The effect of predators on the abundance of the Macadamia Nutborer (<i>Ecdytolopha torticornis</i>)

Abstract

Predators play a fundamental role in integrated pest management programmes, yet are often underutilized because of a lack of information about their effect on pest populations. In this study, the mortality of larvae and pupae of Ecdytolopha torticornis in a macadamia orchard in Costa Rica, caused by predators, was quantified during the period between nut fall and harvest. Predation was found to significantly reduce the abundance of nutborer larvae, and the fire ant Solenopsis geminata F. was considered to be the most important predator.