Greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), is a chronic problem for small grains on the Southern Plains. Central to the pest status of greenbug is the occurrence of resistance-breaking biotypes. Rsg1 and Rsg2 are the only two genes for resistance of barley, Hordeum vulgare L., to greenbug. Only Rsg1 has been deployed in cultivars. Discovery of new resistant genes is essential as biotypes continue to shift. Five winter barley accessions, PI 499276, PI 565657, PI 566459, CI 2458, and PI 565676, ‘Post 90’ (Rsg1), STARS 1501B (Rsg2), and susceptible ‘Schuyler’, were evaluated in isolated cages against 14 greenbug biotypes: B, C, E, F, H, I, TX1, WY4 A, WY4 B, WY10 MC, WY10 B, WY12 MC, WY81, and WY86. Damage scores were based on a scale of 1–9 for chlorosis (1 was resistant and 9 was dead). Damage means were classified as R or S and used to construct a response matrix which indicated unique resistance genes in four lines. These new sources have potential to reduce vulnerability of barley to future outbreaks of greenbug.

A study was designed to examine the community composition of canopydwelling arthropods in adjacent fields of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., and alfalfa, Medicago sativum L., at Texas A&M University AgriLife Research and Extension Center farm near Lubbock, TX, during the cotton-growing seasons of 2008 and 2009. Samples were collected from 61 row-meter sections of cotton (1.02-m row spacing) and 61 row-meter sections of alfalfa (0.51-m spacing) via a “Keep It Simple Sampler” (KISS). Six samples were collected on each of 11 weekly sampling dates during the cotton-growing seasons of both years. We found that specimens in the canopy-dwelling arthropod community in cotton and alfalfa were from the orders Araneae, Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, and Orthoptera, and in the orders, 41 families were identified. Members of Araneae, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera were most abundant in both crops. Overall, a greater number of arthropod taxa was found in alfalfa, but some arthropod taxa were unique to each crop. Analyses revealed a difference in temporal abundance of captured arthropods at the order (p ≤ 0.018) and family levels (p ≤ 0.021) during cotton squaring, flowering, and boll-development stages, with significantly greater abundance of arthropods at the order level in alfalfa compared to cotton in both years, except during the cotton-flowering period in 2008. Implications of arthropod community differences between alfalfa and cotton were discussed with respect to using alfalfa as a potential source of predators for adjacent cotton.

The rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax F., is of major economic importance to producers and millers of rice, Oryza sativa L. (Poaceae), because of the damaging effects of feeding during kernel development. Adult rice stink bugs cause yield loss and discoloration of rice kernels when feeding on panicles from anthesis to hard-dough stages of grain development, but damage by nymphs developing from the first to fifth instars has not been adequately studied. An experiment assessed the effect of rice stink bug nymphs on rice yield by caging egg masses on individual panicles and removing insects when adults emerged. A positive relationship between insect abundance and two measures of yield loss, unfilled kernels and milling loss, was very significant. Approximately 35% of eggs developed into fifth-instar nymphs in less than 21 days -- before kernels matured. Findings suggested that eggs and nymphs during early stages of rice panicle development should be considered in insecticidal treatment thresholds for rice stink bugs.

Banks grass mite, Oligonychus pratensis (Banks), and twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, are major pests of maize, Zea mays L., throughout the Great Plains states. Acaricides are primarily applied at late-vegetative to posttassel growth stages, but producers and crop consultants sometimes apply acaricides when maize is at the V3–V5 growth stages. This study investigated whether or not early applications of acaricides or applications at V9–V11 growth stages would be sound practices for managing spider mites. Studies from 2010 to 2012 used Comite® II (propargite) at 4.76 liters/ha, Oberon® 4SC (spiromesifen) at 0.53 liters/ha, and Onager® (hexythiazox) at 1.05 liters/ha at the designated growth stages. In two of the three years, spider mites in the nontreated check or treated plots never developed to damaging numbers when acaricides were applied at the very early V3–V5 or the late V9–V11 growth stages. The spider mites were suppressed naturally by predators during the 2 years. In 2011 when spider mites increased to damaging levels, applications of acaricides were equally effective in suppressing mites at both maize growth stages. However, the acaricides did not prevent spider mites from damaging maize when compared to the nontreated check. Inability to predict if early season spider mites will develop into damaging infestations makes early whorl-stage applications unreliable and costly.

