Armored scales (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) and their parasitoids on Hass avocado (Persea americana Miller) in two municipalities of the State of Mexico, Mexico

Authors

  • Carlos Lázaro-Castellanos Colegio de Postgraduados, Posgrado en Fitosanidad-Entomología y Acarología, km 36.5 Carretera Federal México-Texcoco, Montecillo, Texcoco, Estado de Mexico, C.P. 56230, Mexico
  • Hector González-Hernández Colegio de Postgraduados, Posgrado en Fitosanidad-Entomología y Acarología, km 36.5 Carretera Federal México-Texcoco, Montecillo, Texcoco, Estado de Mexico, C.P. 56230, Mexico
  • Jesús Romero-Nápoles Colegio de Postgraduados, Posgrado en Fitosanidad-Entomología y Acarología, km 36.5 Carretera Federal México-Texcoco, Montecillo, Texcoco, Estado de Mexico, C.P. 56230, Mexico
  • Laura D Ortega-Arenas Colegio de Postgraduados, Posgrado en Fitosanidad-Entomología y Acarología, km 36.5 Carretera Federal México-Texcoco, Montecillo, Texcoco, Estado de Mexico, C.P. 56230, Mexico
  • Armando Equihua-Martínez Colegio de Postgraduados, Posgrado en Fitosanidad-Entomología y Acarología, km 36.5 Carretera Federal México-Texcoco, Montecillo, Texcoco, Estado de Mexico, C.P. 56230, Mexico
  • Salvador Ochoa-Ascencio Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás Hidalgo, Facultad de Agrobiología “Presidente Juárez,” Paseo General Lázaro Cardenas y Berlín s/n, Colonia Viveros, Uruapan, Michoacán, C.P. 60170, Mexico

Abstract

Armored scales and their parasitoids were collected and identified from avocado orchards in 2 municipalities of the state of Mexico; the population fluctuation and parasitism of the 3 most abundant armored scales also were determined. The armored scales species (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) identified were Hemiberlesia cyanophylli (Signoret), Davidsonaspis aguacatae (Evans, Watson, & Miller), Diaspis nr. coccois (Lichtenstein), Hemiberlesia lataniae (Signoret), and Hemiberlesia rapax (Comstock); as well as the associated parasitoids Encarsia aurantii (Howard), Encarsia citrina (Craw), Encarsia gaonae (Myartseva & Evans), Encarsia lounsburyi (Berlese & Paoli), Aphytis proclia (Walker), Coccobius averini (Myartseva); Coccobius juliae (Myartseva), Coccobius mariae (Myartseva) (all Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), Signiphora falcata (Woolley & Dal Molin); Signiphora fax (Girault), Signiphora flavella (Girault), Signiphora mexicana (Ashmead) (all Hymenoptera: Signiphoridae), and Plagiomerus diaspidis (Crawford) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Some species from both groups constituted new distribution or host records in Mexico. Armored scale population densities generally increased per orchard and type of avocado tree structure from Oct to Apr, depending on the phenology of the avocado trees. The percentage of parasitism and adult parasitoid emergence varied according to their armored scale host population density. Most of the parasitoids emerged from armored scales collected from branches (82), followed by armored scales collected from fruits (59), and leaves (18).

Resumen

Las escamas armadas (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) y sus parasitoides se colectaron de huertos de aguacate de dos municipios del Estado de México, además, de las tres escamas armadas más abundantes se determinó la fluctuación poblacional y parasitismo. Las especies de escamas armadas identificadas fueron: Hemiberlesia cyanophylli (Signoret), Davidsonaspis aguacatae (Evans, Watson, & Miller), Diaspis c.a. coccois (Lichtenstein), Hemiberlesia lataniae (Signoret) y Hemiberlesia rapax (Comstock); así como los parasitoides Encarsia aurantii (Howard), Encarsia citrina (Craw), Encarsia gaonae (Myartseva & Evans), Encarsia lounsburyi (Berlese & Paoli), Aphytis proclia (Walker), Coccobius averini (Myartseva), Coccobius juliae (Myartseva), Coccobius mariae (Myartseva) (todos Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae); Signiphora falcata (Woolley & Dal Molin), Signiphora fax (Girault), Signiphora flavella (Girault), Signiphora mexicana (Ashmead) (todos Hynemoptera: Signiphoridae) y Plagiomerus diaspidis (Crawford) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Adicionalmente, algunas especies de ambos grupos constituyen nuevos registros de distribución o nuevos hospedantes para México. Las densidades poblacionales de las escamas armadas aumentaron generalmente por huerto y tipo de estructura del árbol, en el periodo de octubre a abril, lo cual dependió de la fenología del cultivo de aguacate; mientras que, los porcentajes de parasitismo y de emergencia de los adultos parasitoides, variaron de acuerdo con el comportamiento de las poblaciones de sus escamas húespedes. La mayor cantidad de parasitoides emergieron de escamas armadas colectadas en ramas (82), seguido de escamas armadas en frutos (59) y escamas armadas en hojas (18).

Key Words: Hemiberlesia; Davidsonaspis; population fluctuation; parasitism; Aphelinidae; Signiphoridae

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Author Biography

Hector González-Hernández, Colegio de Postgraduados, Posgrado en Fitosanidad-Entomología y Acarología, km 36.5 Carretera Federal México-Texcoco, Montecillo, Texcoco, Estado de Mexico, C.P. 56230, Mexico

Professor of Entomology, Colegio de Postgraduados, Posgrado en Fitosanidad, Entomologia y Acarologia

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Published

2021-08-04

Issue

Vol. 104, No. 2 (June 2021)

Section

Research Papers

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