Validation of the management of Neochavesia Caldasiae (Balachowsky, 1957) (Hemiptera: Rhizoecidae) in Fredonia, Antioquia. Validación del manejo de Neochavesia caldasiae (Balachowsky, 1957) Hemiptera: Rhizoecidae en Fredonia, Antioquia

The Neochavesia caldasiae mealybug (Balachowsky, 1957) (Hemiptera: Rhizoecidae) has been present in the Colombian coffee crops for more than ninety years; it was reported in the municipality of Amagá in Antioquia in 1928. This insect is considered a pest of economic importance for coffee growing; its control has been difficult and ineffective to the point that, in the localities where the mealybug is endemic, producers have replaced coffee with other crops such as pastures and sugar cane. Therefore, the objective of this study was to validate the management of N. caldasiae through Participatory Research with Farmers (IPA). In this implementation, a coffee crop severely infested by this insect was renewed using indicator plants and destructive sampling to determine the suitable moment to spray insecticides in a localized manner during the establishment of the coffee crop. Additionally, the management strategy was validated in an established six month old crop. The results showed that the indicator plants specify the initial attack moment of the insect to the coffee roots and that the localized drench application of effective insecticides, maximum in three moments, was sufficient to reduce the populations of N. caldasiae and establish a coffee crop with good physiological and productive development. In the 6 month old coffee crop, only one application was required to control this pest. In conclusion, it is possible to control N. caldasiae under the Colombian coffee growing conditions.