Potential of orange oil and neem oil in the control of coffee leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) and selectivity to the predator Chrysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

• Grant number: 20/14019-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2021
• End date: March 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Alessandra Marieli Vacari
• Grantee: Vinicius de Oliveira Lima
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Although chemical control is still the predominant strategy for pest control, the use of sustainable control tactics has been growing as a key strategy for reducing environmental impact and safe food production. However, such strategies are still little explored in the agricultural, such as intensive coffee crops. Thus, the use of botanical insecticides, such as orange and neem oils, which have insecticidal activity against various species of lepidopteran pests, can be promising and efficient control tactics. The objective will be to study the control of Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) using botanical insecticides based on orange oil and neem oil and, in addition, to verify the selectivity of these insecticides to the predator Chrysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), commonly found in coffee crops. For this, the effect of botanical insecticides on eggs, larvae, pupae and adults of L. coffeella will be studied, as well as on eggs and larvae of first, second and third instars of C. externa. The great challenge of this research project is to try to make available to growers, a sustainable control methodology using botanical insecticides to control the coffee leaf miner in coffee crops. Coffee growers do not have an efficient control methodology for coffee leaf miner that is sustainable and that can be used in organic agriculture. Due to the high added value of organic coffee and also specialty coffees, it is essential to develop this research, so that coffee growers can efficiently and sustainably control the coffe leaf miner, L. coffeella. (AU)