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Title: HOMOPTERAN AND MITE PESTS OF PAPAYA AND THEIR CONTROL

Author
item PENA, JORGE - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item Pantoja, Alberto
item OSBORNE, L - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item DUNCAN, R - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item DE COSS-FLORES, M - UNIV DE CHIAPAS,MEJICO
item MEISTER, A - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item HALBERT, S - FL:DEPT AGRI & CONS SVC
item EVANS, G - FL:DEPT AGRI & CONS SVC
item HAMMON, A - FL:DEPT AGRI & CONS SVC

Submitted to: Journal of Florida State Horticulture Society
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2005
Publication Date: 12/15/2005
Citation: Pena, J.E., Pantoja, A., Osborne, L., Duncan, R., De Coss-Flores, M., Meister, A.C., Halbert, S., Evans, G., Hammon, A. 2005. Homopteran and mite pests of papaya and their control. Journal of Florida State Horticulture Society. 118:221-227.2005.

Interpretive Summary: Papaya, Carica papaya L. is a major tropical fruit cultivated in frost-free areas. As with most tropical fruits grown in varied geographical regions, papaya is affected by several arthropods, that can be considered key or secondary pests. In different papaya growing areas, fruit flies, leafhoppers, mites, and scale insects are considered key pests requiring frequent pesticide applications. Among these, aphids and leafhoppers are important pests due to their vector capacity. Mites can reach a pest status in papaya if their natural enemies are eliminated. This work reports on homopteran pests in papaya fields in Florida, their frequency and presence of parasitoids. Information on efficacy of pesticides against mealybugs, scales and mites infesting papaya is also provided.

Technical Abstract: Homopteran pests in papaya fields in Florida, include mealybugs, Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink, soft scales Philephedra tuberculosa Nakahara and Gill, Coccus hesperidum L. and armored scales, Aspidiotus destructor, Acutaspis sp., Hemiberlesia sp., aphids, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Lipaphis erysimi (Katenbach), leafhoppers, Empoasca stevensi Young and whiteflies Trialeurodes variabilis and mite pests Tetranychus spp., Polyphagotarsonemus latus. The frequency the homopterans in commercial papaya fields in Homestead, FL was investigated between November 2000 to October 2001. Results from chemical control tests against scales, mealybugs, and mites in papaya are reported.