The southern cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus microplus Canestrini, is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, causing huge economic losses to milk and meat production. Application of acaricides is the most widely used control strategy, but because of increasing evidence of resistance to acaricide and environmental concerns, novel strategies are needed. Use of entomopathogenic nematodes is a promising alternative for tick control. Six species of nematodes, Steinernema riobrave Cabanillas, Poinar, and Raulston (355 strain), S. carpocapsae (Weiser) (All strain), S. feltiae Filipjev (SN strain), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (VS strain), H. indica Poinar, Karunakar, and David (HOM1 strain), and H. floridensis Nguyen, Gozel, Koppenhöfer, and Adams (K22 strain) were tested for pathogenicity against R. microplus (Deutch strain). Engorged female ticks were exposed to 1,250, 2,500, and 5,000 infective juvenile nematodes for 24, 48, and 72 hours in Petri dishes, and tick mortality over time, pre-oviposition period, egg mass weight, reproductive index, percentage inhibition of oviposition, and hatching percentage were evaluated. Dose-dependent mortality was recorded in Heterorhabditis species S. riobrave and S. carpocapsae which increased with exposure time. Minimum LC₅₀ (95% CL) values of 1999 (1947–2052) and 69 (63–75) infective juveniles per Petri dish were calculated for S. riobrave and H. floridensis, respectively, at 72 hours of exposure. Infective juvenile concentration and exposure time did not influence the pre-oviposition period. Differences in egg mass weight and reproductive index among the treatments and check group were observed with respect to concentration and exposure time. Reduction in hatchability was recorded only in ticks exposed to S. riobrave. Overall, H. floridensis was the most virulent species against engorged R. microplus females, adversely impacting most biological parameters. S. riobrave showed potential especially because it is native to South Texas and commercially produced. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the potential of this nematode species for biological control of the cattle fever tick under field conditions.

Immersion was used to test adults of six species of entomopathogenic nematodes for their effects on virulence and reproduction of engorged females of southern cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini) (Deutch strain). The nematodes were in the genera Steinernema (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) -- Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) (All strain), Steinernema feltiae Filipjev (SN strain), and Steinernema riobrave Cabanillas, Poinar, and Raulston (355 strain), and Heterorhabditis (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) -- Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (VS strain), Heterorhabditis floridensis Nguyen, Gozel, Koppenhöfer, and Adams (K22 strain), and Heterorhabditis indica Poinar, Karunakar, and David (HOM1 strain). Five engorged female ticks were immersed in a suspension of 5,000 infective juvenile nematodes per milliliter for various times (0.5 to 30 minutes), and the number of ticks killed over time, egg mass weight, reproductive index, and percentage of inhibition of oviposition were calculated. The percentage of ticks killed was affected significantly only by the nematode species; immersion time and species-by-immersion time interaction were not significant. The Heterorhabditis species killed more than did Steinernema nematodes, with H. floridensis having the greatest efficacy. The nematode species and immersion time significantly affected the reproductive index, whereas the effect of nematode species was not affected by immersion time. Heterorhabditis spp. had more pronounced effects on the reproductive index, with significantly lower values than by Steinernema spp. The percentage of inhibition of oviposition was significantly affected only by nematode species, but not immersion time, and species-byimmersion time interaction was not significant. Results demonstrated that infective juveniles of H. floridensis have potential for biological control in conditions such as dipping vats where cattle infested with R. microplus are immersed in a solution of entomopathogenic nematodes.

Entomopathogenic fungi are a broad group of microorganisms that help maintain pest abundance below economic levels in agroecosystems. Limited studies on native isolates of these biological control agents have been done in northern Mexico. Our research endeavors to expand on earlier work. Our primary objective was to collect natural enemies in the Arteaga Coahuila areas where apples, Malus pumila Miller, are grown and isolate and use morphological and molecular characteristics to identify strains of entomopathogenic fungi. Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin was the dominant genus with eight isolates, and Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.),had five with 99% identity to the described species at the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) gene bank, mainly at Los Lirios, followed by San Antonio de las Alazanas, and Huachichil with dominance from April through August.