Although biological control agents are imported without the constraints exerted by their native natural enemies, many native, generalist arthropod predators might use the new food source after release in the field. Predation by native arthropods is a potential obstacle to establishment of Diorhabda spp. as a biological control agent against saltcedar, Tamarix spp. Arboreal predaceous insects were surveyed at the Great Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge to identify possible predators that could affect establishment of the northern tamarisk beetle, Diorhabda carinulata (Desbrochers), in Oklahoma. Results of the survey showed that 57% of the arthropods were represented by five insects, Zelus tetracanthus (Stål) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) (21%); several species of Chrysoperla (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) (11%); the insidious flower bug, Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) (10%); Collops quadrimaculatus (F.) Coleoptera: Melydridae) (8%); and the sevenspotted lady beetle, Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) (6%), in saltcedar stands. No-choice feeding studies demonstrated that eggs and larvae of D. carinulata were accepted prey for larvae of Chrysoperla rufilabris (Burmeister) and sevenspotted lady beetle adults but not larvae. Northern tamarisk beetle larvae were accepted prey for Z. tetracanthus.

Functional response of third-instar larvae of green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), to four densities of single-instar larvae of the five instars of obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), was evaluated at 25 ± 1°C in a laboratory. The aims were to determine the type and other characteristics of functional response including predatory capacity of green lacewing for possible use in augmentative biological control in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh; Rosales: Rosaceae) orchards where obliquebanded leafroller was recently introduced in Mexico. Abundance of the pest increased rapidly, causing significant foliar damage and some fruit blemish. Third-instar green lacewing larvae based on logistic regression analysis showed Type II functional response to four densities of single-instar larvae of obliquebanded leafroller. Among the five instars of prey, the largest average number consumed per green lacewing predator was a relative density of four second-instar larvae at a rate of 1.93 in 24 hours. Also, substantial average consumption was by two third-instar prey larvae per predator whereby an average of 1.5 third-instar obliquebanded leafrollers were consumed per third-instar green lacewing in 24 hours. The third-instar predator captured and consumed third-instar prey larvae in the shortest handling time (h), i.e., only 6.46 minutes, whereas the handling times for the other instars ranged from 23.48 minutes for the fifth instar to 31.56 minutes for the fourth instar. However, attack coefficients (a) of green lacewings were slightly greater for third- and fourth-instar prey larvae, with 0.19 hour (11.4 minutes) and 0.15 hour (9.0 minutes) until the first attack, respectively, compared to 0.09–0.11 hour (5.4–6.6 minutes) until the first attack for the other instars. Results indicated that the green lacewing could be considered a prospective candidate for use as a biological control agent against lepidopteran leafrollers.

Little is known about parasitoids that attack insect pests on wild host plants, including wild teosintes. Sentinel teosinte plants with eggs of the specialist herbivore pest, the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), were used to attract and capture egg parasitoid species in natural habitats of annual teosinte Zea mays ssp. parviglumis Iltis & Doebley, which is the direct ancestor of maize (Zea mays ssp. mays L.), and perennial teosinte Zea perennis (Hitchc.) Reeves & Mangelsdorf in central Mexico. In annual teosinte, eggs of D. maidis were parasitized by Anagrus incarnatus Haliday and Anagrus columbi Perkins (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), as well as Paracentrobia sp. near subflava (Girault) and Pseudoligosita sp. near longifrangiata (Viggiani) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae); in perennial teosinte, they were parasitized by A. incarnatus and Pseudoligosita sp. near longifrangiata. All the egg parasitoids, recorded for the first time from wild teosintes, have been previously known from the same leafhopper pest on cultivated maize. Thus, their conservation in wild teosinte habitats may be important for enhancing natural biological control of the corn leafhopper in adjacent maize fields.

Encarsia fernandae Sánchez & Myartseva, sp. nov., parasitoid of the whitefly Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin, 2004, collected on Persea americana Mill. in Puebla, Mexico is described. A key for the identification for females of the genus Encarsia (noyesi group) of Mexico was prepared. A new junior synonym for Encarsia noyesi (Hayat) (=Encarsia narroi Gómez y García) was proposed.

