Proteases in the insect midgut have been associated with differences in susceptibility to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal toxins. Therefore, we evaluated the protease activity of laboratory versus field strains of Trichoplusia ni that were previously characterized by their susceptibility to Bt Cry toxins or protoxins and antimicrobial peptide production (Tamez-Guerra et al. 2006, 2008). In addition, because aminopeptidases may be involved in Bt resistance, the expression of T. ni aminopeptidase N1 transcript (tnapn1) was analyzed by RT-PCR. These strains included Mexican (NL) and American (US) laboratory strains, as well as a field collected strain (GTO), and strains obtained by XenTari® selection from the laboratory strains (NLX and USX) or field strain (GTOX). The activity of proteases in midgut extracts were evaluated by in vitro assays or in-gel activity with specific substrates. The results indicated that the ratio of midgut protease activity (trypsin:chymotrypsin) was higher in the laboratory NL and US strains, but the differences did not correlate with Bt resistance. The ratio was slightly increased in the Xentari-selected field strain GTOX, and zymograms with Xentari or Cry1Ac as substrates suggested that both high and low molecular mass protease activities were increased in GTOX. Selection also resulted in 87% and 300% higher tnapn1 amplification in Xentari-selected NLX and USX, respectively. The relationship between Bt susceptibility, proteases and tnapn1 expression and activity alterations is discussed.

An assay was developed to investigate the potential survival and reproduction of the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), when provided artificial food resources in managed European honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae), colonies. Supplemental feeding was done to maintain the health of the hive, initiate comb building, expand colony numbers, and promote pollen foraging. To complement the protein requirement of honey bees, commercial pollen substitutes have been developed and are available for producers. Small hive beetles also exploit the pollen substitutes when present in the hive. Adult beetles were provided with 7 different commercial pollen substitutes and allowed to freely feed and oviposit over a period of 30 d. Beetles that survived the longest on the treatments did not necessarily produce the most larvae. The supplement Bee-Pro® supported the greatest survival, yet produced very low larval numbers. Global Patties® produced the most larvae; however, adult survival was low. This result may have been due to the larvae using all of the food resources in a short amount of time, leaving little to support adult survival. Four of the 7 treatments supported 70% or greater beetle survival for the entire assay period. This study suggests that the protein supplement needs to be readily consumed by the honey bee colony if it is to be effective for pest control. Careful selection of the amount and type of honey bee supplemental diets is important in balancing nutritional needs of bees and reducing potential problems with small hive beetles.

Lissachatina fulica (Bowdich, 1822) (Gastropoda: Achatinidae), also known as the giant African land snail, is a plant pest throughout much of the world, including southern Florida, where an established population of this snail was discovered in 2011. Apart from reports that it is polyphagous, food preferences and suitability are not well known. The suitability of 21 ornamental plants commonly grown in Miami, Florida, was tested using snail growth (snail shell height and snail mass) and survival. After hatching, 50 snails were reared for 70 d on each of 24 dietary treatments (21 natural diets and 3 control diets). French marigold (Tagetes patula [Asteraceae]) was the ornamental plant diet that produced the largest snails (24 mm in shell height), producing snails equivalent in size to 2 of the control diets: romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa [Asteraceae]) and synthetic insect diet (gypsy moth). Plants allowing intermediate growth (> 10 mm) were cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus [Asteraceae]), salvia (Salvia splendens [Lamiaceae]), petra croton (Codiaeum variegatum [Euphorbiaceae]), zinnia (Zinnia elegans [Asteraceae]), Texas sage (Leucophyllum frutescens [Scrophulariaceae]), beach sunflower (Helianthus debilis [Asteraceae]), lantana (Lantana camara [Verbenaceae]), kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana [Crassulaceae]), and butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa [Apocynaceae]). There was a strong positive correlation between survival and plant suitability, as judged by shell height (r = 0.89). However, some plants tested, such as purslane (Portulaca oleracea [Portulacaceae]), sunflower (Helianthus annuus [Asteraceae]), dusty miller (Centaurea cineraria [Asteraceae]), and oyster plant (Tradescantia spathacea [Commelinaceae]) only provided minimal growth (< 10 mm) but may be able to sustain snails until they can find better quality food. Overall, annual plants tended to be more suitable than perennial plants for snail growth and survival (P < 0.01). This information can be used to identify which ornamental plants support snail growth and survival, where snails can likely be found on infested properties, and which plants might be at greatest risk for feeding damage.

