Important Trees of Haiti

Pests and Diseases 181
Beetles (Calandra linearis) attack ripe pods in Florida and Hawaii. Termites
(Cryptotermes hainanensis) attack the tree in China. Stored fruit is commonly infested
with Paralipsa gularis Zellar and Corcyra cephalonia Stnt. in India. Larvae of the
groundnut bruchid beetle (Caryedon serratus Oliver) are serious pests that attack the
fruit and seed in India and have been reported in Colombia and Puerto Rico.
Diseases: The major diseases in India include: leaf spot (Bartalinia robillardoides
Tassi, Exosporium tamarindi Syd., Hendersonia tamarindi Syd., Pestalotia poonensis
V. Rao, Phyllosticta tamarindicola V. Rao, P. tamarindina Chandra & Tandon,
Prathigada tamarindi Muthappa, Sphaceloma sp., and Stigmina tamarindii (Syd.)
Munjal & Kulshreshta); powdery mildews (Erysiphe polygoni DC. and Oidium spp.); a
sooty mold (Meliola tamarindi Syd.); stem disease (Fracchiaea indica Talde); root and
wood rot (Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss.) Karst and Lenzites palisoti Fr.); stem rot
(Pholiota gollani P. Henn.); trunk and root rot (Stereum nitidulum Berk.); collar rot
(Phytophtora nicotianae var. nicotianae); stem canker (Hypoxylon nectrioides Speg.);
and a bark parasite (Myriangium tamarindii Tendulkar).
References: Morton, 1958; Parrotta, 1990.
Species: Tectona grandis L.
Creole Name: tek
Family: Verbenaceae
Insect Pests: Termites (Neotermes castaneus) attack both live and dead wood in Central
American and the Caribbean.
Reference: CATIE, 1992.
Species: Terminalia catappa L.
Creole Name: zamann
Family: Combretaceae
Insect Pests: Thripids (Selenothrips rubrocinctus Giard) cause leaf discoloration and
premature leaf fall of trees in Puerto Rico. Beetles, grasshoppers, leaf rollers,and leaf
miners defoliate young trees in India and Malaya. The tree is a major host of the
Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) in Costa Rica. The tree is susceptible to
attack by dry-wood termites (Cryptotermes brevis Walker) and powder post beetles
(Lyctus spp.) in the Caribbean.
References: Francis, 1989c; Morton, 1985.
Species: Theobroma cacao L.
Creole Name: kakawo
Family: Sterculiaceae
Insect Pests: The citrus aphid (Toxoptera aurantium B. de F.) shrivels young leaves,
reduces vigor, and promotes development of black sooty mold in Haiti. Leaf-cutting
ants (Alta spp.) harvest and defoliate the tree, particularly as a seedling. Larvae of
Xyleborus spp. bore into the trunk. The pod borer (Acdrocercops cramerella) bores into
the fruits.
Diseases: The most important diseases in the Western Hemisphere include: witches'
broom (Marasmius perniciosus Stathel.), resulting in abnormal branching and premature
fruit drop; Monilia pod rot (Monilia sp.); and black pod rot (Phytophtora palmivo-