Survey, Identification and Biological Studies of Major Insect Pests Attacking Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr) in Lanao

Abstract

The survey was conducted at Matungao Durian Plantation, Sumiorang, Matungao, Lanao del Norte from March, 2002 to December, 2003 with two objectives, namely: to collect and identify the insect pests attacking durian in Lanao and to study the life history of the pest causing the greatest damage on durian.

These insects' fauna consisted ofseven orders belonging to 17 families. They were classified as phytophagous, parasitoid, predator, and neutral species. The three insect orders that contained pest species were the Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), Coleoptera (beetles) and Homoptera (mealybugs).

The seed borer (Mudaria magniplaga) is the major insect pest of durian. The minor pests of durian were the fruit borer, Conogethes punctiferalis Guenee, the pinhole borer, Platypus sp. and the mealybug, Pseudococcus sp. Beneficial insects included the coccinelid beetles, Micraspis sp., ants, spiders, earwigs and syrpid flies. A braconid wasp, Asobara sp. was parasitic on fruit fly maggots which secondarily attack damaged durian fruits.

The total developmental period of M. magniplaga ranged from 43-56 days with an average of 49.24 days. The durations of the different life stages were as follows: incubation period, 10-14 days, with an average of 12.00 days; larval stage, from 23-30 days, with an average of 25.92 days; pupal stage, from 10-12 days, with an average of 11.33 days. The adult fe span ranged from 9-12 days, with an average of 10.50 days.