PertanikaJ. Trap. Agric. Sci. 16(3): 225-226(1993)

COMMUNICATION II

ISS :0126-6128© niversiti Pertanian Malaysia Press

Insect Pests of Grapes in Malaysia

ABSTRAK

Serangga yang memakan pelbagai bahagian pokok anggur di Semenanjung Malaysia telah dipungut dan dikaji.Enam spesies serangga perosak dan satu spesies hamama telah dicatatkan: terdiri dari 4 spesies yang memakanpucuk dan daun, 2 spesies pengorek batang dan dahan, dan 2 spesies yang menyerang buah. Spesies perosak ter-diri daripada Apogonia cribricolla Burmeister, Hypomeces squamosus Fabricius, Nipaecoccus viridis(Newstead). Protaetia acuminata Fabricius, Vespa tropica Linnaeus, Xylosandrus compactus (Eichoff).Kumbang Scolytid Xylosandrus compactus merupakan serangga perosak yang paling merbahaya kerana bolehmengakibatkan dahan utama anggur mati. Spesies hamama yang menyerang anggur ialah Eutetranychus sp.Secara amnya, penanaman anggur di Malaysia tidak menghadapi masalah serangan perosak yang serius.

ABSTRACT

All insects attacking various parts ofgrape plants were collected and studied. Six insect pests from 5 families andone mite species were recorded; four species were leaffeeders, two species were stem and vine borers and two speciesinfested fruits. The insect pests were Apogonia cribricolla Burmeister, Hypomeces squamosus Fabricius,Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead), Protaetia acuminata Fabricius, Vespa tropica Linneaus, and Xylosandruscompactus (Eichhoff). Scolytid borer Xylosandrus compactus was the most serious pest as it killed part of themain vines. The mite species was Tetranychidae, Eutetranychus sp. However, grape planting did not face seri-ous insect problems.

INTRODUCTION

Grape cultivation in Malaysia is still at theresearch stage. It began at Universiti PertanianMalaysia in 1981 as a study on the feasibility ofgrowing table grapes commercially. Earlier testshad been made on a variety for making preservesbut not for table consumption (Chan et al. 1975).From 1981-87 experiments at UPM concentratedon table varieties such as White Malaga. Laterother varieties were brought in from the U.S.A.,including varieties such as Cardinal, EarlyMuscat, Emperor, Isabella. In PeninsularMalaysia, it is a demanding crop agronomically,and also requires intensive spraying throughoutthe year especially for protection against diseases.A similar situation is experienced in Indonesia(Rismunandar 1984; Setiadi 1988).

Information regarding commercial grapeplantings in Malaysia is still scanty although someplantings have been made by farmers. This paperis intended to provide information on the pestsassociated with grapes in Peninsular Malaysia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Insect Sampling

Insects were collected either manually from theplants, mulches, and the soil near the vines or byrearing from infested vines. All field-collected

insect pests were then preserved and somespecies were sent to the International Institute ofEntomology, London for species confirmation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Grape plants were found to be susceptible to di-seases caused by insects found on the grapes. Atotal of six families of arthropod pests compri-sing six species of insects and a mite species wererecorded (Table 1). Among the species, fourwere foliage feeders, two were stem and vine borersand two were fruit feeders.

LeafPests

Beetles are among the common leaf pests nor-mally found underneath the mulches or pebblesbeneath the vines. They are general leaf feeders,and on grapes the damage is seen on old andyoung leaves. Damage can result in slow growthof the plants. Three species commonly found ongrapes, Protaetia acuminata, Apogonia cribricollaand Hypomeces squamosus, can cause defoliationof the plant.

The red spider mite, Eutetranychus sp., iscommonly found on the lower side of the leaf,feeding usually on the in terveinal areas. Spidermite problems are sporadic, occurring generallyin the dry spells and the population can be high

ROHANI IBRAHIM

TABLE 1Arthropod pests of grapes in Peninsular Malaysia.

when water stress occurs. They are very commonon varieties such as Cardinal and White Malaga.

Stem and Vine Pests

The beetle, Xylosandrus compactus (adult andlarva), is injurious to the trunks and vines.The damage is visible as punctured holes withfrass deposits at the opening. The larvae borelongitudinal galleries in the pith; damagedvines will eventually die. The larvae pupateinside the galleries. Emerging beetles tunnelinto the pith and cause more damage to theolder established vines.

Fruit Pest

Another serious problem faced by grape growersis the attack by the wasp, Vespa tropica, when thefruits begin to ripen. Ripening fruits are attractiveto wasps and birds. Damage is caused when thewasps bite the fruits on the bunch causing themto rot. Damage can be extensive enough to causealarm to the grower.

The family Pseudococcidae includes severalspecies of mealybugs which are known pests ofmany fruits including grapes. The species associ-ated wi th grapes in Malaysia is Nipaecoccus viridiswhich is found on aerial roots and fruit bunches.This polyphagous species of mealybug is common (Received 29 Dec. 1992)

ROHANI IBRAHIMDepartment ofPlant ProtectionFaculty ofAgricultureUniversiti Pertanian Malaysia43400 UPM, SerdangSelangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

BAYER. 1989. Table grape cultivation In Chile.Courier Agrochem 2: 14-17.

Bo RNIER, A. 1976. Grape insects. Ann. Rev.Entomol. 22: 355-376.

CHAN, Y.K., T.S. TEE and HAsHIM BIN WAHAB.1975. Short notes on the performance ofsome grape cultivers tested in MARDI,Serdang. Malays. Agric.J 50: 142-145.

RISMU ANDAR. 1984. Liku-liku Bertanam Anggur.Bandung, Sinar Baru Printing, 104 pp.

SETIADI. 1988. Bertanam Anggur. Penebar SwadayaPrinting, 73 pp.

REFERENCES

CONCLUSION

Grape plants are attacked by many arthropodpests, which can be grouped into root, leaf andfruit pests (Bournier 1976). Xylosandrus compactuscan cause serious damage to the main vines.Only perfect grapes are competitive and salewor-thy; so it is particularly important to protect themfrom pests, diseases and weeds (Bayer 1989).

throughout Southern Asia and attacks a variety offruit crops. The practice of bagging to protectfruits against birds and wasps actually encouragesmealybug infestation. Once within the bag themealybug is sheltered from rain and natural ene-mies, and secretes a sticky exudate which down-grades the grapes. The infestation of mealybug isnot normally very serious.

Other pests of fruits include various speciesof birds. The birds seem to damage fruit bunch-es which are about to mature and ripen. Thedamaged fruits left on the bunch are infected bybacteria. The sap from the damaged fruitsspreads to the neighbouring fruits on the bunchwhich leads to infection and rotting of fruits; even-tually the whole bunch is damaged.

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Leaf Stem/vines FruitsPest species

COLEOPTERAScarabaeidaeApogonia cribricolla Burm. +Protaetia acuminata Fabr. +CucurlionidaeHypomeces squamosus Fabr. +ScolytidaeXylosandrus compactus (Eich.)HOMOPTERAPseudococcidaeNipaecoccus viridis ( ews)HYMENOPTERAVespidaeVespa tropica Linn.ACARINATetranychidaeEutetranychus sp. +

226 PERTANIKAJ. TRap. AGRIC. SCI. VOL. 16 NO.3, 1993