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The presence of pollinator insects and their association with wild plants in the Tetzcotzingo System Reserve is reported. Fourteen species of the families Apidae, Crabronidae, Halictidae, Megachilidae, Tiphiidae, and Vespidae were identified. Pollinators were found in seven species of Asteraceae, Cactaceae, Lamiceae, and Polemoniaceae. The European honeybee, Apis mellifera L., was the pollinator most often present in the reserve. The greatest European honeybee-plant interaction was with Baccharis pteronioides (DC) (Asteraceae). The number of registered pollinators increased for B. pteronioides, Gymnosperma glutinosum (Spreng.) (Asteraceae), Ipomoea stans Cav (Convulvulaceae), Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R.Br. (Lamiaceae), and Simsia amplexicaulis Pers. (Asteraceae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entre noviembre 2017 y febrero 2018 se observaron hojas de tejocote (Crataegus mexicana Moc. & Sessé ex. DC) con enrollamientos y larvas de Argyrotaenia montezumae y Templemania millistriata (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) en Chiautzingo, Puebla. Este es el primer reporte de estas especies en México afectando C. mexicana. Tejocote (Crataegus mexicana Moc. & Sessé ex. DC) with leaf curling and larvae of Argyrotaenia montezumae and Templemania millistriata (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) were observed in Chiautzingo, Puebla, between November 2017 and February 2018. This is the first report of these species in Mexico affecting C. mexicana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The weevil Rhyssomatus nigerrimus Fahraeus is a pest that feeds on pods and plants of soybeans in Northwestern and Southeast Mexico. It is important to determine sexually dimorphic characters of R. nigerrimus for rapid separation of sexes for bioecology, behavior, and control studies. The objective of this work was to determine the sexual dimorphism and ratio of R. nigerrimus adults. The sexual proportion between males and females was approximately 1:1. We concluded that it is possible to separate adults of R. nigerrimus by sex based on secondary sexual characters, especially the mucro on the protibia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm, Elaeis guineensis Jacq., is one of the most important oil crops in Mexico. The study aimed to record herbivory, damage, and taxonomic identity of Automeris moloneyi Druce 1897 (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) in nine commercial oil palm plantations at Tabasco, Mexico. In each plantation, 30 palm trees were selected in which A. moloneyi was searched for and collected every 3 months, from September 2019 to November 2020. At each sampling, the leaf surface of four fronds in the lower-middle part of the plant canopy was examined. A. moloneyi larvae fed on oil palm leaflets, abundance was low (0.003 to 0.103 larva per frond), and damage was localized (few plants). Most larvae per frond were recorded during the wettest time of the year in the study area. This is the first record of A. moloneyi in oil palm. The finding extends the geographical distribution of the species in the Neotropical region of the world. Probable factors that might be involved in low occurrence and damage of the species in the oil palm agroecosystem of the study area were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se reporta por primera vez a Tromatobia sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) asociada con Neoscona oaxacensis (Araneae: Araneidae), araña que exhibe cuidados maternos prolongados de sus sacos de huevos u ovisacos, en Toluca, Estado de México. El ichneumónido infestó 24% de los ovisacos individuales. No se documentó la presencia de huevos del ichneumónido en los ovisacos infestados. Las larvas de Tromatobia sp. consumieron la totalidad de los huevos de N. oaxacensis y próximas a pupar construyeron cocones individuales, colocándolos uno al lado del otro. Por cada ovisaco individual infestado de N. oaxacensis se encontraron dos a tres pupas y/o adultos de Tromatobia sp. Los adultos abandonaron el interior de los cocones a través de orificios de 2 mm de diámetro. Este estudio representa la primera interacción trófica que ocurre entre Tromatobia sp. y la araña Neoscona oaxacensis en México. Tromatobia sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) is reported for the first time associated with Neoscona oaxacensis (Araneae: Araneidae), a spider that exhibits prolonged maternal care of its egg sacs or ovisacs, in Toluca, State of Mexico. The ichneumonid infested 24% of individual ovisacs. The presence of ichneumonid eggs was not documented in the infested ovisacs. Larvae of Tromatobia sp. consumed all the eggs of N. oaxacensis and, close to pupating, built individual cocoons, placing them side by side. For each individual ovisac infested of N. oaxacensis, two to three pupae and/or adults were counted. Adults left the interior of the cocoons through 2 mm diameter holes. This study represents the first trophic interaction occurring between Tromatobia sp. and N. oaxacensis in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Split-banded owl-butterfly, Opsiphanes fabricii fabricii (Boisduval 1870) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae), is found in tropical and subtropical areas of Mexico and Central America. Larvae of the species feed on leaflets of oil palm, Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (Arecaceae). Conura maculata (Fabricius) and Conura immaculata (Cresson) were parasitoids of O. fabricii fabricii pupae at two oil palm plantations at Tabasco, Mexico. These new records broaden the host range and geographic distribution of both parasitoids in the Neotropical region. Parasitism rates by C. maculata ranged from 18.2% (Ejido Montaña, Jalapa) to 55.1% (Ejido Ceiba, Tacotalpa). The number of pupae collected from O. fabricii fabricii were significantly correlated with the number of pupae parasitized by C. maculata (Ejido Ceiba: r = 0.91; Ejido Montaña: r = 0.87). Parasitism rates of by C. immaculata ranged from 0% (Ejido Montaña) to 6.8% (Ejido Ceiba). We believe parasitic activity by