Sivanto® 200 SL (flupyradifurone) was recently introduced into the Mexican market for the control of Bactericera cockerelli Sulc (Hemiptera: Triozidae) in different solanaceous crops such as potato, tomato, and pepper, which are important crops in Mexico. The objective of this study was to determine the toxicity of flupyradifurone on 5th instar potato psyllids in 3 field-collected populations and a laboratory susceptible one. There were no differences in susceptibility to flupyradifurone among the evaluated populations. The lethal concentration values (LC) at 50% of mortality ranged from 243.2 to 368.1 mg per L at 24 h, after 48 h of exposure, LC50 values were between 51.0 to 62.5 mg per L. The LC95 values at 24 h ranged from 2403 to 5265 mg per L, and at 48 h of exposure were between 506.5 to 936.9 mg per L. The relative toxicity (RT) at 50% of mortality was 4.07 to 4.97 times higher after 48 h than after 24 h. Moreover, an antifeedant effect associated with flupyradifurone decreased the amount of excreta after 24 h of feeding by 51, 42, and 75% at the flupyradifurone dosages of 30, 50, and 100 mg per L, respectively, relative to the untreated control.

The interactions between the plant community and their floral visitors might vary through space, causing changes in the structure and composition of the communities of floral visitors. Although numerous studies have addressed the variation in the communities of floral visitors through space, none of them have analyzed how the structure of the community of floral visitors for all the co-flowering annual plant species changes between sites. We describe how the community of floral visitors to annual plants varies through space in a xeric community in central Mexico. We collected all the insects visiting the flowers of the annual plants growing in 2 sites with contrasting plant density (low vs. high). We determined species richness, abundance, and diversity for the insect communities in each site. We established the similarity in the composition of the insect communities and the importance of environmental variables on the dynamics of the communities of floral visitors. Abundance and diversity of floral visitors were significantly higher in the low plant density site. The composition of the insect communities differed between sites (similarity = 32%). Changes in abundance of a few groups of insects seem to be related to environmental factors such as disturbance (Myrmecocystus mexicanus Wesmael [Hymenoptera: Formicidae] and Tiphiidae sp. 1 [Hymenoptera]), humidity (Curculionidae sp. 1 [Coleoptera]), and temperature (Dorymyrmex grandulus (Forel) [Hymenoptera: Formicidae]). Our results indicate that vegetation density has a strong effect on the community of floral visitors of annual plants, which in turn, might affect their reproduction and their interactions with other organisms within the ecosystem.

The obscure mealybug Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is one of the most important damaging mealybugs in vineyards worldwide and in South American temperate fruit production. The life history of P. viburni on 3 fruit species was studied under laboratory conditions. Leaves of apple Malus domestica (Borkh.), persimmon Diospyros kaki L., and grapevine Vitis labrusca L., were used as host plants. Mealybugs were able to develop, survive, and reproduce on all 3 hosts; however, persimmon and grape leaves were most suitable for P. viburni development and reproduction. The cumulative development time (nymph to adulthood) ranged from about 35 d on persimmon and grape leaves to 40.87 ± 0.53 d on apple leaves for females, and from 30.68 ± 0.44 d on persimmon to about 34 d on apple and grape leaves for males. The obscure mealybug exhibited biparental oviparous reproduction, and the fecundity significantly decreased on apple leaves from a mean of 88 eggs per female on persimmon and grape leaves to 30.61 ± 2.9 eggs on apple leaves. The preoviposition period was shortest on persimmon (17.57 ± 0.59 d), and the reproductive period was longest on grape (31.77 ± 0.92 d). The longevity of mated females was higher on grape (54.84 ± 1.23 d) than on apple and persimmon (about 43 d). These results suggest that all 3 hosts can support the development and reproduction of P. viburni, but that persimmon and grape leaves are more suitable hosts.

