Percentage damage to tomatillo crops by Heliothis subflexa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) at various altitudes
Keywords:
altitudinal infestation gradient, fruitworm, Physalis ixocarpaAbstract
Heliothis subflexa (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a monophagous insect specialized in feeding on fruits of the genus Physalis (Solanales: Solanaceae). In Mexico this fruitworm is present in all producing tomatillo areas but at very different levels of infestation. The present study aimed to provide data on the damage percentages caused by H. subflexa along an altitudinal transect ranging from 660 to 2,300 m asl. Evaluations were carried out biweekly on 8 plantations located at various altitudes (m asl) at various locations in the state of Morelos. By random sampling of tomatillo fruits in 5 locations per plot, the percentage of damage was estimated. The results obtained indicate that this species is very damaging at all altitudes in the range of 660 to 1,320 m asl, whereas at altitudes progressively higher than 1,320 m asl, populations become progressively less dense and progressively less damaging, so that at the higher altitudes the pest is not considered to be a phytosanitary problem.
Sumario
Heliothis subflexa (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) es un insecto monófago especializado en alimentarse de frutos del genero Physalis (Solanales: Solanaceae). En México, esta especie se localiza en todas las regiones productoras de tomatillo a diferentes niveles de infestación. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo proveer datos en el porcentaje de daño de H. subflexa a lo largo de un transecto altitudinal que va de los 660 a 2,300 msnm. Las evaluaciones se llevaron a cabo quincenalmente en 8 plantaciones localizadas a varias altitudes (msnm) en diferentes localidades en el estado de Morelos. Mediante muestreos aleatorios de frutos de tomatillo en 5 sitios por parcela, se estimó el porcentaje de daño. Los resultados obtenidos indican que esta especie causa graves daños a diferentes altitudes en un rango de los 660 a 1,320 msnm, mientras que en altitudes superiores a los 1,320 msnm, las densidades poblacionales decrecen progresivamente al igual que el daño, por lo tanto a mayores altitudes la plaga no es considerada un problema fitosanitario.
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