Objective

To define the potentiality of two phytophagous insects to become pests of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit during its reproductive phenophase, in Cuba.

Materials and Methods

Two productive systems with Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit cv. Peru and Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B.K. Simon & S.W.L. Jacobs cv. Likoni were evaluated. The characterization of the lesions produced by the insect on the inflorescences was carried out during one year. Meanwhile, the characterization of the insect lesions on the pods and seeds, and that of the associated bacterial symptoms, took place during three years. The link between insect and symptoms in those organs was determined with a regression analysis through the program SPSS®. The relation between number of insects and pods and seeds infected by the bacterium per season was conducted for two years, and it was tested by a proportion comparison test. To evaluate the proportion between the quantity of insects and infested organs, a regression was made; while the estimation of the losses caused by both insects was through rule of three.

Results

The micromoth found on the inflorescences was Ithome lassula, which affected more during the dry season. The organisms found in the pods and seeds were the insect Loxa viridis, and the bacterium Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. odoriferum, which had a close relation with the reproductive phenophase of L. leucocephala. These organisms also have higher presence in the dry season.

Conclusions

Associated to the reproductive organs of L. leucocephala, the micromoth I. lassula, due to its direct affectation on the inflorescence, and the pentatomid L. viridis on the pods and seeds, were detected with potentiality to become pests.

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