Morphometry ofDiaphorina citri(Hemiptera: Liviidae) on Six Rutaceae from Veracruz, Mexico

RESUMEN El objetivo de este estudio fue realizar la caracterización morfométrica de Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), así como conocer si el hospedero ejerce alguna influencia importante en la definición de variantes específicas. Los caracteres medidos fueron la longitud del cuerpo, longitud y amplitud de alas anteriores y procesos genales, y longitud de antenas. Los machos y hembras se analizaron de manera independiente. Las medidas obtenidas se sometieron a un análisis de varianza y a un análisis de componentes principales. La mayor variación morfométrica y menor talla se encontró en especímenes machos colectados en hospederos no preferenciales como Citrus limetta Risso, C. sinensis (L.) ‘Selección 8’ y C. paradisi Macfad.; mientras que los más grandes y menos variables en C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. ‘Marrs ‘, C. sinensis (L.) cv. ‘Valencia’ y Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack. Los caracteres con variación notable fueron la longitud y amplitud de las alas anteriores y de los procesos genales. Se encontró mayor variación morfométrica en machos que en hembras. Los resultados mostraron que D. citri es una especie con variantes morfométricas y probablemente el hospedante posee un efecto determinante en la definición de caracteres. ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to characterize Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) morphometrically, as well to determine whether the host has a relationship to a specific morphometric variation. The traits measured were body length, antenna length, lengths and widths of genal processes, and forewing length and width. Females and males were analyzed separately. The measures obtained were subjected to an analysis of variance and principal components analysis. The greatest morphometrical variation and smallest sizes were found in males collected from non-prefered hosts such as Citrus limetta Risso, C. sinensis (L.) ‘Selection 8’ and C. paradisi Macfad.; while, the least variations and largest sizes were found on C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. ‘Marrs’, C. sinensis (L.) cv. ‘Valencia’ and Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack. The traits with notable variation were lengths and widths of forewings and genal processes. Greater morphometrical variations were found in males than in females. The results indicate that D. citri is a species with morphometrical variants and probably the host is a determinant in the definition of characters

Identificación y fluctuación poblacional del minador de la hoja Liriomyza trifolii en chile jalapeño en el norte de Sinaloa.

Mexico is one of the main producers of pepper. Near 140,000 ha are sown per year and the production rises to 1’180,000 t. In Sinaloa near 17,180 ha/per year are sown, with a production of 488,153 t. this crop is a major source of jobs and economic income. With the results of this research, we identified leaf miner species and their population fluctuation in jalapeño pepper at three locations in the north of Sinaloa. Twenty-nine weekly samplings were done from October 2008 to April 2009. Mines were counted leaflets. Adult fluctuation was determined with yellow fluorescent impact-traps at the height of the crop and another trap was set at 1.70 m. Liriomyza trifolli (Burgues) was determined taxonomically by using specialized keys. Even though the occurrence of the agromizid miner was observed in flowers and fruits stages of jalapeño pepper plants at the three locations, it was higher in Guasave compared to Ahome and El Fuerte locations. More adult agromizids were observed on the variable high traps than on the 1.70 high onesMéxico es de los principales productores de chile, ya que al año se siembran alrededor de 140,000 ha y la producción asciende a 1´180,000 t. En el estado de Sinaloa se establecen, en promedio, 17,180 ha/año, con una producción de 488,153 t. Este cultivo es una importante fuente de empleos y de derrama económica. Se identificaron las especies de minadores de la hoja y su fluctuación poblacional en el cultivo de chile jalapeño en tres municipios del norte de Sinaloa. Se desarrollaron 29 muestreos semanales de octubre de 2008 a abril de 2009. Se contabilizaron minas en foliolos. La fluctuación de adultos se determinó con trampas de impacto color amarillo fluorescente a la altura del cultivo y una trampa fija a 1.70 m. Se determinó taxonómicamente a Liriomyza trifolli (Burgess) mediante claves especializadas. Este agromícido presentó cantidades altas en el municipio de Guasave en comparación con Ahome y El Fuerte, aunque en los tres lotes las poblaciones más abundantes fueron en las etapas de floración y fructificación. Las trampas de altura variable capturaron más adultos del minador de la hoja en los tres lotes, en comparación con trampas fijas a 1.70 m

