CONTROLLING THE PINEAPPLE MEALYBUG Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell, 1893) (HEMIPTERA; STERNORRYNCHA; PSEUDOCOCCIDAE) IN RIO GRANDE DO SUL, BRAZIL

Abstract

This paper shows recommendations for controlling the pineapple mealybug and gives suggestionsto adapt to the season, the number of treatments and the volume of the mixture according to the conditions of theRio Grande do Sul, as well as considerations about the comparative costs of the insecticides recommended,destiny of the mixture used, the managing of the contaminated biomass, sanitary situation and longevity of thecrops and needs of research in the State with the objective of reducing losses due to the plagues which, in otherregions, are controlled through of treatment of plants and/or preventive pulverizing of the crops 60, 150 e 240days after the planting, applying, respectively 30, 50 and 70 ml of solution/plant. However, these recommendationsare based on research made in and for areal climatically different from those which prevail in Rio Grande do Sulwhere observations of crop and the behavior of the temperature, precipitation and humidity of the air during theyear indicate that the population of the mealybugs grows from September to May and decreases in the winter. Infunction of this, and taking in account that in Rio Grande do Sul the pineapple shows a slower growing rate, alonger cycle and less productivity of biomass, it is recommended that the crops receive from two to four treatmentsyearly, preferably in the period of the bigger growth of the plague and of the crop (September to Mai), using 70%of the volume of the mixture of the recommended products in other regions. The treating or not of the plants and the choice of the most adequate treatment depends onthe type of scion, preparation of the ground, the gradeof contamination and the season of the year.