Major pests of cashew in the Peruvian Amazon. Preliminary data

Introduction. The cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is mainly grown for the production of cashew nuts, but also for the pseudofruit. The insect pests of the plant were studied in Peru, where this fruit is consumed. Materials and methods. Samples were taken from 1998 to 2005 in different localities of the department of Loreto in the Peruvian Amazon to identify insect pests of cashew. Field observations and laboratory farms were used to characterize the damage caused by each insect. Results. Seven species of insects cause significant damage: five species attack the pseudofruit: Acanthocephala parensis (Hemiptera: Coreidae), Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera: Tephritidae), Conotrachelits sp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Trigona amalthea and T. amazonensis (Hymenoptera: Apidae). The pest Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) infests the inflorescences, buds and young fruit. The larvae of Macrocopturus cf. tristis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) develop in buds and young shoots. Three new species are pests which have not yet been reported. Conclusion. Given the potential of the cashew apple production and the possible development of the culture of the cashew tree in the Peruvian Amazon, a more extensive study of the insect pests is desirable.