The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a major pest of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). Outbreaks of sugarcane aphid occurred in sorghum fields in Mexico and the Gulf Coast region of the United States in 2013 and subsequently spread throughout most of the sorghum-growing region. The aphid induces stress to sorghum by damaging foliage. Multispectral remote sensing can be used to detect plant stress in agricultural crops. The study investigated the utility of multispectral imagery to delineate spatially variable infestations of sugarcane aphid in commercial grain sorghum fields. Multispectral images were acquired from fields by using a Duncan Tech MS3100-CIR, a 3-band (NIR, R, G) digital camera, mounted nadir in an aircraft fuselage. ERDAS Image was used for unsupervised classification of multispectral images of five fields. The study indicated it is feasible to use multispectral imagery to detect and spatially delineate patches of plants infested by sugarcane aphids in sorghum fields. The overall classification accuracy ranged from 89 to 96% for differentiating areas damaged by sugarcane aphid from areas where plants were not damaged. Results indicated good potential for mapping spatially variable sugarcane aphid infestations in grain sorghum fields.

The genus Conotrachelus Dejean is a large, diverse group in which some pest species are associated with fruit with high commercial value. Nevertheless, there are few morphological studies focused on differentiating the species. In Mexico, the species Conotrachelus perseae Barber, Conotrachelus aguacatae Barber, Conotrachelus dimidiatus Champion, Conotrachelus copalensis Salas and Romero, Conotrachelus crataegi Walsh, and Conotrachelus eburneus Champion cause damage and loss in fruit of economic importance. For this reason, this paper describes the most distinctive morphological characteristics of the species, considering easily observed external traits, as well as the aedeagus and Sternite VIII, and provides an illustrated taxonomic key.

Production of banana (Musa spp.) is a major economic activity in the humid tropical region of Mexico. Any damage to the fruit is unacceptable for domestic and export markets. The aim of this study was to determine the pest species that damage the epidermis of banana fruit and evaluate the intensity of damage in different development stages of banana bunches and its incidence in commercial plantations. The study was at ‘Giant Dwarf’ Musa AAA Cavendish banana plantations at Teapa, Tabasco, from August 2010 to April 2012. The beetle Myochrous melancholicus Jacoby (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) was identified as the cause of the damage. Adults cause small, irregular and superficial cuts or incisions on the edges of the fruit, almost overlapping each other, which, when dry, form elongated scars. In infestations induced in the field, the species caused from 4.8 to 14.5% of damage fruits throughout the developmental period of banana bunches. The incidence of adults and damage was detected only during the wettest time of the year, and in isolation in some cultivated areas in the region. The beetle is voracious and under favorable conditions can become a major pest. This is the first report of M. melancholicus damaging banana fruit. A more in-depth study of the biological cycle, host plants, and feeding behavior of the beetle, is urgently needed as a basis to determine management strategies in case of outbreak.

Attraction response of female Toxotrypana curvicauda (Gerstaecker) to volatile compounds from immature fruit of papaya (Carica papaya L.) and of gravid females to papaya fruit oviposited and not oviposited in was studied with the aid of an olfactometer. Response of virgin and mated females (4–6 days old) to immature papaya fruit covered or not with Lycra netting was evaluated. After greatest attraction response had been recorded, extracts were obtained by dynamic aeration. The compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Attraction response of females to papaya extracts obtained using three solvents was studied by bioassays in a wind tunnel. From the extracts were identified eight compounds: an aldehyde, two heterocompounds, four hydrocarbons, and a terpene. Hexanic extract resulted in most landing by virgin females on an odor source (10%); however, no statistically significant differences were observed among treatments. A synthetic blend was created, based on the hexanic extract compounds, and its attraction was evaluated. Virgin females were more attracted; however, only 5% landed on the odor source. Mostly only mated females were attracted to hexanic extract (15% of long flights and 5% landings). Nevertheless, as demonstrated in electroantennography responses, virgin and mated females were attracted to the synthetic blend, with the largest polarization values. Mated females were more attracted to fruit not oviposited than oviposited in, implying they evade intra-specific competition.

