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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #309585

Title: Effectiveness of kaolin clay particle film in managing Helopeltis collaris (Hemiptera: Miridae), a major pest of cacao in the Philippines

Author
item AMALIN, DIVINA - De La Salle University
item AVERION, LANI - Quezon Agricultural Experiment Station (QAES)
item BIHIS, DENNIS - Quezon Agricultural Experiment Station (QAES)
item Legaspi, Jesusa
item EDWARD, DAVID - Cocoa Foundation Of The Philippines

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/8/2014
Publication Date: 3/31/2015
Citation: Amalin, D., Averion, L., Bihis, D., Legaspi, J.C., Edward, D. 2015. Effectiveness of kaolin clay particle film in managing Helopeltis collaris (Hemiptera: Miridae), a major pest of cacao in the Philippines. Florida Entomologist. 98(1):354-355.

Interpretive Summary: In cacao, the use of particle film technology has not been documented. Laboratory assessment of local kaolin against cacao mirid bug, Helopeltis collaris Stal, revealed a positive repellence of the insect pest on kaolin-treated cacao pods. This result warrants follow up studies to evaluate further the potential of kaolin clay to control cacao pests in the Philippines.

Technical Abstract: Helopeltis collaris Stal, commonly known as cacao mirid or capsid bug is one of the major pests of cacao in Southeast Asia. Recent survey of cacao pests in the Philippines showed that cacao mirid bug is causing significant yield loss particularly in cacao growing areas in Luzon. Kaolin is a naturally occurring clay resulting from weathering of aluminous minerals such as feldspar with kaolinite as its principal constituents. Kaolin is known as a non-chemical product with insect repellent property and currently is included in particle film technology for pest management program of many agricultural crops. This preliminary study aimed to determine the potential of locally available kaolinite in managing the population of cacao mirid bug and to explore further the agricultural benefits from this locally available food grade clay mineral. In both choice and no-choice tests, significantly less feeding was observed in kaolin-treated pods compared to pods sprayed with water only. Moreover, visual observation revealed more frequent visits of the test insects on the control pods compared to kaolin-treated pods in the choice test. Zero insect feeding was recorded on some pods treated with kaolin in the choice test. In the no-choice test, all pods treated with kaolin showed insect feeding but the lesions were relatively fewer and smaller compared to the control pods, suggesting an incomplete reaction of the feeding punctures. These results warrant follow up studies to evaluate further the potential of kaolin clay to control cacao pests in the Philippines.