Experimentos con insecticidas para combatir el picudo negro (Cosmopolites sordidus Germ.) en las plantaciones de abacá

Abstract

Larvae of the "Banana Root borer", Cosmopolites sordidus Ger, excarate tunnels in the underground corm of the abacă plant Dae to deterioration of its root system abacá plants fall down or tip over and this is a cause of serious losses in the production of the fiber used in making "manila rope". In a U S. Department of Agriculture program for improvement of the production of abacă fiber, toxafene,chlordane, aldrin, and dieldrin were compared for use in the control of this insect at Changuinola, Panamá during 1951-52 1 he materials were applied as a spray at the base of the plants Results showed superior residual capacity and performance by dieldrin as measured by reduction of the adult population, laval tunnelling, and the occurrence of plant tip-Residnes of aldvin and dieldrin nere effective during 36 and it weeks No evidence was found that any of the insecticides produced barmful effects upon the plants.