A preliminary study on the occurrence and significance of phytophagous arthropods and natural enemies on Sapindus saponaria saplings

Abstract

Sapindus saponaria trees exhibit potential for global application in the restoration of degraded ecosystems. However, the susceptibility of S. saponaria saplings to detrimental effects caused by various phytophagous insects and mites necessitates a comprehensive evaluation. In this investigation, 48 S. saponaria saplings were scrutinized with a focus on phytophagous arthropods and their natural enemies. The assessment involved the determination of the Importance Index-Production Unknown (% I.I.-P.U.) to rank the arthropods based on their impact. Notably, phytophagous arthropods such as Liriomyza sp., Bemisia sp., Phaneropterinae, Tetranychus sp., Tropidacris collaris, and Stereoma anchoralis exhibited the highest % I.I.-P.U. on the S. saponaria saplings, highlighting their potential threat to future commercial crops given their association with crop pests. Conversely, natural enemies, including Cycloneda sanguinea and Pseudomyrmex termitarius, demonstrated the highest % I.I.-P.U. on these saplings. This underscores the significance of these natural predators in mitigating the impact of herbivorous arthropods on S. saponaria saplings. The presence of C. sanguinea and P. termitarius suggests their potential value in enhancing the resilience of S. saponaria saplings by effectively reducing the population of herbivorous arthropods.

Keywords

• agriculture
• ants
• damage
• beetle
• forestry production