REPORT ON VEGETABLE INSECT PROBLEMS

THIS TROPICAL EXPERIMENT STATION HAS JUST BEGUN ITS STUDY OF VEGETABLE PESTS. IN A VISIT TO THE STATION AND TO NEARBY SMALL FARMS.THE AUTHOR OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING PESTS: THE TOMATO HORN WORM (PROTOPARCE SEXTA),TOMATO FRUIT WORM (HELIOTHIS VIRESCENS),CUCUMBER BEETLES,TRUE BUGS HEMIPTERA), LACEWING BUGS (CORYTHAICA CYANTICOLLIS,TINGIDAE,HEMIPTERA),SCALE INSECTS,AND LEAF AND STEM BORER (SPHINGIDAE,LEPIDOPTERA). THE AUTHOR RECOMMENDS THAT A SINGLE TECHNICIAN BE ASSIGNED TO CROP PROTECTION PROBLEMS AND THAT THE TECHNICIAN BE SENT FOR GRADUATE TRAINING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. INSPECTIONS OF THE EXPERIMENTAL PLOTS SHOULD BE MADE ROUTINELY. MOST OF THE CONTROL FAILURES HAVE RESULTED FROM LATE RECOGNITION OF THE PESTS OR THEIR DAMAGES. THE CURRENT SHORT-TERM CONSULTANT PROGRAM,WHICH HAS PROVIDED SPECIALISTS IN DIFFERENT PHASES OF PEST CONTROL (ENTOMOLOGIST,NEMETOLOGIST,PHYTOPATHOLOGISTS,AND WEED SCIENTISTS) SHOULD BE CONTINUED. IN ADDITION,THE AUTHOR RECOMMENDS THAT INSECTICIDE MANUFACTURERS BE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE THEIR PRODUCTS AVAILABLE IN BOLIVIA. PART II OF THE REPORT CONSISTS OF AN OUTLINE FOR A SHORT COURSE IN ENTOMOLOGY,INSECT CONTROL,AND PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT. A LISTING OF COMMERCIAL COMPANIES PRODUCING BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS IS APPROVED. ALSO,A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED LISTING 19 REFERENCES (1962-1978) ON PEST CONTROL. SEVEN OF THESE REFERENCES ARE IN SPANISH.