Sympherobius barberi (Banks, 1903) (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae): morfología, presas y rango de distribución en México y América

Los hemeróbidos tienen una distribución cosmopolita y destacan por sus hábitos entomófagos sobre insectos pequeños de cuerpo blando. En México, la especie Sympherobius barberi (Banks, 1903) se registra en Baja California, Estado de México Guanajuato, y Morelos. El interés sobre su potencial uso comercial como agente de control biológico en el país motivó la revisión de esta especie. Tanto en publicaciones científicas como en bases de datos y colecciones biológicas, se documentan los caracteres taxonómicos requeridos para determinar esta especie y se propone sustituir la taxonomía básica basada en patrones de manchas alares. Además, se reporta nueva información sobre presas y plantas hospederas: Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758) en Brassica spp.; Dactylopius confusus (Cockerell, 1893) en varias especies del género Opuntia y Nopalea cochenillifera; Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell, 1896) sobre Opuntia ficus-indica; Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, 1898 en algodón; Planococcus ficus Signoret, 1875 en vid; y larvas de Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) en brócoli.Brown lacewings have a cosmopolitan distribution and stand out for their entomophagous habits on small, soft-bodied prey. In Mexico, the species Sympherobius barberi (Banks, 1903) is recorded from Baja California, Estado de Mexico, Guanajuato, and Morelos. Interest in its potential commercial use as a biological control agent in the country motivated the review of this species. Both in scientific publications and in databases and biological collections, the taxonomic characters required to determine this species are documented, proposing to replace the basic taxonomy based on wing spot patterns. In addition, new information on prey and host plants is recorded: Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758) in Brassica spp.; Dactylopius confusus (Cockerell, 1893) in various species of Opuntia y Nopalea cochenillifera; Dactylopius opuntiae in Opuntia ficus-indica; Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, 1898 in cotton; Planococcus ficus Signoret, 1875 in grapevine; and larvae of Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) in broccoli

Global scientific progress and shortfalls in biological control of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda

peer reviewedSince 2016, the fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda has spread over extensive areas of the tropics and subtropics, imperiling food security, economic progress and the livelihoods of millions of cereal farmers. Although FAW has received long-standing scientific attention in its home range in the Americas, chemical inputs feature prominently in its mitigation and biological control uptake is globally lagging. Here, building upon a quantitative review of the global literature, we methodically dissect FAW biological control science. Of the known entomopathogens (46), parasitoids (304) and predators (215) of FAW, approx. 40% have been subject to laboratory- or field-level scrutiny. Laboratory-level performance has partially been assessed for 14–18% of the above invertebrate taxa. Yet, organismal, geographic, methodological and thematic biases hamper efforts to relate in-field biodiversity to actual ecosystem service delivery. Often, single-guild ‘snapshot’ surveys are preferred over comprehensive bio-inventories or population dynamics appraisals, trophic interactions are wrongly inferred from co-occurrence, standard pest infestation metrics are lacking and natural enemy censuses are performed arbitrarily. Diurnal biota receive inordinate attention, while egg and pupal predation - the main biotic sources of mortality - are routinely overlooked. Multiple microbial and invertebrate biota are investigated with a view towards mass-rearing and augmentative release, but the basis for agent selection is often unclear. Lastly, conservation biological control receives marginal attention and cross-disciplinary engagement with the agroecology domain is lagging. We lay out several steps, including standardized methodologies, smart use of biodemographic toolkits, networked field trials and a fortification of its ecological underpinnings, to sharpen the science of (FAW) biological control and urge further momentum in its global implementation