Eurata patagiata Burmeister is a diurnal moth of the Arctiinae subfamily of Eribidae. The chemical nature of pheromones of the family has not been well studied. Calling behavior was observed. Using several chemical techniques (gas chromatography-EI-mass-spectrometry, retention indices, micro-reactions, and synthesis) and bioassays with an olfactometer and in the field, (Z, Z, Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrienal (linolenal) and (Z, Z, Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrienol (linolenol) were identified as the main sex pheromone compounds in extracts from the female glands. Behavioral assays showed that more than 90% of male moths were attracted to a mixture of the pheromones rather than to hexane (check). However, the percentage decreased when only one compound was assayed. Preliminary field experiments demonstrated that males were captured in pitfall traps with a mixture of the pheromone compounds.

The southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae), transmits pathogens and is one of the most important vectors of human disease. The carboxylesterase mosquito genes encoded esterase enzyme involved in the mechanism that provides resistance to insecticides. We amplified by RTPCR four alternative transcripts from the esterase gene not reported previously (A, B, C, and D) from Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae from Monterrey, N.L., northeastern Mexico. Through cDNA sequences, we predicted amino acid sequences used to model the three-dimensional structure of protein isoforms. We determined d_N and d_S ratios to identify evolutionary forces which lead the family. PCR products were obtained from 5A esterases (1839, 1898, 1894, and 1953 bp). The translation sequence of the PCR products showed polypeptides of 612, 473, 282, and 282 amino acids in length for isoforms A, B, C, and D, respectively. Three exons and two introns were obtained in the analyzed sequences. The study sequences were compared with those previously published showing 98.7, 98.5, 91.5, and 91.5% amino acid similarity for isoforms A, B, C, and D, respectively. The threedimensional models showed that only ORF-D had the three amino acids corresponding to the catalytic triad, while ORF-A and ORF-C lacked one or two of the three amino acids. Esterase genes are under purifying of selection; a clue the members are functional. The processes might be useful in monitoring evolutionary dynamics of known carboxylesterase genes and identifying new carboxylesterase splicing.

Sepik virus, a pathogen transmitted by arthropods to humans is in the flavivirus family. For this reason, the genomic study of the Sepik virus is relevant in vector-borne diseases field. Genomic mining of the virus and comparison of its coding regions were done to identify sequences that represent greater and lesser conservation than other phylogenetically correlated viruses and to identify regions of greater selection pressure within its genome. The Sepik genome was mapped and analyzed by alignment processes. Selection pressure was estimated using the Pamilio-Banachi-Li method. The genome of the Sepik virus is a 17-motif polyprotein. Within these motifs, the codifying regions of greatest conservation were immunoglobulin-like domain III (82.77%) and the DEAD domain (68.42%), while some domains indicated selection pressure. The selection pressure predicted for certain domains suggested evolutionary pressure on the virus that represented medical impact on virulence and biological risk of the virus.

Disturbance in natural areas occurs as a result of various processes on various spatio-temporal scales, generating a heterogeneous mosaic of environmental characteristics. The effect of such change on diversity patterns has been explained by the hypothesis of habitat heterogeneity. Modifications in abiotic and biotic factors such as plant density influence the composition and structure of assemblages of phytophagous insects. Response of the leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) assemblage to such changes was evaluated in an oak (Quercus spp.) forest in the Altas Cumbres Natural Protected Area, Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The delimited mosaic was classified into four categories according to the length of time since the last disturbance: 1 year, 10 years, 30 years, and 40 years. Disturbance time categories were delimited using remote sensing techniques from LANDSAT satellite scenes. Leaf beetles were sampled each month from February to April 2016 in 10 plots per category. The numbers of herbaceous and shrubby plants in each plot were counted with the aim of estimating the plant density of each category and relating values with differences among communities of Chrysomelidae. In total, 1,056 individuals of six subfamilies and 37 species were obtained, with Centralaphthona sp. 1 the most abundant. Thirteen species were specialists, while Helocassis crucipennis (Boheman, 1855) occurred in the most niches. Leaf beetles preferred high plant densities and were most abundant and had most species richness in the category of 10 years since the last disturbance. The community had aggregate spatial distribution that might reflect significant biological patterns. Alpha diversity indices indicated the 10-year category was most even, with Hypolampsis sp. 1 the dominant species. In contrast, least evenness was in the 1-year category where Centralaphthona sp. 1 was dominant; the species might indicate permanent disturbance. The community had low species turnover among the categories of disturbance and is therefore expected to have high gamma diversity. Inventory of the study area had 82.4% completeness; however, categories of 10 and 30 years required more sampling effort. Results supported the hypothesis of habitat heterogeneity, because observed community patterns did not occur by chance. This suggested that environmental heterogeneity because of disturbance positively influenced composition and community structure of Chrysomelidae, and observed patterns responded to intra- and interspecific interactions.