Intricatonura fjellbergi, gen. nov., sp. nov. (Neanuridae: Neanurinae: Neanurini) is described from temperate North America. The genus has a unique suite of autapomorphic morphological characters: reduction of labial chaetotaxy to 6 setae, division of DL tubercles on 2nd and 3rd thoracic tergites, rectangular and transverse shape of Di tubercles on abdominal segments I–IV, and absence of tubercles and ordinary De setae on abdomen I–IV. Morphologically, Intricatonura resembles Vietnura Deharveng & Bedos, a monotypic genus known from Vietnam.

Brevipalpus yothersi (Baker, 1949) (Prostigmata: Tenuipalpidae) is newly reported on southern highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum L. X V. darrowi Camp (Ericaceae), in Florida, USA. The specimens were collected from a commercial southern highbush blueberry planting of Abundance, Emerald, and Meadowlark blueberry varieties from Sep to Nov 2016. The species is described based on morphological (light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy) methods. Information on its economic importance, host plants, and geographical distribution also is provided.

Four species of Collembola were found in nests of the ant genera Myrmicocrypta, Trachymyrmex and Sericomyrmex of the tribe Attini (Formicidae: Myrmicinae). The panmyrmecophilic collembolan Cyphoderus (Lepidocyrtidae: Cyphoderinae) was the most abundant and was associated with all the ants. The collembolan genus Mucrosomia (Isotomidae: Anurophorinae) was found for the first time in ant nests. This is the first list of springtails found in nests of fungus-growing ants other than those belonging to the genera Atta and Acromyrmex (Formicidae: Myrmicinae).

Tephritid pests, such as the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), represent a major threat to fruit production worldwide. In order to control these pests, sterile insect technique is used to suppress and eradicate wild populations. For this control method to be successful, hundreds of millions of flies must be produced weekly in mass rearing facilities. The large quantity of artificial diet and close proximity of flies at various life stages allows bacteria from family Enterobacteriaceae, Bacillaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and others to multiply and spread more easily. In this study, bacteria with a possible pathogenic effect were isolated from Mexican fruit fly eggs and dead Mexican fruit fly larvae. Two strains of bacteria associated with dead and dying larvae were identified using the 16S rRNA sequence as a species of Morganella. Further sequencing of multiple genes and the entire genomes identified both strains as Morganella morganii. Pathogenicity tests were completed to assess this bacterium as a Mexican fruit fly pathogen. Several measures of pathogenicity including effects on larval and pupal weight, adult percent emergence, and flight ability were measured for the 2 strains of Morganella compared against a control. In all cases, the presence of the Morganella strains significantly reduced all quality control measurements compared to the control. Also, at 105 colony forming units per ml or higher levels of inoculum, the presence of Morganella resulted in 100% mortality of larvae. This study illustrates that Morganella morganii is an extremely lethal pathogen of mass reared Mexican fruit flies.

The moths Spodoptera eridania (Stoll) and Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker) are pests of increasing importance in various grain production systems, causing defoliation and damage to reproductive structures of plants. This fact underscores the need for studies that analyze the nutrition and development of pests on different hosts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the development of S. eridania and S. cosmioides feeding on different host species. To this end, newly hatched larvae were separated individually into waxed cups and fed soybean, cotton, maize, wheat, oat leaves, or an artificial diet as control. The evaluated parameters were: duration of larval, pre-pupal, and pupal development (days), pupal weight (g), sex ratio (%), larvae-adult survival (%), oviposition preference, larval feeding performance, and weight gain on different hosts. Soybean and cotton were found to be more suitable hosts for development and oviposition of S. eridania and S. cosmioides than oat, wheat, and maize, all of which negatively affected larval development and survival. The maize cultivar ‘DKB 390’ did not allow for larvae to develop to adults and therefore proved to be inadequate for both studied Spodoptera species.

