We conducted a survey of insects and pest management practices on 34 farms growing ornamental tropical foliage plants in the central coffee region of Colombia over two years. Tropical foliage provided habitat for a diverse range of insects. In total, phytophagous or detritivorous insects from six orders, 40 families and 62 genera were collected. The most common were Hemiptera (29 genera from 16 families), followed by Coleoptera (17 genera from 4 families), Diptera (5 genera from 5 families), Lepidoptera (5 genera from 4 families), Hymenoptera (3 genera from 2 families) and Orthoptera (2 genera from 2 families). The most common phytophagous species were leaf cutting ants (Atta and Acromyrmex spp.), leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae), leafhoppers (Cicadellidae), stinkbugs (Pentatomidae), squash bugs (Coreidae), tree hoppers (Membracidae) and plant hoppers (Fulgoridae). Beneficial insects identified from tropical foliage included predators and parasitoids amongst 5 orders, 12 families and 22 genera. The most abundant were predators among the Coccinellidae, Chrysopidae, Reduviidae, Lycidae and Formicidae but only low numbers of parasitoids (Ichneumonidae, Braconidae and Tachinidae) were collected. A pest management questionnaire given to growers revealed a preponderance of reliance on broad spectrum insecticides with a smaller number of growers (approximately one third) also using some biological control methods. Our survey contributes basic information regarding diversity of Neotropical insects associated with ornamental foliage plants.

La ocurrencia natural de patógenos específicos y biopesticidas aplicados en forma inundativa puede contribuir significativamente al control de la palomilla de la papa, Phthorimaea operculella. La mayoría de las investigaciones y aplicaciones realizadas han usado para el control de P. operculella una especie de granulovirus y la bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). El granulovirus de P. operculella (PhopGV) tiene el potencial de jugar un importante papel en el manejo integrado de dicha plaga tanto en tubérculos almacenados como en el cultivo en condiciones de campo. Simultáneamente, Bt ha sido usado exitosamente contra infestaciones de P. operculella en el campo y en los tubérculos almacenados. PhopGV y Bt son seguros para las personas que hacen las aplicaciones y en los productos alimenticios; además, no afectan a los insectos benéficos y a otros organismos no blanco. Otros insecticidas naturales son el hongo biofumigante Muscodor albus, extractos botánicos, feromonas sexuales y métodos físicos para el manejo de P. operculella en tubérculos almacenados. La implementación de los biospesticidas dependerá en última instancia de una mayor conciencia de sus atributos por parte de los productores y del público, quienes serán los principales impulsores para su uso y comercialización.

The natural occurrence of specific pathogens and biopesticides applied in an inundative fashion can contribute significantly to control of the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella. Most of the research conducted and practices used for control of P. operculella use one species of granulovirus and the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The P. operculella granulovirus (PhopGV) has the potential to play a significant role in the integrated management of the pest in stored tubers as well as in field crops. At the same time, Bt has been used successfully against P. operculella infestations in the field and in stored tubers. PhopGV and Bt are safe for application personnel and for the food products; in addition, they do not affect beneficial insects and other nontarget organisms. Other natural insecticides are the biofumigant fungus Muscodor albus, botanicals, sex pheromones and physical measures for P. operculella control in stored tubers. The implementation of biopesticides will ultimately depend on an increased awareness of their attributes by growers and the public, who will be the main drivers for their use and commercialization.