Evaluation of damage, food attractants and population dynamics of strawberry sap beetle in strawberry

Resumo

The strawberry sap beetle Lobiopa insularis (Castelnau) (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is one of the most devastating pests to commercial strawberry crops. In this study, the susceptibility of the strawberry fruit at different maturation stages to damage caused by the adult L. insularis and the baiting effect on the monitoring of its population fluctuation were evaluated in commercial strawberry crop fields using pitfall traps. ‘Camarosa’ strawberries at different maturation stages (G - Green, SM - Semi-ripe and R -Ripe) were exposed to adult L. insularis. Adult beetles preferred ripen fruits to green fruits. The attractants evaluated as bait were: (T1) ripe strawberries; (T2) cattle feed, granulated sugar and water; (T3) T1 and T2 attractants mixed at 1:1 ratio; (T4) fruit mix, granulated sugar, water and beer, sprayed with isoamyl-acetate; and (T5) control (no food attractants). Malathion 1000^® CE insecticide was mixed to both attractive evaluated. Population dynamics of adult beetles were monitored during the production season of strawberry culture in the municipalities of Caxias do Sul and Bom Principio, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Ripe strawberries (T1) was effective for seven days in the field. The sap beetle adults were first captured in June in the municipality of Caxias do Sul and in August in Bom Principio and population peaks were observed during January in both sites.