Evaluación de insecticidas para el control de adultos de Myndus crudus (Hemíptera: Cixiidae)

One of the most distressing problems of the oil palm growers in Colombia is the rapid spread of lethal wilt (ml for its name in Spanish), especially in plantations of the East Zone. In similar diseases, such as coconut lethal yellowing, Myndus crudus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) was identified as responsible for its transmission and the disease management has been based on the direct control of the insect plus the elimination of its host plants. According to advances in the research regarding the role of Hemiptera insects in the development of lethal wilt, in some plantations of Bajo Upia region, efforts have been directed towards the management of weed hosts of M. crudus, insect vector of lethal wilt in oil palm. In this study it was evaluated the control of M. crudus with foliar application of systemic and contact insecticides on five-year old palms. The results indicated that the effectiveness and residuality of some of the 14 insecticides evaluated, in spite of being specific for sucking insects in different crops, did not t keep their biocide activity for an extended period of time, when used in foliar applications. Only two molecules, Imidacloprid and Carbosulfan, presented promising results and it is being considered that used an integrated management program will reduce populations of the insect vector of lethal wilt.