Insects associated with collapsed pineapple fruits, heart rot plants and inflorescences
W.H. Lim and P.H. Lowings
Abstract
Pineapple fruits attacked by Erwinia chrysanthemi Burkholder et al. frequently attracted large populations of the souring beetles, predominantly Carpophilus foveicollis Murr. and Haptoncus luteolus Er. Ants, mainly Pheidole sp., Iridomyrmex sp. and Tapinoma sp. and flies, mainly Gymnonerius p.,Drosophila sp. and Atherigona sp. were also attracted but to a lesser extent. These insects,including the larvae of Atherigona orientalis Schin.Graptomyza brevirostris Wied and Thressa incongruens Beck were also found on heart rot tissues. Among the insects found on open pineapple flowers, the point of bacterial entry, ants were the most widespread and abundant. The habits of the more important insects and their roles as possible carriers of the disease are discussed.
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