Oriental Amazon Embrapa has an ample research history in various native essences of the amazonian ecosystem, including the big leaf mahogany ( Swietenia macrophylla King). However, the formation of a research network focused in studies regarding the interaction between the mahogany shoot borer ( Hypsipyla grandella Zeller), its natural enemies and its most important host remains a demand to be fulfilled. The damage caused by this insect consists of the destruction of the tree's terminal bud as a consequence of the larvae-carved galleries, which induces the drying of the buds and subsequently, its fallout, compromising the formation of straight and uniform trunks that are commercially useful.

This project contemplates testing species/origins of hosts (big leaf mahogany) associated with the incidence and damage level of the shoot borer insect and lab breeding techniques for them. The obtained results will open doors to posterior researches focusing on other shoot borer host species with great economic importance, such as the cedrela ( Cedrela fissilis Vell) and the andiroba ( Carapa guianensis), and thus reduce the pressure exerted by the non-sustainable exploration of wood in natural forest areas.

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