Abundance of tended and non-tended Dalbulus leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and their parasitoids within the gamagrass Tripsacum habitat

Authors

  • Gustavo Moya-Raygoza Departamento de Botánica y Zoología, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Camino Ramón Padilla Sánchez #2100, Nextipac, Zapopan, C.P. 45110, Jalisco, Mexico
  • Nubia M. Chacón-Torres Departamento de Botánica y Zoología, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Camino Ramón Padilla Sánchez #2100, Nextipac, Zapopan, C.P. 45110, Jalisco, Mexico

Abstract

The present study evaluated the abundance of tended and non-tended Dalbulus DeLong (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) sp. leafhoppers and their parasitoids. A field study was conducted in the gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L. (Poaceae) habitat, where the mutualistic association between the leafhopper Dalbulus quinquenotatus DeLong & Nault (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and its tending ant Brachymyrmex obscurior (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) occurs. Yellow sticky card traps were used to determine the abundance of Dalbulus leafhoppers and their parasitoids in this habitat. The results showed that D. quinquenotatus was the most abundant leafhopper, whereas Dalbulus gelbus DeLong and the corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (DeLong) (both Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), both non-tended species, were least abundant. Three egg parasitoid wasp species were identified: Anagrus naulti Triapitsyn & Moya-Raygoza (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), which was the most abundant of the trapped parasitoids, and Paracentrobia Howard sp., and Pseudoligosita Girault sp. (both Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). The parasitoids that inhabit the wild Tripsacum habitat are important to conserve due to their potential as biological control agents against corn leafhopper pests.

Resumen

En este estudio se evaluó la abundancia de atendidas y no atendidas chicharritas del genero Dalbulus y sus parasitoides. Un trabajo de campo fue conducido en el hábitat de Tripsacum dactyloides, donde la asociación de mutualismo entre la chicharrita Dalbulus quinquenotatus Delong & Nault (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) y sus hormigas Brachymyrmex obscurior (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) ocurre. Trampas amarillas pegajosas fueron usadas para determinar la abundancia de Dalbulus y sus parasitoides en este hábitat. Los resultados mostraron que la chicharrita D. quinquenotatus fue la más abundante, mientras que Dalbulus gelbus Delong y la chicharrita del maíz D. maidis (Delong), ambas no atendidas, fueron menos abundantes. Tres especies de avispas parasitoides de huevos fueron identificados: Anagrus naulti Triapitsyn & Moya-Raygoza (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), la cual fue la más abundante de los parasitoides colectados, y Paracentrobia sp., and Pseudoligosita sp. (ambos Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Los parasitoides que habitan en el hábitat natural de Tripsacum son importante consérvalos debido a su potencial como agentes de control biológico contra chicharritas plagas del maíz.

Key Words: Deltocephalinae; Hymenoptera; Mymaridae; Trichogrammatidae; Poaceae

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Author Biography

Gustavo Moya-Raygoza, Departamento de Botánica y Zoología, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Camino Ramón Padilla Sánchez #2100, Nextipac, Zapopan, C.P. 45110, Jalisco, Mexico

Departamento de Botánica y Zoología,

 

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Published

2023-01-15

Issue

Vol. 105, No. 4 (December 2022)

Section

Research Papers

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