Rhinospathe albomarginata Chevrolat, 1878 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) as a pest of Erythrina costaricensis Micheli (Fabaceae)

Abstract

Abstract
Introduction: Rhinospathe albomarginata Chevrolat, 1878 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) initially described in 1878, is distributed in Costa Rica and Panama. Objective: To document the presence of Rhinospathe albomarginata as a pest of Erythrina costaricensis Micheli, 1894 (Fabales: Fabaceae) in a recently established silvopastoral system, under intensive-use field conditions. Materials and methods: This emergent observational work was carried out at the Alfredo Volio Mata Experimental Station, Ochomogo, Cartago province, Costa Rica, in a grazing lot between July 27 and August 10 of 2016; measurements were made of the foliar area and number of affected trees, and a natural repellent was applied for its control. Results: The insect's presence as a pest of E. costaricensis, and the damage done to the leaf area were documented, where 40,3 % of the trees showed a mean damage in the range of 5 to 10 % of the leaflet surface, in some samples up to 20 %. Conclusion: This note is the first record of the beetle as a pest in this tree species; the applied organic bioinput (extract of Bocconia frutescens L., 1753. Papaverales: Papaveraceae) showed insect repellent properties.

Keywords: Rhinospathe, Erythrina costaricensis, silvopastoral system, forage trees.