Jhonathan Cambero-Campos

New Records for Mexico: Gynaikothrips uzeli, Androthrips ramachandrai (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) and Montandoniola confusa (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)

The presence of the thrips Gynaikothrips uzeli Zimmerman, Androthrips ramachandrai Karny, and the anthocorid Montandoniola confusa Streito & Matocq are reported for the first time associated with galls of Ficus benjamina in San Blas, Santiago Ixcuintla, and Tepic of Nayarit, Mexico.

Natural Enemies of the Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Coahuila, México

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) is the main insect pest of corn and other crops in Latin America (Hernandez-Mendoza et al. 2008). The larvae cause severe damage in all phenological stages of the plant (Villa-Castorena & Catalan-Valencia 2004). Control has been with synthetic pesticides; however, this method is inefficient and causes chronic poisoning to growers in Mexico due to incorrect use (Tinoco & Halperin 1998). This has led to the search of other options to manage S. frugiperda including use of natural enemies. Twenty two species of natural enemies have been reported in various parts of Mexico (Molina-Ochoa et al. 2004). Our objectives were to identify the natural enemies of the FAW and the level of parasitism in the area of Buenavista, Coahuila, Mexico. Twelve weekly samplings of FAW larvae were made from Jul to Sep in corn fields infested with FAW at the “El Bajio” Experimental Station of the Universidad Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro (25°23’N, 101°00’W). On each sampling date, 100 larvae of each of the first 3 instars, were randomly collected and placed in 1-oz. (29.6 mL) plastic cups containing an artificial diet (Southland Products Incorporated) and incubated in a bioclimatic chamber at 25 ± 2°C, a photoperiod of 12:12 L:D h, and 50-60% RH. Parasitoids were recovered, tagged, and preserved in 70% alcohol for further mounting and identification with taxonomic keys (Triplehorn & Johnson 2005). Confirmations of identifications were made by Dr. Alejandro Gonzalez Hernandez (Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad de Nuevo Leon, San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo Leon, Mexico). Entomopathogenic fungi from dead larvae were cultured in moist chambers and purified in an artificial medium of potato dextrose agar (PDA) complemented with corn liquor for Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuilleiman and V8-Agar for Nomuraea rileyi Farlow (Samson), at a pH of 6.0. The purified entomopathogens N. rileyi and B. bassiana were identified according to their microscopic and macroscopic characteristics (Barnett 1986). Larvae with symptoms of viral infection were processed by taking samples of occlusion bodies (OBs) and dying the preparations with 0.4% Giemsa stain. Identification was made at the Parasitology Dept., based on the OBs that showed polyhedric characteristics of the nucleopolyhedrovirus group (NPV). Parasitism (as a percentage) was calculated based on the total number of larvae of S. frugiperda that were positive for parasitoids and entomopathogens divided by the total number of FAW larvae collected. Altogether, 1200 larvae of S. frugiperda were collected. Parasitoids and parasites such as Hymenoptera (Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Eulophidae) and Diptera (Tachinidae), as well as entomopathogens (Nucleopolyhedrovirus, N. rileyi and B. bassiana ) killed 526 larvae (43.83%). Sixty-eight (5.7%) died from unknown causes and the remainder of the larvae (674) reached adulthood (Table 1). Mortality of some parasitoids (132, 11% of the total) occurred before emergence of the adults. Parasitoids caused 35.25% parasitism of the larvae (Table 1). Armenta et al. (2008) reported a parasitism rate of 32.2% for Sonora, Mexico. Braconidae was the best represented with 261 specimens (21.75% of total parasitism), in which 257 were Chelonus insularis (21.42%), Ch. cautus (0.25%) and Ch. sonorensis (0.08%) (Table 2). Molina-Ochoa et al. (2004) reported similar percent of parasitism in Michoacan Mexico (45.3%). Ichneumonidae showed low levels of parasitism (1.17%). This information is similar to that reported by Murua et al. (2006). Pristomerus sp. presented a low level of parasitism (0.42%), similar to the 0.24% reported by Ruiz-Najera et al. (2007) (Table 2). Chelonus sonorensis showed a parasitism level of 0.75%, contrasting with data from Cruz-Sosa (2007), who found it to be the most abundant species in Oaxaca, Mexico. Euplectrus plathyphenae (Eulophidae) showed 0.42% parasitism. Only 0.92% parasitism by tachinid flies was found in the present study. Mortalities caused by the entomopathogens, NPV, N. rileyi , and B. bassiana were of 2.0, 0.75 and 0.08%, respectively (Table 2).

