Cebidae
The family Cebidae belongs to the order Primates. In the context of tropical agronomy, certain species within this family are considered significant pests, capable of causing substantial damage to agricultural plantations located near forest areas.
What the section contains
Cebidae
These animals damage a wide range of crops, including maize, sugarcane, bananas, cocoa, coffee, and various citrus fruits. Young fruits and immature ears are particularly susceptible, which leads to significant losses in marketable yield.
The biology of Cebidae is characterized by complex social structures and high mobility. Reproduction is slow; however, their gregarious lifestyle allows them to efficiently locate food sources even under conditions of limited natural resources, which compels them to migrate into cultivated fields.
The nature of the damage is destructive: these primates do not only consume fruits but also break tree branches, trample crops, and contaminate fields with feces. This creates secondary risks of fungal and bacterial infections developing on the damaged plant tissues.
Control measures require an integrated approach: the use of acoustic repellers, the installation of physical barriers such as electrified wire fences, and the establishment of buffer zones consisting of non-palatable crops around the perimeter of the fields.