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Abstract
In South America, lance flies (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) are key pests of cultivated Passiflora spp. (passionfruit; Violales: Passifloraceae), but little is known about how to control these pests in Passiflora orchards. Here, we relate agro-ecological knowledge and pest management of Colombian Passiflora producers to local Lonchaeid infestation levels and farm surroundings. For this purpose, we carried out a nationwide survey of producers of purple, sweet and yellow passionfruit. Approximately 60% farmers (n = 124) reported Diptera as herbivores, with 4–43% explicitly referring to Lonchaeidae, while 90.5% of all farmers relied on calendar-based insecticide sprays for their control. Supplementary management options included use of baited traps for lonchaeid control and sanitary practices. Farmers experimented to a high extent with different products as bait in McPhail traps. In all, 15 potential baits were used, of which sugarcane molasses and protein hydrolysate proved popular. Farm surroundings and crop type affected farmers' use of baited traps, with traps commonly used in purple passionfruit orchards and employed in 100% farms surrounded by coffee plantations. Insecticide application frequency was positively correlated with lonchaeid infestation in fruits, but not in floral buds or flowers. For certain Passiflora crops, use of baited traps and trap density were related to infestation pressure. In conclusion, lonchaeid infestation pressure and farm surroundings affect Passiflora growers' pest management, respectively by creating a direct need for pest management intervention or by exposing farmers to distinct sets of pest management alternatives. This study sheds light on Passiflora farmers' agro-ecological knowledge, and it identifies low-cost, locality-specific pest management options. Hence, our findings may be valuable for future design and implementation of IPM programmes.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Doris Canacuan, Jorge Bernal, Milena Morales, Andrea Medina and Jennifer Ceballos for help with farmer surveys, sample collection and data processing. Javier Martinez and Juan Manuel Perilla provided valuable assistance in identifying lonchaeid pests. Luz Stella Fuentes and Jaime Jimenez kindly provided access to laboratory space and supplies. We would like to thank the Colombian Agriculture Institute ICA, Casa Luker, CORPOICA, CPGA AGROSUR, CPGA AGROOCCIDENTE, Universidad de Caldas, Perkins Ltda. and the fruit growers associations APROFRUSA, FRUTIPAZ and VENPROFRUIT. This work was funded by the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, with grant MADR 2008L6772–3445.