An annotated checklist of the Scarabaeinae fauna from Los Altos de Jalisco region of Mexico is presented in this work. Also, a biogeographical perspective is presented to analyze distribution of the species because of the confluence of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and the Mexican High Plateau South in the study area. Before this study, little fieldwork was done in the region. During our survey of 3 years in the Los Altos de Jalisco region, we recorded six tribes, 10 genera, and 20 species of Scarabaeinae. This represented 7.4% of the total species diversity for Mexico and 25.3% of the diversity of the subfamily for Jalisco State. We recorded for the first time Canthon humectus hidalgoensis Bates at Jalisco.

Especímenes de Nitidulidae fueron recolectados en diferentes localidades de Coahuila, Méx. durante 2011 al 2013. Trece géneros y 27 especies se reportan, 23 son primeros registros para Coahuila y para México y 4 de ellos reportados anteriormente. Aethina tumida Murray es considerada una importante especie invasora de Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae); Stelidota geminata Say y Lobiopa insularis Castelnau dañan al fruto maduro de la fresa; Carpophilus lugubris Murray y C. hemipterus Dobson causan daños en mazorcas secas de maíz y en maíz en estado de elote, respectivamente. Se describen los métodos y técnicas utilizadas con los que se recolectaron estos primeros taxones, y el uso específico de los cebos a base de frutos en descomposición como son: frutos secos, bebidas alcohólicas, jugos fermentados, carne descompuesta de puerco, masa de maíz mezclada con azúcar morena, entre otros. Se presenta una lista de las especies de Nitidulidae como primer marco taxonómico para el estado de Coahuila y para México.

El parasitoide Anagyrus kamali Moursi (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) se utiliza en programas de control biológico de la cochinilla rosada del hibisco (CRH), Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Para corroborar la calidad de los especímenes que se envían al campo para su liberación, el análisis del parasitoide es de suma importancia para garantizar óptimos resultados. En el presente estudio se evaluó la calidad de A. kamali producido en el Laboratorio Regional de Reproducción de Agentes de Control Biológico, Valle de Banderas, Nayarit, México. La calidad del parasitoide se evaluó semanalmente tomándose del material empacado que se envía a los estados de México con presencia de la plaga. Los parámetros evaluados fueron la cantidad total de especímenes envasados, tasa sexual, porcentaje de deformidad, y mortalidad a las 24 horas y, el tamaño promedio de 20 hembras. Por vial, se registró una proporción de hembramacho de 3.8:1, mortalidad de 6.39%, tamaño de las hembras de 1.67 mm, y una cantidad empaquetada de 3,964 individuos. Estos resultados son usados para determinar el control de calidad de Anagyrus kamali, como parte del programa de manejo actualmente implementado en México para combatir la CRH.

Se identificaron los parasitoides y el grado de parasitismo del gusano barrenador de la nuez (GBN), Acrobasis nuxvorella Neunzig, en huertas de nogal pecanero de la Comarca Lagunera (zona que comprende parte de Coahuila y Durango, México). El parasitismo en huevos varió del 0 al 13% y en larvas del 17.2 al 18.5%. Los parasitoides de huevos del GBN pertenecieron al género Trichogramma. Los parasitoides pertenecen a dos órdenes, seis familias, 12 géneros y 12 especies, parasitando larvas, principalmente, y pupas de A. nuxvorella. Orden Hymenoptera: Apanteles epinotiae Viereck y Macrocentrus instabilis Muesebeck (Braconidae), Goniozus ca nephantidis Muesebeck (Bethylidae), Venturia macilenta nitida Wahl y Eiphosoma vitticolle Cresson (Ichneumonidae), Bugacia sp. (Pteromalidae) y Doliopria sp. (Diapriidae). Orden Diptera: Athrycia sp., Archytas sp., Uclecya sp., Jurinia sp.1 y Jurinia sp.2 (Tachinidae). Los parasitoides de larvas y pupas más abundantes fueron A. epinotiae (24.6%), G. ca nephantidis (14.8%), M. instabilis (11.5%), y Archytas sp. (11.5%). Todas las especies y géneros de parasitoides del GBN encontrados constituyen nuevos registros en México, excepto M. instabilis.

