New species of cochineal pest attacks branches, trunks and fruits of coffee plantations

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Producers have already lost 30% of their crops due to attacks by the new species. Researchers from Incaper, in Espírito Santo, are looking for management methods to correctly control the pest, which previously only attacked the roots. Alert for coffee farming: pest worries producers in ES; understand A pest that is well known in the field continues to worry coffee producers in Espírito Santo. The appearance of a new species of cochineal was identified by coffee growers and even the way it attacks crops is different: the attack on plants no longer only occurs at the root, as was common, but also in branches, trunks and even fruits. Share on WhatsApp Share on Telegram The threat first starts with a few black grains in the middle of a healthy branch. Then, white flour and more dark fruits appear. Finally, the fruit is completely taken over by the new cochineal. 📲 Click here to follow the g1 ES channel on WhatsApp The insect that causes the plague has a main characteristic that differentiates it from another species, which are white filaments on the body that resemble two antennas. It is very different from rosette mealybug, for example. Damage caused by the new species of conilon on coffee crops in Espírito Santo Reproduction/TV Gazeta It was with a keen eye that rural producer Gabriel Rampinelli managed to identify the new pest on his conilon coffee plantation in Linhares, in the north of Espírito Santo. The site is monitored at least once a month. “We rotate the crops, our plots, to be able to identify any incidence of insects, pests and carry out appropriate management for the plants. And in the last 90 days, we have had the incidence of the new species of cochineal”, said Gabriel . On the 45,000 trees on Gabriel’s farm, the damage has not yet been great. The producer’s luck was that the pest attacked the adult, more resistant feet. But in poorly developed plants, this variant can even cause death. New species of mealybug is different from the rosette and is still being studied by researchers Reproduction/TV Gazeta The best-known types of this pest are fought directly at the roots, with localized spraying or through a drip system. READ ALSO: Grape production in the city of beaches: Fruit adapts to the hot climate and develops experience tourism in Guarapari 1st city founded by Italians in Brazil is the one that produces the most wines and sparkling wines in ES But, to combat this new species of cochineal, there is still no scientific proof that this method also works. This happens precisely because the pest attacks the plant in the aerial part, affecting leaves, branches and fruits. “We are already sending this material to the taxonomist, who is the one who will actually identify the species. We already have reports that there could be two different species for conilon coffee”, explained the researcher from the Capixaba Research Institute, Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (Incaper), Renan Queiroz. Some coffee producer properties in Espírito Santo suffered losses of 30% due to the attack of the new mealybug Reproduction/TV Gazeta It is worth remembering that Espírito Santo is one of the largest coffee producers in Brazil, and that the emergence of this new pest is of great concern. large among coffee growers. On a property in Rio Bananal, also in the North of Espírito Santo, with 100 thousand trees, the producer lost between 10% and 15% of the plantation due to the new pest. The solution was to try to control it with known methods. “We weren’t very sure which control would be right, because it would be a new quality of mattress. So, we tried to carry out the controls in a way that we were already doing with other qualities in the same management. But we didn’t have a very satisfactory result”, commented rural producer Diego Bachetti. In other plantations, the damage was even greater. Photos taken of a property in the same city show that another producer lost 30% because of the pest. In the city of Rio Bananal, concern about the new species is even greater precisely because the municipality is the largest producer of conilon coffee in Brazil. “Within the economic support pillars of Rio Bananal, conilon coffee has a huge role. Therefore, our work focus is very strongly focused on this culture, because the impacts caused on coffee culture obviously echo to all other areas development of the municipality. We need to be aware so that we don’t allow ourselves to somehow lose this leading role due to a pest”, reported Incaper’s agronomist engineer, Bruno Pella. The guideline for producers is to constantly monitor the crop Reproduction/TV Gazeta The rains of recent months helped contain the spread of this pest, as the species benefits from heat and dry weather. The next step is to wait for the results of the experiments that will show which is the best way to prevent and combat it. “Of course, the research still does not have a correct, certain indication of the product, because we are still carrying out tests to indicate the best way to manage this product, to control this mattress. But very high infestation has to be evaluated, because perhaps some product that If he has already used it for the rosette mattress, it could be used for this one too. But it has to be a very technical assessment, together with someone who provides assistance, to help the producer at this time of high infestation”, pointed out the Incaper researcher. READ ALSO: With more than 100 varieties tested, producers are betting on the production of pitayas in the south of ES From food to cosmetics: Avocado consumption increases and ES becomes the 4th largest producer of the fruit in the country Meanwhile, the recommendation for the producer is monitor the crop and look for the Incaper office in your city. The forecast for the results of research on the new species of the pest is six months. “We have already met with some technicians and the main management is to always be observing, not allowing the population level to increase and, by observing, there is not much we can do for now. We will stay on top of it until we can control and arrange correct management “, said the producer. New species of cochineal does not attack the root of the fruit but the aerial parts such as the leaves Reproduction/TV Gazeta VIDEOS: everything about Espírito Santo See the latest news from g1 Espírito Santo

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