Population Parameters of IHaplaxius crudus/I under Semi-Controlled Conditions

Oil palm is one of Colombia’s main agribusinesses, with more than 590,000 ha planted. The eastern palm-growing region accounts for 47% of the planted area. It is also the area affected by the Lethal Wilt disease, which has caused the eradication of more than a million palms, equivalent to 7790 ha. Haplaxius crudus is considered a vector of the causal agent of this disease, and management strategies are focused on reducing H. crudus populations in the field. However, the population parameters of the insect, which are essential for adequate control, are unknown. Therefore, it was proposed to determine the life cycle and life table parameters under semi-controlled conditions in an oil palm plantation. The life cycle was 62.7 ± 15.5 days (average ± standard deviation). The egg stage lasted 14.6 ± 0.6 days, the nymphal stage 48.1 ± 14.9, and adult longevity was 14.8 ± 8.4 days. The highest specific mortality rate (qx) was in the egg phase: 0.14. The net reproductive rate was Ro = 10.96; the generation time was T = 62.3 days, the intrinsic natural growth rate was rm = 0.03, the and finite growth rate was λ = 1.03. These results contribute to the knowledge of the population dynamics of this insect in the field and for the development of population control studies. The palm leafhopper, Haplaxius crudus, is a possible vector of the pathogen that causes the Lethal Wilt of oil palms in Colombia. This disease represents the biggest phytosanitary problem in the eastern palm zone. From 2010 to 2021, more than 7700 ha have been eradicated, with economic losses exceeding 154 million USD. Therefore, knowing the biology of this insect and its population parameters is necessary for developing population control tools. To evaluate these parameters, a cohort of 100 eggs obtained from H. crudus adults from the breeding unit established in the Campo Experimental Palmar de las Corocoras de Cenipalma in Paratebueno, Cundinamarca, was monitored to record the life cycle and the population parameters using a life table under semi-controlled conditions in an oil palm plantation. The life cycle from egg to adult was 62.7 ± 15.5 days (26.1 ± 2.9 °C; HR: 89.8 ± 14.0%). The egg stage lasted 14.6 ± 0.6 days, the nymphal stage 48.1 ± 2.8 days through five instars, and the adult longevity was 14.8 ± 8.4 days. The specific mortality rate (qx) calculated in the life table was 0.14 (for the egg stage), 0.05 (for I instar), 0.05 (for II instar), 0.03 (for III instar), 0.04 (for IV instar), and 0