Se reportan cuatro especies de moscas Tachinidae parasitoides del gusano cogollero en maíz: Lespesia aletiae (Riley), L. archippivora (Riley), Winthemia deilephilae (Osten Sacken), y Archytas marmoratus (Townsend), atacando de forma natural a dicha plaga. Winthemia deilephilae es un nuevo registro en México como parasitoide de Spodoptera frugiperda y las cuatro especies son nuevos registros para el Estado de Durango.

Se evaluó la virulencia de los nematodos Steinernema riobrave (Poinar y Raulston, 1994) y la de un aislamiento nativo de Rhabditis blumi (Sudhaus, 1974) contra gusano cogollero del maíz Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). Ambos nematodos fueron usados para inocular larvas del tercer instar de desarrollo concentraciones de 100, 250, y 500 juveniles infectivos (JI) por larva y determinar la mortalidad de las larvas cada 24 h durante 7 días. El nematodo S. riobrave causó 90% de mortalidad a 500 JI, 96 h después de la inoculación, mientras que con la especie R. blumi no hubo mortalidad de larvas a las concentraciones y tiempo de evaluación. El nematodo S. riobrave tuvo alta virulencia, por lo que esta especie se consideran viable para usarse en una prueba de efectividad para el control de S. frugiperda en campo.

Se analizó la activación de las isoformas Pr1A, Pr1B, Pr1C, PR1D, PR1E, Pr1F, Pr1G, Pr1H, Pr1I, Pr1J, Pr1K del gen pr1 de Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) durante el proceso patogénico en adultos del psílido asiático de los cítricos Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). Se seleccionaron las cepas Ma57 y Ma62 por su alta y baja patogenicidad hacia D. citri, respectivamente. Los insectos se infectaron con una suspensión de conidias y se mantuvieron en ramas de Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack (Sapindales: Rutaceae) durante 7 días. La actividad de las once isoformas durante el proceso patogénico se detectó mediante RT-PCR en diez tiempos diferentes después de la infección. Los resultados indicaron que las isoformas Pr1A, Pr1B, Pr1C, Pr1E, y Pr1I no se activaron en ninguno de los tiempos analizados en ambas cepas. Las isoformas Pr1F y Pr1G en ambas cepas estuvieron activas desde las 0 h hasta las 168 h. Las isoformas Pr1D, Pr1H, Pr1J, y Pr1K se activaron en patrones diferentes y algunas de manera intermitente. Se observaron diferencias en los patrones de activación de las isoformas Pr1D, Pr1J, y Pr1K de la cepa 57 con respecto a la cepa 62. Las ocho isoformas restantes presentaron un patrón de activación similar en ambas cepas. Estos resultados indican que algunas isoformas probablemente se activan con el proceso de infección, otras están activas independientemente del proceso de infección y otras posiblemente tienen alguna participación en otros procesos diferentes. Nuestros resultados coadyuvan al conocimiento de la participación del gen pr1 de M. anisopliae durante el proceso patogénico en el psílido asiático de los cítricos. Se requieren más estudios para definir el papel preponderante de las isoformas del gen pr1 en la patogenicidad de M. anisopliae y su actividad eficiente en el control de plagas.

