).
Diseases: The rust fungus (Puccinia psidii) attacks leaves ofthe tree in Brazil. A fungus
grows naturally on the upper leaf surface giving them a darker, grayish appearance,
but is not known to cause significant damage.
Reference: Francis, 1990h.
Species: Tabebuia heterophylla (DC.) Britton
Creole Name: pwaye
Family: Bignoniaceae
Insect Pests: Cutworms (Hyblaea puera) destroy seedlings and defoliate trees in
Central America and the Caribbean. Larvae of Bonchys munitalis bore into concealed
areas of the tree to feed.
Reference: CATIE, 1992.
Species: Tamarindus indica L.
Creole Name: tamarenn
Family: Fabaceae (=Leguminosae)
Insect Pests: The most serious insect pests in India are the scale insects (Aonidiella orientalis
Newst., Aspidiotus destructor Sign. and Saisetia oleae 01.), mealy bugs
(Nipaecoccus viridis Newst. and Planococcus lilacinus Ckll.), and a borer (Pachymerus
gonagra Fabr.). Other minor pests in India include bruchid beetles (Caryoborus gonagra
Fabr.), lac insects (Kerria lacca Ker), and bagworms (Pteroma plagiophleps
Hampson). Beetle larvae of Lochmaecles sp. cause damage to branches in Brazil.