both Conura spp. contribute to maintaining relatively low abundance of O. fabricii fabricii. Factors that promote parasitic activity at oil palm plantations and need for more knowledge of trophic interactions of defoliating insects, parasitoids, and hyperparasitoids in the oil palm agroecosystem of the region are discussed. La mariposa búho de bandas divididas, Opsiphanes fabricii fabricii (Boisduval 1870) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae), es una especie que se encuentra en áreas tropicales y subtropicales de México y Centroamérica. Las larvas se alimentan de los folíolos de la palma de aceite, Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (Arecaceae). Conura maculata (Fabricius) y Conura immaculata (Cresson) fueron encontradas como parasitoides de pupas de O. fabricii fabricii en dos plantaciones de palma de aceite en Tabasco, México. Estos nuevos registros amplían el rango de hospedantes y la distribución geográfica de ambos parasitoides en la región Neotropical. Las tasas de parasitismo de C. maculata oscilaron entre 18.2% (Ejido Montaña, Jalapa) y 55.1% (Ejido Ceiba, Tacotalpa). Hubo una correlación significativa entre el número de pupas recolectadas de O. fabricii fabricii y el número de pupas parasitadas por C. maculata (Ejido Ceiba: r = 0.91; Ejido Montaña: r = 0.87). Las tasas de parasitismo de C. immaculata oscilaron entre 0% (Ejido Montaña) y 6.8% (Ejido Ceiba). Creemos que la actividad parasítica de ambas especies de Conura contribuyen a mantener relativamente bajas las densidades de población de O. fabricii fabricii. Se discuten los factores que promueven esta actividad parasítica en las plantaciones de palma de aceite y la necesidad de profundizar en el conocimiento de las interacciones tróficas de insectos defoliadores, parasitoides, e hiperparasitoides en el agroecosistema palma de aceite de la región. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pirate bugs of the genus Orius are efficient predators of economically important agricultural pests. However, intensification of agriculture reduced their populations globally. The aim of the study was to use a phylogenetic approach to determine which Orius spp. were associated with inflorescences of ornamental sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) at Toluca, Mexico State. Specimens collected were identified by PCR amplification and sequencing of the partial cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) gene using primers LCO 1492 and HCO 2198. The phylogenetic reconstruction was made using Bayesian analyses including sequences obtained in the study and sequences previously published for Orius spp. Molecular analyses identified specimens collected from sunflower inflorescences at Toluca as Orius tristicolor White. The study suggested the sunflower plant could be used to attract or maintain the predator in ornamental and vegetable crops in the region, as well as establish conservation niches to use in integrated pest management programs. Las chinches piratas del género Orius son depredadores eficientes de plagas agrícolas económicamente importantes. Sin embargo, la intensificación de la agricultura ha reducido su población a nivel mundial. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar las especies del género Orius asociadas con las inflorescencias de girasol ornamental en Toluca, México, utilizando un enfoque filogenético. Los especímenes recolectados fueron identificados mediante la amplificación por PCR y secuenciación parcial del gen citocromo c oxidasa I (cox1) utilizando los iniciadores LCO 1492 y HCO 2198. La reconstrucción filogenética se realizó con análisis bayesianos, incluyendo las secuencias obtenidas en el presente estudio junto con secuencias publicadas para Orius spp. Los análisis moleculares identificaron a los especímenes recolectados en inflorescencias de girasol en Toluca como Orius tristicolor White. Este estudio sugiere que la planta de girasol podría utilizarse para atraer o mantener este depredador en los cultivos ornamentales y vegetales de la región, así como para establecer nichos de conservación e incorporarlos en programas de manejo integrado. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the feeding of Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on Amaranthus sp. grain and its damage. Ephestia kuehniella completed its life cycle on the amaranth, which resulted in a reduction in the quality of the grain. Resumen Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) se encontró alimentándose de granos de amaranto (Amaranthus sp.), causando daño al grano. La plaga completó su ciclo biológico en el grano disminuyendo su calidad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

En agosto de 2018 en recorridos de campo realizados en lotes comerciales de fresa en la localidad de La Sauceda, Zamora, Michoacán se observaron hojas con daños por alimentación y enrollamientos, así como la presencia de larvas. Se recolectaron larvas, que se mantuvieron en condiciones de laboratorio y los adultos emergidos se identificaron como Argyrotaenia montezumae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Este es el primer reporte de esta especie en México en el cultivo de fresa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larvae of the split-banded owl-butterfly, Opsiphanes fabricii fabricii (Boisduval), feed on leaflets of oil palm, Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (Arecaceae), from southeastern Mexico to Panama. Cotesia invirae Salgado-Neto & Whitfield was identified as a gregarious koinobiont endoparasitoid of 4th-5th instar larvae of O. fabricii fabricii. This is the first record of C. invirae parasitizing O. fabricii fabricii larvae in Mexico, which broadens the geographic distribution of the species in the neotropical region of the world. Field parasitism from June 2021 to May 2022 at two commercial oil palm plantations in the State of Tabasco, Mexico was 11.3% (“Las Palmas” farm) and 7.1% (“El Tintal” farm); 82% of parasitized larvae were found during the rainy season in the study area (July-September), which coincided with the most O. fabricii fabricii in the oil palm crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]