Ahmed M.M.A.; F.J.S. Sánchez; L.R. Avilés and F.A. Al-Zyoud

2015

Survey the natural enemies of Leucaena Psyllid and Onion Thrips, and study their effects with harvest processes on the population fluctuation of both pests on different Leucaena genotypes.

Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Agrícolas.

The study was conducted throughout two seasons (2013 and 2014) at Xmatkuil farm at Merida, Yucatan, Mexico to study the effects of the natural enemies on the population dynamics of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit pests: Leucaena Psyllids, Heteropsylla cubana Crawford, 1914 (Homoptera: Psyllidae) and Onion Thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman, 1889 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on four Leucaena genotypes: Cunningham, K636, Nativa and KX2. The Juvenile leaves were collected, examined and the natural enemy’s counts were correlated with each pest numbers. Nine predators related to 5 Orders, and one parasitoid controlled the populations of both pests. In the first season Nativa had the largest densities of Psyllid, and Cunningham for Thrips. In the second season, Nativa for both pests. The least numbers recorded in KX2 for both pests. The coefficient of correlation (r) was stronger between natural enemies and H. cubana than T. tabaci. In the first season three peaks of Psyllid were occurred, two before the first harvest during May and June and one after at December. Otherwise, four peaks of Thrips were recorded on Cunningham, Nativa, and K636 during May to Aug. and only two occurred on KX2 at May and June. In the second season the largest population of pests was recorded in Nativa, and the lowest were in KX2 for both pests. (r) was negative between Thrips and natural enemies. Psyllid showed two peaks in February and April, and two for Thrips in April and June.