Sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.), is a tropical fruit tree of the Annonaceae family, whose market has expanded each year and intensely grown in the north-eastern Brazil, where small producers have its fruits as main source of income. However, problems caused by two key pests of sugar apple, Cerconota anonella (Sepp. .1830) (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) and Bephratelloides pomorum (Fab. .1808) (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), have limited the production and marketing of the fruit. In order to minimize these losses, a field experiment was carried out in Maceió, Alagoas State, Brazil, to evaluate different ways to control these pests. The experiment was set in randomized complete block design, with eight treatments and four replicates. Each replicate corresponded to four fruits, totaling sixteen fruits per treatment. The treatments were: unprotected fruits (control); open white waterproof paper bag; microperforated plastic bags; white NWF open bag (non-woven fabric); red NWF open bag; wire cage lined with fabric voil; insecticide Profenofos (12 g/L-1) + Cypermethrin (1,2 g/L-1) and kaolin (10 g / 100 mL-1). The following variables were evaluated in fruits: number of holes caused by the pests, weight, length and diameter, percentage of fruits harvested and the cost of the treatment per unit. The best result was obtained with red NWF open bag, obtaining 87,50% of marketable fruit free from insect damages. The microperforated plastic bags had the lowest cost, but its fragility, prevents reuse in following crops. Therefore, the NWF red open bag is indicated as the most economical and efficient.
Insecta; Annonaceae; fruit borer; seed borer; control
