Management of the mahogany shoot borer, Hypsipyla grandella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae), through weed management and insecticidal sprays in 1- and 2-year-old Swietenia humilis Zucc. plantations

Field trials of three weed management methods and three insecticide treatments were evaluated for use in controlling Hypsipyla grandella in small-scale plantations of Pacific mahogany (Swietenia humilis) in Honduras. Weed row, weed-free, and maize taungya methods were evaluated in 1-year-old plantations. Two-year-old trees were treated with deltamethrin, Bacillus thuringiensis, or neem seed extract. Leaving weed rows between tree rows significantly decreased the proportion of mahogany trees attacked by H. grandella compared to either weed-free or taungya methods. Deltamethrin provided complete control while Bt and neem provided significantly better control than untreated plots. Based on these findings, weed management has been modified and insecticide spray management has been incorporated in control of H. grandella at the research site in Honduras. The information gathered in these studies has the potential for furthering the development of broader scale integrated pest management programs in small-scale commercial plantings of several rare Neotropical hardwood species.