Insects and Pests

a) Fruit flies (Guava fruit fly, Caribbean fruit fly): Bactrocera spp., Anastrepha suspensa

• Depressions in fruit with dark colored puncture wounds
• soft, mushy areas on fruit caused by larvae feedign on fruit
• development of secondary rots often cause fruit to drop from tree
• Infested fruit should be removed and destroyed
• plowing around bases of trees infested with guava fruit flies exposes pupae to damaging heat from the sun and to natural enemies
• pheromone traps are used successfully in some regions

b) Guava Weevil: Conotrachelus psidii, Conotrachelus dimidiatus

• The adult females lay eggs in small unripe fruits. After hatching, the larva enters the fruit.
• Once inside, the larva feeds on pulp and seeds, causing petrification and premature maturity of fruit.
• Larva excrement deposited inside fruit causes fermentation.
• Mature larvae abandon the ripe fruits and pupate underground.
• Collect and burn the damaged fruits. Soil application of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) like genus Heterorhabditis and Steinernema as biological control agents against 4th larval instar, pre-pupa and pupa weevil stages.

c) Scale insect (green scale, green shield sale): Coccus viridis, Pulvinaria psidii

• Leaves covered in sticky substance and may have growth of sooty mold; reduced tree vigor
• leaves and/or fruit dropping from plants
• presence of green or gray flattened scales on leaves, twigs and/or branches.
• Collect and burn the fallen plant materials. Organically acceptable methods of control include the application of horticultural oils and preservation of natural enemies.

d) Thrips (Redbanded thrips): Selenothrips rubrocinctus

• If population is high leaves may be distorted
• leaves are covered in coarse stippling and may appear silvery
• leaves speckled with black feces
• Avoid planting next to onions, garlic or cereals where very large numbers of thrips can build up
• use reflective mulches early in growing season to deter thrips
• apply appropriate insecticide if thrips become problematic.

e) Root knot nematode: Meloidogyne spp

• Galls on roots which can be up to 3.3 cm (1 in) in diameter but are usually smaller
• reduction in plant vigor
• yellowing plants which wilt in hot weather
• Plant resistant varieties if nematodes are known to be present in the soil
• check roots of plants mid-season or sooner if symptoms indicate nematodes
• solarizing soil can reduce nematode populations in the soil and levels of inoculum of many other pathogens.