POTENTIAL FOR BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL OF CROP PESTS IN THE CARIBBEAN

The potential for biological control of important insect pests of crops of economic importance in the Caribbean is evaluated. Crops include sugarcane, coffee, bananas, plantains, sweet potatoes, yams, cassava, tomato, peppers, cabbage, curcubits, some fruits, pigeon pea and beans. Suggestions are made for biological control of major insect pests such as Diatraea saccharalis, Diaprepes abbreviatus, Cosmopolites sordidus, Cylas formicarius, Hypothenemus hampei, Leucoptera coffeella, Plutella xylostella, Heliothis zea and Diaphania spp. Recommendations are made for the proper evaluation and selection of candidate pests.