La identidad y filogenia molecular de las especies de Spalangia se determinaron mediante los marcadores intergénicos ITS1 e ITS2 del ADNr. Las especies identificadas fueron: Spalangia nigroaenea Curtis, Spalangia cameroni Perkins, y Spalangia endius Walker. Los tamaños de los fragmentos amplificados de la región ITS1 fueron: S. nigroaenea 970 pb, S. cameroni 720 pb, y S. endius 720 pb. El análisis de la digestión con la enzima AluI, mostró variación en los tamaños de los fragmentos de la región amplificada ITS1; para S. nigroaenea fueron de 620 y 350 pb, para S. endius fueron 430 y 290 pb, mientras que para S. cameroni no se observaron sitios de corte. Los tamaños de los fragmentos de la región intergénica ITS2 fueron: S. nigroaenea 720 pb, S. cameroni 520 pb, y S. endius 580 pb. Los tamaños de los fragmentos de restricción con AluI del gen ITS2 fueron: S. nigroaenea 510 y 210 pb, S. endius 300 y 280 pb, y S. cameroni 330 y 190 pb. Con base en estos resultados, las especies de Spalangia pueden distinguirse mediante los tamaños de fragmentos de las regiones ITS1 e ITS2 digeridos por la enzima AluI. El análisis filogenético con base en caracteres nucleotídicos utilizando Máxima Verosimilitud muestra una estrecha relación de las poblaciones de las especies de Spalangia de México y las de E.U.A. reportadas en el GenBank del NCBI. Los resultados del presente estudio son de relevancia ya que muestran la factibilidad de identificar de manera rápida y precisa las especies de Spalangia, mediante el análisis de restricción con la enzima AluI de los genes ITS1 e ITS2, lo cual es útil en el diseño e implementación de programas de control biológico de moscas.

Se determinó el efecto tóxico de extractos metanólicos, hexánicos, y de acetato de etilo de semilla y hoja de higuerilla, Ricinus communis, en la inhibición de crecimiento y desarrollo de larvas del mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus (Say). El extracto hexánico de hoja afectó el desarrollo de larvas con una concentración efectiva (CE) media CE50 = 176.1 ppm y el acetato de etilo de hoja eliminó 100% de las larvas a los 1.7 días. Los tratamientos con menores índices de inhibición de desarrollo (IID); tres de hoja: el acetato de etilo con 1, 250, y 625 ppm con formación de 0.0 y 1.3 de pupas y sin adultos y 625 ppm acortó la duración larval en 2.3 días, seguido del hexánico con 625 ppm con formación de 12.5 de pupas y 0 de adultos disminuyó el periodo larval en 2.8 días, con IID de 0.000, 0.013, y 0.063, y tres de semilla: a 1, 250, 625, y 312.5 ppm de acetato de etilo, hexano, y metanol que afectaron las viabilidades y el hexánico a 1, 250, y 312.5 ppm aumentó el periodo pupal en 1.5 y 1.6 días, la primer concentración de los tres disolventes con valores de IID de 0.250, 0.331, y 0.338. El hexánico de hoja a 1, 250, y 312.5 ppm y metanol a 1, 250 ppm afectaron la viabilidad obteniendo IID´s subsecuentes de 0.081 y 0.169, y 0.113, con 0, 5 y 10 de adultos formados y con el metanólico a 1, 250 ppm con el mínimo número de adultos. El estudio demostró que el acetato de etilo, hexano y metanol de hoja y semilla de Ricinus communis inhibieron 50% el desarrollo de la población de larvas de Cx. quinquefasciatus, afectaron la duración y viabilidad larval y pupal al grado de evitar la formación de pupas y emergencia de adultos.

Se examina y describe la estructura del corion de Leucidia brephos con la técnica de tinción de azul de metileno y con el empleo de microscopio electrónico de barrido (MEB). Se realizó su comparación morfológica, incluyendo a coriones ilustrados o fotografiados de otros géneros de la subfamilia Coliadinae. El corion en Leucidia brephos presenta una macrorretícula bastante generalizada dentro del grupo, además de una forma alargada y base con reticulación poligonal múltiple, lo que la hace plesiomórfica. La microrretícula, junto con los ejes y las costillas, conforma una estructura de relieve en tres planos diferentes, bastante particular. Los lados de la microrretícula son de distintos grosores y el número de polígonos irregulares entre las costillas es reducido, casi siempre menor a 10. Este nuevo conocimiento confirma la presencia de la microrretícula en las Coliadinae, explicando su ausencia en algunas especies como una pérdida secundaria y, junto con los datos previamente obtenidos en Dismorphiinae, Coliadinae y Pierinae, nos permiten resumir las tendencias de macrorretícula sobre Pieridae: la tendencia a formar polígonos cuadrangulares, la simplificación de los ejes y las costillas, y la desaparición de polígonos irregulares y múltiples hacia los polos.