Recent studies have demonstrated that key herbivore-induced foliage volatiles from apple, Malus domestica Borkhausen (Rosaceae), can be attractive to conspecific adult male and female tortricid leafrollers when used together with acetic acid lures. Our study reported here was conducted in Washington State during 2013–2014 and assessed the attractiveness of both sexes of the leafroller, Pandemis pyrusana Kearfott (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), to blends of acetic acid with phenylacetonitrile. Interestingly, traps baited with phenylacetonitrile plus acetic acid caught significantly more males, females, and total moths than the number of males caught in traps baited with a commercial sex pheromone lure. The evaporation rate of the acetic acid co-lure was shown to be an important factor affecting catches of P. pyrusana with phenylacetonitrile. Adding phenylacetonitrile to traps baited with pear ester, ethyl (E, Z)-2,4-decadienoate and acetic acid significantly reduced both total and female moth catches of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). However, neither C. pomonella nor P. pyrusana catch were impacted when phenylacetonitrile and acetic acid were added to traps baited with pear ester plus (E, E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol, the sex pheromone of codling moth. These results support our broader work to develop lures to improve monitoring and management of a number of tortricid pests attacking horticultural crops worldwide.

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), vectors the bacterium causing citrus greening disease, which has devastated citrus production worldwide wherever it has been introduced. To help monitor and target D. citri populations in commercial groves, thereby facilitating more effective management of citrus greening disease, a prototype device has been developed that mimics D. citri female vibrational communication signals, attracting males to a trap. For this report, effects of the device on male D. citri searching behavior were assessed to consider potential improvements in field applications. Forty-five percent of the males that searched towards the female signal mimic reached the source. In addition, the mean latencies before the initiation of calling and searching responses by males that reached the source were significantly lower than for those that missed, which suggests that trapping efficiency is strongly influenced by variability in male responsiveness to searching cues. Consequently, it is likely that the trapping efficiency of vibration traps could be increased further if they were modified to make use of additional cues strongly attractive to males, such as citrus flush olfactory and visual cues.

Recent studies have examined the effects of adult diet on the mating success of male tephritid fruit flies. In most cases, comparisons involve males that have either been fed yeast hydrolysate continuously or not fed yeast hydrolysate at all. As such, this research does not address the more likely ecological scenario of temporal variability in protein availability faced by wild flies. The present study monitored the effect of short-term yeast hydrolysate deprivation on the mating success of male melon flies, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Males attained sexual maturation while provided a sugar-yeast hydrolysate mixture (full diet) and were then either maintained on the full diet (control males) or transferred to a sugar-only diet (treated males). Mating trials conducted in field tents showed that treated males achieved fewer successful matings than control males when tested 3 or 7 d after feeding on the sugar-only diet. However, treated males had similar mating success as control males when tested only 1 d after the diet shift. A second experiment employed the same protocol, but yeast hydrolysate-deprived males were given access to cue-lure, a male attractant known to enhance mating success, 1 d before testing. Cue-lure exposure enhanced the mating success of males deprived of yeast hydrolysate for 1 or 3 d but had no effect among males that fed on sugar alone for 7 d before testing. These findings are compared with those obtained previously on a related species, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel).

Based on field host range and damage potential, we explored the prospects of exploiting a gall midge from Jatropha clavuligera Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) in Bolivia as a “new-association” biological control agent for Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae), a major rangeland weed in Australia. The gall midge, determined morphologically as Prodiplosis longifila Gagné (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), induces rosette galls, resulting in shoot tip dieback in J. clavuligera in Bolivia. Although P. longifila is reported to occur on a range of crops in the Neotropics, its feeding on J. clavuligera in Bolivia is strikingly different in that it induces rosette galls on its shoots. In other countries, P. longifila larvae feed on leaves, buds, flowers and fruits, with no gall symptoms. There was no evidence of P. longifila-induced galls on crop plants (reported hosts in other countries), other species of Jatropha, or other species of Euphorbiaceae in Bolivia, and in choice tests conducted in the quarantine facility in South Africa. Bolivian entomological records do not report any damage to crops by P. longifila. We propose that P. longifila in Bolivia is possibly a new species restricted to a few closely related species of Jatropha and a part of a cryptic species complex. Based on the susceptibility of J. gossypiifolia to the gall-inducing P. longifila in the field in Bolivia and in quarantine tests in South Africa, we propose that the gall-inducing P. longifila sourced from J. clavuligera in Bolivia is a potential “new-association” biological control agent for J. gossypiifolia in Australia.