Mortality and Production of Occlusion Bodies in Spodoptera Frugiperda Larvae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Treated with Nucleopolyhedrovirus

ABSTRACT The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda is the main corn pest in Latin America. As an alternative to chemical insecticide applications, one isolate of Spodoptera frugiperda nucleopolyhedrovirus from soil of an experimental field in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico was evaluated. Egg masses of the pest were superficially inoculated by the immersion method, with different nucleopolyhedrovirus concentrations expressed as occlusion bodies/mL (OBs/mL). Artificial diet was also inoculated with different viral concentrations and used to conduct bioassays on first to sixth instar larvae to determine the number of OBs produced per larva. Another assay was performed under greenhouse conditions to evaluate four baculovirus formulations. The use of the immersion method on egg masses caused the highest mortality rates recorded in the larval stage (74.37%), mainly in the first instar, with 64.05% mortality. The number of OBs produced per larva ranged from 5.15 × 106 to 2.3 × 109, where fifth and sixth instar larvae produced the highest amount. OBs produced by weight unit of larva were registered and higher values were found in the last larval instars. In the baculovirus formulations tested under greenhouse conditions, the mixture with maize flour and starch resulted in significantly increased mortality rates.

Pathogenicity of the Hypocreales Fungi Beauveria Bassiana and Metarhizium Anisopliae Against Insect Pests of Tomato

Abstract. Silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Aleyrodidae), potato/ tomato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli Sulc. (Triozidae), and western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thripidae), are insect pests of economic importance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and other solanaceous vegetables in México. Soil is the main reservoir for many entomopathogenic fungi known as biological control agents important for IPM, but only a few strains obtained from soil have been used against insect pests. In this study, the biological activity of two native isolates of entomopathogenic fungi (from soil at Chihuahua, México), was evaluated against immatures of the three insect pests in a laboratory. Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) (Bb-CIAD1) isolate was more virulent than the Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Socorin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) (Ma-CIAD1) isolate. Mortality based on mycosis varied significantly 8 days after inoculation. The number of immature insects infected by fungi was correlated with spore concentration. Beauveria bassiana (Bb-CIAD1) and M. anisopliae (Ma-CIAD1) had LT50 values of 5.6–6.4 and 5.3–6.5 days, respectively. The results indicated that psyllids, thrips, and whiteflies were susceptible to the native fungal isolates with potential as microbial control agents. Based on the results, we suggest the native isolates of entomopathogenic fungi from soil could be used as biological control agents of many other insect pests.

Biological Activity of Hyphomycete Entomopathogenic Fungi Against Gynaikothrips uzeli (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae)

Weeping fig, Ficus benjamina L. (Moraceae) is an ornamental plant species grown worldwide. In Mexico, it is one of the most widely used ornamentals in urban green areas. Leaves of the tree are damaged by the thrips Gynaikothrips uzeli Zimmerman (Cambero et al. 2010). Thrips feed on leaf terminals and inject toxins causing deformed leaves and gall formation (Held et al. 2005; Retana-Salazar & Sanchez-Chacon 2009). Chemical control of Gynaikothrips spp. is possible (Held & Boyd 2008), but insecticides should be used wisely in order to preserve associated natural enemies (Wheeler et al. 2007). In Mexico, Montandoniola confusa Streito & Matocq and Androthrips ramachandrai (Karny) have been found to be predators of Gynaikothrips spp (Cambero et al. 2010). In North America north of Mexico, A. ramachandrai, Montandoniola moraguesi Puton and Thripastichus gentilei (Del Guercio) are reported natural enemies (Held et al. 2005; Held & Boyd 2008).

Primer Registro de Aphis (Toxoptera) aurantii1 en Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (Moraceae) en México

En México el cultivo de yaca, también conocido como jaca, (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam., Moraceae) cuenta con una superficie establecida de 1,275 ha y una producción anual de 18,610 t. Por volumen y extensión, Nayarit es el principal productor con 90 % de la producción nacional con 17,053 t distribuidas en 1,150 ha (SIAP 2016). Actualmente la yaca es considerada como una alternativa rentable donde la mayoría de la producción se exporta a los Estados Unidos de América (Luna et al. 2013). Este cultivo es atacado principalmente por escamas, cochinillas, y áfidos (Nova y Arrambide 1994, Crane y Balerdi 2000). Aphis (Toxoptera) aurantii (Boyer de Fonscolombe, 1841) es una especie tropical originaria de Asia considerada polífaga y registrada en más de 120 especies de numerosas familias de plantas por Holman (2009) y Blackman y Eastop (2016), aunque en el caso de Artocarpus solo se refieren a A. integrifolia L., entre otras especies de yaca. Otros hospedantes comunes son: Citrus, Coffea, Pittosporum, Thea, Theobroma, Visnea, Camellia, y Rhamnus (Melia 1993). De acuerdo a Elevitch y Manner (2006) y Haq (2006) esta especie se alimenta de brotes tiernos, hojas y frutos de yaca en el sur de China e India. Haq (2006) menciona que los áfidos Greenidea artocarpi Westwood y T. aurantii tienen cierta preferencia de posarse en tejidos vegetales cubiertos de moho negro, y en altas infestaciones pueden ocasionar daños severos a inflorescencias y frutos de yaca al transmitir enfermedades que causan pérdidas del 15 a 32% de la cosecha. En México T. aurantii fue citado por primera vez por Peña y Sifuentes (1972) y Peña-Martínez (1999), principalmente en cítricos, café y cacao, pero no menciona a yaca. Toxoptera aurantii está ampliamente distribuido en 26 estados de México, incluyendo Nayarit. Las altas densidades poblacionales de áfidos causan daño directo a hojas y brotes tiernos de donde se alimentan, lo cual afecta el crecimiento

