Brazilian Research identifies possible entrance of new pest

According to Embrapa study, areas of Brazilian states of Roraima, Rio Grande do Norte, Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia, Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul were prioritized as more likely entry points for caterpillar Chilo partellus to enter the country.

 

The insect was classified by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) as A1 quarantine pest, a category of pests that pose threat to the potential economic developments that are not yet present in Brazil .

 

The caterpillar, which is originally from Asia, where it is present in several countries, has already been spotted in areas of the Middle East and the east coast of Africa, with an occurrence in Australia too. The pest in its young stage as a caterpillar causes maximum damage to corn crops, sorghum, rice, wheat, sugarcane, millet and wild grasses. It later develops into a moth in the adult stage.

 

The study on the "Identification of Brazilian regions susceptible to the entry and establishment of Chilo partellus" was conducted by researchers of the Land Management Embrapa and quarantine laboratory "Costa Lima" (LQC) of Embrapa Environment .The study provides information on the possible points of entry such as ports, borders, airports, and the favorable climatic conditions for the pests to thrive in the country. These results can also improve mapping surveillance studies in the country, which is responsible for overseeing the entry of new quarantine pests into the country.

 

According to Maria Conceição, a researcher at Embrapa Environment and an author of the work, "The most severe attacks occur in corn crops and sorghum, varying according to the location." As an example of its potential damage in South Africa, more than half of production in these mentioned crops was affected. In Mozambique, the infestations of the pests reached 87% of corn crops and created havoc in 70% of the grains.

 

Among regions most vulnerable to the entrance of pests is a large area that extends from the border of Brazil with Paraguay to the region of Sorocaba in the middle of São Paulo. "This area is important because it focuses on sugarcane crops, which are mainly attacked by the plague," Rafael Mingoti, analyst at Land Management Embrapa, who participated in the study, said. He explained that the favorable weather conditions, presence of target crops for the pests and proximity to borders or crossing points such as highways, roads, or areas near ports or airports in these regions make them more vulnerable for the proliferation of the pests. "In addition to all these conditions, the proximity of the region to the port of Santos in Sao Paulo, airports and the large border with Paraguay provide easy access for the pests to enter the country," the expert said.

 

The Geographic Information System tools (GIS) were also used for obtaining more information on possible entry of the pests. It was found that certain municipalities and microregions were more conducive for the entry and establishment of C. partellus, calling for enhanced local monitoring of the areas. Moreover, they also signal the ability of Brazil's agriculture defense to prevent potential insect entry into these areas.