The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is one of the most important pests of berry crop production in Mexico. The purpose of this research was to model the potential distribution of D. suzukii in the Mexico relative to 4 non-crop hosts using Maximum Entropy Ecological Niche Modeling. Spotted wing drosophila records were collected from a survey conducted in commercial blackberry plots and non-cultivated areas between 2013–2015. The data for the presence of non-crop hosts in the country and the bioclimatic variables used in the modeling were obtained from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and WorldClim websites, respectively. For climatic variable selection, a principal component analysis on climatic variables was conducted prior to the MaxEnt modeling. The results demonstrate that the potential distribution of spotted wing drosophila was primarily in central Mexico. However, other suitable locations in the southeastern portion of the county were identified, which were not previously known. Likewise, the joint modeling depicted areas of coincidence between the spotted wing drosophila distribution and 4 alternating non-crop hosts commonly distributed in the berry-producing region, which includes the states of Michoacán, Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Mexico. This joint modeling of the potential distribution of spotted wing drosophila and non-crop hosts partly explains how the populations of the pest sustain themselves during seasons of low or no commercial berry production in Mexico.

Euspilotus azureus (Sahlberg, 1823) (Coleoptera: Histeridae) is one of the most frequently sampled species of Histeridae on carcasses in South America. Determining its physiological responses to different temperatures is essential for providing development rate equations to estimate the period of insect activity and postmortem interval of the body. Thus, to evaluate the influence of temperature on their life cycle and to understand their developmental threshold, experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions at 6 different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C). All E. azureus life stages were responsive to thermal variations. Eggs of E. azureus did not hatch at extreme temperatures (10 and 35 °C) and the development time from egg to adult was longer at low temperatures (15 and 20 °C). Their biological responses, such as mean number of eggs produced, the number of eggs per egg mass, and development time at different temperatures, indicate that 20 to 25 °C is optimal for growth. The results suggest that E. azureus shows tolerance and adaptability in its ontogenetic stages over a wide temperature range, which is common in generalist species. Also, this study provides the development rate equation for the species, which is applicable to studies of forensic entomology.

Two surface behaviors were described in the larva of the antlion V. americana. Vella americana were observed flicking in a similar manner to pit builders, but in a way that does not lead to pit construction. A new spyhop behavior also was observed in which a larva exposes its head and thorax above the sand and remains very still for some time. It is hypothesized that these behaviors assist larval V. americana in hunting and orientation. The flicking motion may attract the attention of certain prey species, and the spyhop exposes the larva's stalked stemmata and multi-segmented antennae to increase sensitivity to prey or disturbance.

During the past 2 strawberry-growing seasons in Florida (Oct to Mar in 2015–2016 and in 2016–2017), broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks), was found on the upper sides of young strawberry leaves and on fruit. Damage symptoms were similar to those reported from other affected crops: leaf curl, browning and yellowing of leaf tissue and bronzing of ripening fruit, but less than 1% of plants in surveyed fields appeared to be affected. Broad mites were found in 1 field in 2015–2016 but in at least 5 fields in 2016–2017, indicating a possible increase in their potential to affect strawberry. Small areas of a field treated with Oberon 2 SC (spiromesifen) were sampled for broad mites. Post-application counts were generally lower than preapplication counts, although there was a high degree of intra-plant variability in counts. Future efforts should be directed at monitoring broad mite populations and their influence in strawberry and implementing management practices, if necessary, that have been effective in other crops.

Ufens niger (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is reported for the first time as an egg parasitoid of the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), which is one of the most important pests of maize in the Americas. In addition, eggs of D. maidis were found to be parasitized also by Anagrus nigriventris Girault (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) for the first time in Mexico. Ufens niger was found in 2016 in El Grullo and A. nigriventris was found in 2013 in Zapopan; both sites are in Jalisco State in central Mexico.

