The State of Veracruz in Mexico is one of the main cattle producers, and uses several veterinary products for disease and parasite control. For parasite control, ivermectin is one of the most frequently used substances. Nevertheless, even though previous research conducted in other countries has found that this product has negative effects on beneficial coprophagous fauna, no studies have described its effects on coprophagous insects at a local scale in Veracruz, Mexico. This study evaluated Euoniticellus intermedius survival, fecundity, fertility and preimaginal development under laboratory conditions when ivermectin was added to cattle dung at three different concentrations. The design included two controls (spiked dung), and the following product concentrations: 0.01, 1.0 and 100ppm, which were homogenized with wet cattle dung. 20 female-male E. intermedius couples between five and 15 days old were used and kept at 27°C, 70% RH, and 12h light for 10 days. The survival of all specimens, the fertility of 20 females and the gonadal maturity of 17 males were verified. The larval development in 162 pieces of brood-mass was examined, and a total of 974 larvae developed and reached adulthood. The highest ivermectin concentration was toxic at 1.0ppm dose, the survival of adults was reduced to almost the half, and at 100ppm, total mortality was observed. The effects on specimen reproductive systems showed that the ovary was not affected, that the testicle size increased, and that the fecundity and weight of brood-masses were reduced. Pre-imaginal development increased 0.5 times at 0.01ppm concentration, and the width of the cephalic capsule in third instar larvae diminished. The prolonging of development time may cause a phase lag in the field activity cycle, this lag may reduce the number of E. intermedius individuals and the efficiency of the environmental services that they provide. El estado de Veracruz en México, es uno de los principales productores de ganado vacuno en México, asimismo utiliza diversas medicinas veterinarias para el control de enfermedades y parásitos. La ivermectina es realizó en condiciones de laboratorio, en donde se utilizó una de las substancias más utilizadas para el control de parásitos. Sin embargo, se sabe por estudios hechos en otros países, que esta substancia tiene efectos negativos sobre la fauna coprófaga benéfica como los escarabajos del estiércol, pero no se han estudiado sus efectos sobre la fauna coprófaga de Veracruz o de México. Este estudio se el estiércol vacuno a tres diferentes concentraciones de ivermectina para determinar su efecto sobre la supervivencia, fecundidad, fertilidad y desarrollo preimaginal de Euoniticellus intermedius. Por lo tanto, las tres concentraciones que se emplearon fueron: 0.01, 1.0 y 100ppm de ivermectina homogeneizada en estiércol vacuno fresco y dos testigos. Además, se utilizaron 20 parejas hembramacho por tratamiento, entre cinco y 15 días de edad y mantenidos por 10 días a 27°C, 70% HR y 12hr luz. Se determinó la supervivencia de todos, la fertilidad en 20 hembras y el estado de madurez gonádica en 17 machos. Se determinó el desarrollo preimaginal en 162 masas-nido y 974 se dejaron continuar el desarrollo hasta la emergencia de los adultos. La ivermectina es tóxica a mayor concentración. La supervivencia de adultos se redujo casi a la mitad a dosis de 1.0ppm y fue nula a 100ppm. El ovario no fue afectado. Los testículos incrementaron de tamaño. La fecundidad y el peso de las masas-nido se redujeron. El desarrollo preimaginal se incrementó 0.5 veces a concentración 0.01ppm y las larvas del tercer estadio redujeron el ancho de la cápsula cefálica. El alargamiento del tiempo de desarrollo puede causar desfase de su ciclo de actividad en campo, lo que podría reducir su número y la eficiencia de los servicios ambientales que proporcionan.

Summary The purpose of this study was to determine the number of larval instars for Heilipus lauri Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). We reared 385 larvae under laboratory conditions and measured the width of the larval head capsules from digital images. Data were analyzed using the Hcap program and Dyar's rule. Analysis of the frequency distribution showed the existence of 4 distinct peaks. The mean Dyar's constant was 1.42, where the relationship between the natural logarithm of the head capsule widths and the number of larval instars resulted in a near-perfect geometric growth for each instar. The excellent fit of the data to a linear model suggests that there was nearly no overlap among the 4 instars in the head capsule measurements, making it possible to distinguish the 4 instars of H. lauri accurately. Sumario El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el número de estadios larvarios de Heilipus lauri Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Un total de 385 larvas fueron criadas en condiciones de laboratorio. El ancho de la capsula cefálica de cada larva fue medido por medio de un sistema computarizado de análisis de imágenes. Los datos fueron analizados con el programa HCap y la regla de Dyar. El gráfico de distribución de frecuencias mostró cuatro picos de distribución del ancho de la cápsula cefálica. El promedio de la constante de Dyar fue de 1.42 donde la relación entre el logaritmo natural del ancho de la cápsula cefálica y el número de estadio larvario resultó en un perfecto crecimiento geométrico de cada estadio larvario. El excelente ajuste lineal de las datos sugiere que no existen instares traslapados y es posible distinguir cuatro estadios larvarios en H. lauri.

