First Report of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Noctuidae) on the Dragon Fruit Species Selenicereus costaricensis (F.A.C.Weber) S. Arias & N. Korotkova and Selenicereus megalanthus (K. Schum. Ex Vaupel) Moran (Cactaceae)
The destroyer ant, Trichomyrmex destructor (Jerdon, 1805) (Formicidae, Myrmicinae), is newly reported as a pest of the red dragon fruit Selenicereus costaricensis (F. A. C. Weber) S. Arias & N. Korotkova ex Hammel (Cactaceae). It feeds on the areoles, scale leaves and surrounding green tissues at the base of spines of S. costaricensis, due to the presence of extrafloral nectaries. The damaged portions turned yellow and then dark brown to black. The extent of infestation on the cladode was 0–50%. Besides cladode, flowers and fruits were also damaged. Up to 90% fruits and/flowers were infested on four clumps. This is a case of direct cost of production of extrafloral nectaries, which are protective in function against herbivores. This is the first report of extrafloral nectaries in S. costaracensis.
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