Identification of the potential sex pheromone for helopeltis bakeri, the cacao mirid bug

Date of Publication

11-2024

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Biology major in Medical Biology

Subject Categories

Entomology

College

College of Science

Department/Unit

Biology

Thesis Advisor

Divina M. Amalin

Defense Panel Chair

Kris Lord Santos

Defense Panel Member

Ma. Christine G. Ortiguero
Shad Natthew S. Arce

Abstract (English)

Cocoa is an economically valuable commodity for many tropical countries around the world. Some among these countries are top exporters of cocoa and are heavily reliant on these exports for their economies. However, a common problem shared by these countries is the persistence of attacks and damages on their cocoa plantations by mirid bugs. In tropical african countries such as Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire, species of the mirid genera Distantiella and Sahlbergella have long been identified as major pests of Theobroma cacao. The southeast asian counterparts of these cacao mirids belong to the genus Helopeltis two of which are to be found in the Philippines. These mirids pose economic and agricultural problems in their native countries because of the losses they incur on the economically valuable cocoa. Pesticides have traditionally been used to remedy these problems but have also attracted controversy in recent times due to their long term deleterious effects on the micro ecosystem in which they are applied. Therefore, bait traps infused with insect pheromones have been proposed and even tested as a cheap and harmless alternative to pesticides in the subdiscipline of biological pest control. Numerous studies have been conducted on the identification and testing of these pheromones such as those by Mahob et al., (2011), and Saroj et al., (2015). However, studies on the Philippine species Helopeltis bakeri are lacking. This paper aims to demonstrate the existence of sex pheromones in Helopeltis bakeri and to document any sort of male behavioural responses towards the pheromones using pheromone extracts and an linear olfactometer prepared and provided by De La Salle University, Biñan.

Abstract Format

html

Abstract (Filipino)

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Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Cacao—Diseases and pests; Helopeltis

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Embargo Period

3-28-2025

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