Native insect predators and parasitoids can help regulate invasive insect pest species. The brown marmorated stink bug, Halymorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an introduced pest of fruits and vegetables in the eastern USA that originated in Asia. Surveys for native biological control agents of this pest detected the crabronid predatory wasp Astata unicolor (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) and the generalist predatory bug Arilus cristatus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) using the nymphs and adults of this introduced pest as prey. Temporal distribution of the wasp was determined from water pan traps and net collections over 5 years in floral provisioning strips that were established for pollinator conservation programs in tree fruit farms. Blue vane traps used for bee monitoring did not capture A. unicolor in pollinator plantings. Astata unicolor was not found in 6 commercial apple orchards that were monitored concurrently using either pan or blue vane traps over a 4 yr period.

The presence of Zaprionus indianus, Drosophila suzukii, and Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Nezahualcóyotl var. fig fruits is reported in commercial greenhouse plantations in the state of Morelos, Mexico. The area planted with fig has been increasing in this region, due to the opening of new markets; therefore, these pests represent a phytosanitary problem for the crop. The adults of Z. indianus emerged from ripe and overripe fig fruits, whereas the other 2 species only from overripe fruits.

The objective of this study was to identify and report on the occurrence of Psylloidea damaging pink cedar, Cedrela fissilis Vell. (Meliaceae), plants in the municipality of Sorocaba, in the southern region of São Paulo State, Brazil. Psyllids were collected on C. fissilis plants, and sent to authorities for identification. Psyllids damaging C. fissilis plants in urban areas and fragments of semideciduous seasonal forest were identified as Mastigimas anjosi Burckhardt, Queiroz D., Queiroz E., Andrade, Zanol Rezende & Kotrba (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Calophyidae), which is native to Brazil. Cedrela fissilis also is endemic to Brazil, and has high ecological and economic value. It is harvested for timber production and is on the endangered species list. This is the first report of M. anjosi damaging C. fissilis plants in São Paulo State, Brazil and the importance of this plant for conservation and ecological restoration areas in Brazil justifies research to develop management programs for this psyllid.

Experiments during the flight of the overwintering generation of navel orangeworm revealed that Suterra NOW Biolure pheromone lures held in storage at -20 °C increased significantly in field effectiveness with time in storage over a period of 0 to 2 years. This increase in field effectiveness coincided with an increase in emission of (Z,Z,Z,Z,Z)-3,6,9,12,15-tricosapentaene as a proportion of (Z,Z)-11,13-hexadecadienal. These observations indicate that users should not presume equal effectiveness when lures are held over from the previous year, and suggest that manufacturers could improve lure effectiveness by increasing the proportion of (Z,Z,Z,Z,Z)-3,6,9,12,15-tricosapentaene in the lure emission.

The development of the stink bug Cyptocephala alvarengai Rolston (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) was studied on rice panicles under laboratory conditions. Adults were collected in rice fields in Goianira, Goiás, Brazil. The number of eggs per egg mass ranged from 6 to 20, with a mean of 11.8 ± 0.8. The egg to adult developmental time was 33.2 d. Adult longevity ranged from 16 to 46 d. The pre-oviposition, oviposition, and post-oviposition periods were 7.0, 22.3, and 6.3 d, respectively. Fertility was 82.3%. Cyptocephala alvarengai presents biological similarities to other stink bugs that feed on rice panicles, and has potential as a rice pest.

Releases of the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes have been carried out since late 2014 in Colombia's Cauca River Valley to complement other biological control on sugarcane stem borers (Diatraea spp.). To confirm the identity of the species being released as well as those recovered in the field, including samples from the department of Santander in western Colombia, specimens were examined using a fragment of cytocrome oxydase I (COI). Results confirmed that the genetic identity of the specimens sequenced corresponded to C. flavipes, with a genetic divergence of 0.00 to 0.03 as compared with GenBank registers. In the Cauca River Valley, parasitoid distribution currently extends from La Virginia (Risaralda) to Palmira (Valle del Cauca), and is mainly associated to the geographical distribution of the new Diatraea species reported in the region, D. busckella and D. tabernella.

We report Neosilba pradoi and Dasiops frieseni (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) for the first time in Uruguay, which is the most southern distribution yet found for these species. Moreover, new host associations are recorded: D. frieseni in Citrus sinensis cv. Valencia and an undetermined lonchaeid in Acanthosyris spinescens.