HOST PLANTS OF THE PEACH PALM FRUIT WEEVIL (Palmelampius heinrichi O’Brien) IN TOABRÉ, PANAMA

Abstract

Peach palm, whose scientific name is Bactris gasipaes Kunth (Arecaceae), is a plant species native to South America and Central America, whose fruit production has been reduced due to damage caused by the fruit weevil Palmelampius heinrichi O'Brien (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). In Panama, there is no evidence about the existence other host plants besides the peach palm. The aim of this study was to identify the host plants of the peach palm fruit weevil in Toabré, Panama. The study was carried out for 10 months, with sampling every two weeks, in the town of Toabré in the Coclé province. In 10 stations of 100 m² separated 100 meters away from each other, the main plants species present were selected, in addition to peach palm, to get information about the variables associated with inflorescence and fallen fruits with weevil specimens. The results indicated the existence of 25 plants species within the agroecological environments where the peach palm fruit weevil develops, highlighting the presence of robusta coffee (Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner) (21.84%), peach palm (12.07%) and air plant carnation (Tillandsia elongata Kunth) (8.05%), among the total plant species found. Among the sampled species, the peach palm fruit weevil was only found in B. gasipaes, which for the purposes of this study can be considered its main and only host under the evaluated conditions.