A method to estimate the damage of Diabrotica speciosa larvae on potato tubers

ABSTRACT The marketable value of potato tubers is affected by damage caused Diabrotica speciosa, whose larvae create holes on the tubers’ skin and internal feeding tunnels. estimation tuber usually performed assessing external to detriment tunnels larvae. Thus, we propose a method estimate D. speciosa larvae, considering aspects separately. For that, plants cv. Agata were grown under different infestations measuring area occupied volume tunnels, relating these data total tuber. methodology used allowed us characterize an increase in with highest infestation correlation between was not significant, indicating that alone adequate parameter for diagnosis overall quality. However, proposed here provides information regarding pulp consumed extent galleries formed, relative concerning Moreover, contemplates more precise analysis damaged herbivory tuber, which commonly considered studies underground plant structures.