Comparison of Beetle Diversity and Incidence of Parasitism in Diabroticina (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Species Collected on Cucurbits

Authors

  • Sagrario Gmez-Virus
  • Astrid Eben

Abstract

Diabroticina (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Luperini) beetles were sampled under field conditions on two host plants of the family Cucurbitaceae, Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. martinezii L. Bailey (bitter, wild cucurbit) and C. moschata (Lam.) Poiret (non bitter, cultivated cucurbit). Seventeen species of Diabroticina were collected. Acalymma blomorum Munroe Smith was the most abundant species on both host plants. The only parasitoid found was Celatoria compressa Wulp (Diptera: Tachinidae). This parasitoid attacked more beetle species on the cultivated cucurbit (65) than on the bitter cucurbit (20). However, the percentages of parasitism observed in all species were low (0.4 to 12.5). These data suggest that host plant species might have an effect on parasitism.

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Published

2005-03-01

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Section

Literature Review Articles