Avocado is one of the most important crops in the world, and Mexico is the largest producer of this fruit. Several insect pests affect its production, and thrips are amongst the most important. A key step in the design of control methods is accurate species identification. Despite this, formal reports on species diversity of thrips in Mexico are very scarce. Morphological identification can sometimes be time-consuming and inconclusive. Therefore, we explored the species diversity of thrips in Mexican avocado orchards (Michoacan state) based on partial sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). Forty-four specimens were analysed, which represented approximately 8% of all individuals collected from five localities distributed in three Municipalities. All specimens were analysed using the COI marker, and specimens within the genera Frankliniella were also analysed using a marker within the D2 domain of the 28S (28SD2) nuclear ribosomal DNA. Molecular identifications were confirmed using morphological taxonomy. Overall, six genera were found (Neohydatothrips, Scirtothrips, Frankliniella, Arorathrips, Caliothrips and Leptothrips). All genera contained only one species, except Frankliniella, for which there were six species. Data from the two molecular markers suggest the existence of cryptic species within Mexican F. occidentalis populations.

Jackfruit, Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (Rosales: Moraceae), was only recently introduced into Mexico, and the state of Nayarit has become its main source of production. Information on its management, development, and production in Mexico is scarce. In this study, we identified four species of scale insects on jackfruit belonging to the families Coccidae (one species), Diaspididae (two species), and Pseudococcidae (one species) from Coccomorpha. We found one species of a parasitic wasp (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and two ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) associated with the mango shield scale, Milviscutulus mangiferae (Green) (Coccidae). Three species of aphelinid parasitoids and one coccinellid species (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) were found attacking the lesser snow scale, Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley) (Diaspididae). The lesser snow scale and the mango shield scale were the most frequent scales insect species encountered in jackfruit orchards in Nayarit. Therefore, attention should be paid to the populations of these two scale insects, as well as to the type of interaction between ants and the mango shield scale, to design more efficient management of these pests.

Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) is one of the most important insect pests of wild and cultivated agaves in Mexico. For managing this weevil, it is important to have a method for detecting and sampling its population density. The weevil's life cycle takes place inside the agave plant, which makes sampling of the weevil difficult. The use of traps baited with synthetic pheromone plus agave tissue is a useful tool for sampling the population density of this pest. Using the capture-mark-release-recapture method, we investigated the attraction range of traps baited with synthetic pheromone plus agave tissue to capture S. acupunctatus. We also evaluated several inter-trap distances to determine the best density of traps for monitoring this insect. Our results showed that these traps attracted S. acupunctatus up to a range of 120 m. In addition, we found that the cardinal point at which weevils were released affected their recapture. The results also showed that, in gene... Resumen Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) es la plaga insectil de mayor importancia en agaves silvestres y cultivados en México. Para el manejo de este picudo es importante tener un método de muestreo para monitorear su densidad poblacional, pero debido a que todo su ciclo biológico ocurre en el interior de la planta, su muestreo es difícil; así, el uso de trampas con feromona sintética es una opción para su monitoreo. En este estudio, se investigó el radio de atracción de trampas cebadas con feromona sintética y tejido de agave para la captura de S. acupunctatus, mediante la técnica de captura-marcaje-liberación y recaptura. También se evaluaron diferentes distancias entre trampas para el monitoreo de este insecto. Se encontró que las trampas cebadas con feromona sintética y tejido de agave atrajeron a S. acupunctatus hasta en un rango de 120 m. Adicionalmente, encontramos que el punto cardinal en donde se liberaron los insectos afectan la recaptura de los picudos. En cuant...

Horticulture crops are economically important in the state of Guerrero, México. However, fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are the most important limiting factor due to the direct damage they cause to fruit crops such as mango (Mangifera indica Lour. [Anacardiaceae]), sweet citrus, guava (Psidium guajava L. [Myrtaceae]), and some Sapotaceae species. The aim of this study was to define fruit fly species diversity and population dynamics in the municipalities of Tetipac and Atoyac de Alvarez, Guerrero. Fruit flies were obtained from the official trapping system of the National Campaign against Fruit Flies (NCFF) of the National Directorate for the Protection Plan, SENASICA, SAGARPA, in the state of Guerrero. Eleven fruit fly species were detected: Anastrepha ludens (Loew), A. striata Schiner, A. obliqua (Macquart), A. serpentina (Wiedemann), A. spatulata Stone, A. bicolor (Stone), A. dentata (Stone), A. chiclayae Greene, Toxotrypana curvicauda Gerstaecker, Rhagoletis ramosae Hernandez-Ortiz, and Zonosemata cocoyoc Bush (all Diptera: Tephritidae). In Tetipac, we recorded the greatest abundance of fruit flies (S = 10) and also the highest values for the Shannon-Wiener (H′) diversity index and Simpson (λ) index (H′ = 1.30; λ = 0.68). Total fruit fly abundance was 1,546 individuals (Tetipac 1,085; Atoyac de Alvarez 461). The main peak populations of fruit flies were recorded from Feb to Oct, coinciding with the phenological stages of fruiting, ripening, and harvesting of fruits of each area. The host range of the most predominant fruit fly species was confirmed by recording flies emerging from fruit. Anastrepha obliqua was detected in mango and jobo (Anacardiaceae) collected in Tetipac and mango from Atoyac de Alvarez. The fruit fly parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was recorded only in Tetipac emerging from fruit flies infesting mango, guava and jobo.