Dinámica poblacional del chinche (Monalonion dissimulatum Dist.) y daño de mazorcas en plantaciones orgánicas de cacao del Alto Beni, Bolivia

Population dynamics of the thrip Monalonion dissimulatum Dist. and the damage it caused in eight cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) plantations under sun and shade conditions, at low (300-500 masl) and high (500- 700 masl) altitude in Alto Beni, Bolivia, was studied. Thrip populations, which increased along side cacao pod development and ripening, were greater in high altitude vs. low altitude zones there was no difference in these populations for sun vs. shade conditions. However, these insects only damaged 6-15 per cent of the cacao pods the greatest damage occurred in high altitude zones. The majority of the damaged pods were classified at the lowest level, i.e., 1-25 bites/pod. Very few pods were lost due to thrip attack.