First record and damage ratio of Montella sp. (coleoptera: curculionidae) in vanilla plantations in Bahia, Brazil

The orchid Vanilla planifolia (Asparagales: Orchidaceae) is the best known and most economically important species of Orchidaceae in the world, and is widely used in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Commercial crops of this plantsuffer from constant attacks by beetles in southern Bahia, Brazil. This study reports the first occurrence of the weevil Montella sp. Bondar, 1948 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) as a pest and describes and characterizes damage from this insect in commercial plantations. Larval weevils build galleries that interrupt the sap flow in plant stems and leaves. Adult weevils scrape and pierce the petals of the flowers, reducing production of the vanilla beans. The degree of severity was considered high because of the generalized attacks on the plant, with an average of 56% of plants attacked in the stands evaluated. The calculated LED (Level of Economic Damage) was 0.06 insect/plant for productivity interference. There was no difference between the two periods evaluated indicating the non-relationship between the time of sampling with the occurrence of damage. However, plants in the reproductive stage were less damaged by the insect when compared to those in the vegetative stage. These data can be useful for pest monitoring.