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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #271249
Title: Description of the early stages of Eccopsis galapagana Razowski & Landry (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a defoliator of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC (Fabaceae) in Colombia

Author
item GALLEGO, K. - Centre For Research On Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems,cipav
item LERMA, J. - Centre For Research On Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems,cipav
item ECHEVERRI, C. - Centre For Research On Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems,cipav
item Brown, John

Submitted to: Journal of Lepidopterists Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/18/2012
Publication Date: 10/3/2012
Citation: Gallego, K.R., Lerma, J.M., Echeverri, C.G., Brown, J.W. 2012. Description of the early stages of Eccopsis galapagana Razowski & Landry (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a defoliator of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC (Fabaceae) in Colombia. Journal of Lepidopterists Society. 66(3):156-167.

Interpretive Summary: The caterpillars of many moths in the family known as leaf-rollers are important pests of ornamental, forest, and crop plants, causing millions of dollars of damage annually. One of these species has recently become an outbreak pest of mesquite (locally known as algarrobo tree) in Colombia, significantly impacting this plant which is critical for shade and food for cattle in the silvopastoral systems there. The purpose of paper is to report these findings and present the first descriptions and illustrations of the caterpillar and its damage. This information will be of interest to those involved in cattle production and pest management in pasture lands, and scientists studying host-plant use in moths.

Technical Abstract: The biology and early stages of Eccopsis galapagana Razowski & Landry are described and illustrated for the first time; details of the adults also are provided. Under outbreak conditions, the species has become a serious pest of algarrobo tree (Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.; Fabaceae) in Colombia. Although African members of the genus Eccopsis feed on a variety of different host plant families (e.g., Fabaceae, Rhizophoraceae, Stericulaceae, Anacardiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Flagellariaceae, and Rutaceae), New World species of Eccopsis are recorded only from Fabaceae.