Identification of predatory and parasitoid insect species associated with Melanaphis sacchari (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a sorghum pest in Nuevo León, Mexico
Predator and parasitoid insects of M. sacchari
Abstract
Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an important destructive pest in forage sorghum in Nuevo León, Mexico. This study was conducted to identify predatory and parasitoid insect species associated with this pest in Nuevo León, and their impact on its biocontrol. During the monitoring period, identified insects indicated the coexistence of 8 coccinellid species, 2 syrphid species, and 1 chrysopid species. In addition, 2 hymenopteran species were identified. After the insecticide applications, sugarcane aphid population was reduced by about 20.6% (about 14 nymphs per cm2); when the sampling ended, population was reduced by about 70.6% (about 5 nymphs per cm2), thus indicating predator and parasitoid biocontrol. Collected data allowed us to conclude that the biological controllers were responsible for the principal pest population reduction. Overall, results showed that yellow sugarcane aphid predatory and parasitoid species may play an important role in the pest management in sorghum crops in Nuevo León, Mexico. Key Words: Chrysopidae; Coccinellidae; Hymenoptera; Syrphidae; sugarcane aphid
Sumario
Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner (Hemiptera: Aphididae) es una plaga destructiva importante en el sorgo forrajero en Nuevo León, México. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar las especies de insectos depredadores y parasitoides asociados con esta plaga en Nuevo León, y su impacto en su biocontrol. Durante el período de monitoreo, los insectos identificados indicaron la existencia de ocho especies de coccinélidos; dos especies de sírfidos y una especie de crisópidos. Además, se identificaron dos especies de himenópteros. Después de las aplicaciones de insecticidas, la población se redujo aproximadamente 20.6% (acerca de 14 ninfas para cm2); cuando finalizó el muestreo, la población se redujo aproximadamente el 70.6% (acerca de 5 ninfas para cm2), lo que indica biocontrol por depredadores y parasitoides. Los datos recopilados nos permitieron concluir que los controladores biológicos fueron responsables de la principal reducción de la población de la plaga. En general, los resultados mostraron que las especies de depredadores y parasitoides del pulgón amarillo de la caña de azúcar pueden desempeñar un papel importante en el manejo de esta plaga en los cultivos de sorgo en Nuevo León, México.
Palabras Clave: Chrysopidae; Coccinellidae; Hymenoptera; Syrphidae; pulgón amarillo de la caña de azúcar
View this article in BioOne
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright for any article published in Florida Entomologist is held by the author(s) of the article. Florida Entomologist is an open access journal. Florida Entomologist follows terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License (cc by-nc). By submitting and publishing articles in Florida Entomologist, authors grant the FOJ and Florida Entomologist's host institutions permission to make the article available through Internet posting and electronic dissemination, and to otherwise archive the information contained both electronically and in a hard printed version. When used, information and images obtained from articles must be referenced and cited appropriately. Articles may be reproduced for personal, educational, or archival purposes, or any non-commercial use. Permission should be sought from the author(s) for multiple, non-commercial reproduction. Written permission from the author(s) is required for any commercial reproduction.