Primer Registro de Neocatolaccus tylodermae Ashmead1 en México como Parasitoide de Copturus aguacatae Kissinger2

Resumen. Se registra por primera vez a Neocatolaccus tylodermae (Ashmead) como parasitoide del barrenador de las ramas de aguacate (Copturus aguacatae Kissinger) en Nayarit, México.

Parasitoides de Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Encontrados en Nayarit, México

Resumen. Se identificaron parasitoides asociados al gusano cogollero Spodoptera frugiperda (GC), mediante la colecta de 1,836 larvas de GC del primero al tercer estadio larval en maíz durante el 2012 y primavera-verano del 2013 en siete municipios del estado de Nayarit. Se colectaron 284 larvas parasitadas resultando en una tasa de parasitismo del 15.4%. Dentro del Orden Hymenoptera se identificaron seis especies parasitoides de la familia Braconidae de las cuales Chelonus cautus es el primer registro para Nayarit y tres especies de la familia Ichneumonidae. También se identificó una especie de la familia Scelionidae, así como Chloropidae y Tachinidae pertenecientes a Diptera. La tasa de parasitismo más alta fue de 42.3% ejercido por cuatro especies en el municipio de San Pedro Lagunillas en agosto de 2013.

Primer Registro de Stethorus pinachi (Coleoptera: Coccinelidae) en Nayarit, México

La familia Coccinellidae cuenta con alrededor de 200 especies reconocidas en México (Gordon 1985). En el estado de Nayarit el estudio taxonómico de los coccinélidos es limitado, aunque se mencionan ocho especies (Rodríguez et al. 2014). A nivel mundial, la mayoría de las especies de los coccinélidos en estado de larvas y adultos son depredadores de insectos y ácaros fitófagos (Néstor et al. 2008). En el estado de Nayarit la yaca (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam., Moraceae) es un cultivo comercialmente rentable donde la mayoría de la producción se exporta a los Estados Unidos de América (Luna et al. 2013) y es atacado principalmente por la cochinilla rosada del hibisco (Maconellicoccus hirsutus). Debido a la información casi nula de los insecticidas autorizados para este cultivo y a que los productos exportados son examinados para detectar residuos de pesticidas que puedan causar daños a la salud de los consumidores, nos lleva a buscar alternativas de control de plagas. La búsqueda y detección de coccinélidos depredadores como agentes de control biológico podrían ser una alternativa de control de plagas en el cultivo y puede disminuir la presencia de agroquímicos en los frutos. Sin embargo, el estudio de la diversidad y distribución de los coccinélidos como agentes de control biológico ha sido poco estudiado (Marín-Jaramillo y Bujanos-Muñiz 2008). En el presente trabajo se registra por primera vez la especie Stethorus pinachi (Gordon and Chapin) en el cultivo de yaca para el estado de Nayarit, México. Los especímenes fueron colectados en abril de 2014 en una huerta de yaca en el Municipio de Compostela, Nayarit (21.101341, -105.093698) y a una elevación de 24 m.s.n.m. Se utilizó el derribo como técnica de muestreo (Cambero et al. 2010), que consistió en colocar una manta de 3 x 3 m debajo del dosel de cinco árboles tomados al azar, previamente asperjados con insecticida cipermetrina (Combat 20 CE, Agricultura Nacional S.A. de C.V., México D.F.) a una dosis de 84 ml en 15 l de agua (2 l de solución por árbol). Se regresó al sitio de aspersión después de 30 minutos de la aplicación y los insectos derribados se colocaron en

ENEMIGOS NATURALES ASOCIADOS A DIAPHORINA CITRI KUWAYAMA (HEMIPTERA: PSYLLIDAE) EN LIMÓN PERSA (CITRUS LATIFOLIA TANAKA) EN NAYARIT, MÉXICO

Natural enemies associated to Diaphorina citri in the state of Nayarit were identified. The study was carried out in three orchards of Persian lime from May to October 2011. The identified depredator species were Olla v-nigrum, Chilocorus cacti, Cycloneda sanguinea, and Ceraeochrysa sp.; as well as the parasitoid Tamarixia radiata and the entomopathogenic Beauveria bassiana. Nephus sp. Mulsant, 1850 and Pentilia sp. Mulsant, 1850 are new distribution records to Mexico