Se describe e ilustra a Aleuropleurocelus guerrerensis Carapia y Sánchez sp. nov., encontrada en Acapulco, Guerrero y Ayala Morelos, México en hojas de Ficus insipida Willd y Ficus crocata (Miq.) Miq. La presencia de esta mosca blanca es muy común en arboles de Ficus conocidos como amates, se alimentan succionando la savia de estos y las secreciones azucaradas provoca el desarrollo de fumagina aunque el grado de daño no ha sido evaluado. La descripción de esta especie pretende contribuir al conocimiento taxonómico del género Aleuropleurocelus.

The purpose of the study was to report the presence of the soft tick Otobius megnini (Dugès) parasitizing a dog. Three specimens were collected during a routine consultation, and by morphological examination, identified as the ear tick. Physicians and public health authorities should be aware of the tick as part of differential diagnosis when earache is manifested by patients in close contact with animals and the posible incrimination of the parasite in harboring and transmitting pathogens.

The Mexican state of Veracruz is renowned for biological diversity based on limited studies in the ecoregion. Fifteen species of Encarsia Förster are reported to occur on numerous hosts. Our objective was to intensively survey the Encarsia genus in the northern part of the state to detect new and previously unreported species that might be present, along with their hosts. Whitefly nymphs from a wide range of hosts were collected at Tampico el Alto and Ciudad Cuauhtémoc during 2013 and 2014. Six species of Encarsia not reported for the State of Veracruz, Mexico were identified and recorded: E. andrewi Myartseva & Coronado Blanco, E. nigricephala Dozier, E. pergandiella Howard, E. Sophia (Girault & Dodd), E. tapachula Myartseva, and E. trialeurodis Myartseva, parasitizing: Aleurodicus sp., Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), Tetraleurodes acacia Quaintance, T. vaporariorum (Westwood), Aleuropleurocelus sp., and Aleurotrachelus sp., respectively. The six species of Encarsia are new records for the State of Veracruz, increasing to 21 the number of species known. In addition, six new Aleyrodidae hosts were recorded for Encarsia species. The Aleyrodid complex includes many agricultural pests, and these findings will aid scientific understanding of tritrophic interactions in nature and agriculture.

Este es el primer reporte de minador de la hoja Liriomyza marginalis Malloch, atacando hojas de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor) a nivel mundial. Los minadores adultos fueron obtenidos de muestras colectadas en el campo en el norte de Sinaloa, México, se realizaron siete muestreos cada dos semanas, del 15 de marzo al 15 de junio de 2017. Fueron confinadas en laboratorio 50 muestras, de las cuales se obtuvieron 22 adultos de minador de la hoja (14 ♀ y 8 ♂), 11 ejemplares de parasitoides de la familia Eulophidae y de 17 muestras no se obtuvieron emergencia de organismos.

El coccinélido Hyperaspis trifurcata Schaeffer, un depredador de la cochinilla silvestre del nopal Dactylopius opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae), se reportó por primera vez alimentándose en los nectarios extraflorales del haba (Vicia faba L.) en Toluca, Estado de México. De acuerdo a nuestro conocimiento, H. trifurcata es el único miembro de la tribu Hyperaspidini que come otras fuentes de alimento como néctar extrafloral y se sugiere que la inclusión de V. faba como fuente de néctar extrafloral dentro del cultivo del nopal pudiera incrementar la supervivencia y capacidad depredadora de H. trifurcata sobre la plaga D. opuntiae.

De la subfamilia Entedoninae se identificó la especie Closterocerus flavicinctus De Santis por primera vez para México y para el estado de Nayarit en el cultivo de chile verde. Se encontraron 10 especímenes (9 ♀ y 1 ♂).