Compatibility, measured as insecticidal effect on conidial germination, vegetative growth, and conidial production of strains of three B. bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. and seven H. citriformis Speare strains was evaluated with selected insecticides (abamectin, cypermethrin, imidacloprid, and malathion) at field (commercial) application rates. Potential insecticidal synergism of imidacloprid with B. bassiana against adults of potato/tomato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc.), also was investigated. For vegetative growth of B. bassiana, abamectin was compatible with all strains; imidacloprid, cypermethrin, and malathion slightly inhibited the growth of two strains (11.4–28.3%), while another strain was inhibited by imidacloprid and malathion (9.9–41.0%). Vegetative growth of Hirsutella strains was inhibited significantly, particularly by malathion (as much as 88% less growth). Yield of conidia of B. bassiana indicated no inhibition to severe reduction (74.0%) with some insecticides, depending on the fungal strain and insecticide combination. For Hirsutella, abamectin and imidacloprid dramatically increased yield (as much as 306.0 and 624.0%, respectively) in three strains; smaller or no increases were observed for the remaining strains. Insecticides did not significantly inhibit germination of B. bassiana spores, while all insecticides evaluated significantly inhibited germination of conidia of H. citriformis strains (60.5–97.33%). When B. bassiana strains were applied mixed with 83.3, 125, and 166 µl per liter of imidacloprid, significantly more (81.2–95.0%) B. cockerelli adults were killed than with insecticide (15.0–32.6%) or fungus (72.5–83.9%) alone. Results indicated that at the tested concentrations, B. bassiana was compatible with most insecticides evaluated, but H. citriformis was not compatible.

Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a serious invasive stink bug species in the central coast region of California. Although B. hilaris can be effectively managed using synthetic insecticides, organic growers have limited effective tools to manage this pest. Little is known about repellent effects of essential oils on adult B. hilaris; thus, repellent effect of citronellal, lemongrass oil, geraniol, peppermint oil, thyme oil, rosemary oil, pine needle oil, and vetiver acetate was examined using olfactormeter. In the choice assay, most of the essential oils did not elicit repellency to both female and male adult B. hilaris except geraniol because significantly more B. hilaris chose the empty arm of the olfactometer than the arm with geraniol. Implications of essential oils on B. hilaris management are discussed.

The maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, is the most important pest of stored maize, Zea mays L. The pest causes estimated losses of 5–10% worldwide. Oil extracts from plants show promise to control maize weevil with important advantages over conventional insecticide, such as non-toxicity to humans, biodegradability, and ecosystem safety. The objective of this research on maize weevils in laboratory conditions was to determine the insecticidal effect of 10 plant oils: garlic, Allium sativum L.; cinnamon, Cinnamomum verum J.; hot pepper, Capsicum annuum L.; clove, Syzygium aromaticum L.; mint, Mentha piperita L.; black pepper, Piper nigrum L.; rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L.; rue, Ruta graveolens L.; thyme, Thymus vulgaris L. and allyl (commercial product). Residual film was used to test plant oils at five concentrations: 9,000, 7,000, 5,000, 3,000, and 1,000 ppm. The number of weevils killed was counted at 72 hours, and treatment means were compared using a Tukey multiple separation test. PC-Probit analysis determined LC₅₀ and LC₉₅. Most weevils, 52.47 and 60.38%, were killed by garlic and black pepper oils, respectively; at 9,000 ppm; fewer than 50% were killed with the other plant oils. Use of garlic and black pepper oil might be an alternative method to manage this insect pest in stored maize.

The economy of Nayarit depends on fruit, especially mango, Mangifera indica L., and citrus. However commercialization of fruit is affected by abundant fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). To know the diversity of Anastrepha Schiner and determine its population dynamics on species in marginal areas of the municipalities of Rosamorada and San Blas, between January and December 2011, 128 McPhail traps baited with hydrolyzed protein were prepared each week. Fruit flies captured were preserved in 70% ethanol and sorted by sex and species according to an FTD index of numbers of flies trapped per day. Of 563 specimens collected, 442 (78.51%) were from Rosamorada and 121 (21.49%) at San Blas, with a male: female sex ratio of 1:1.9 and 1:1.6, respectively, at each municipality. At Rosamorada (FTD 0.143), species identified were Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (210: 47.51%), A. striata Schiner (114: 25.79%), and A. obliqua (Macquart) (113: 25.57%), captured 70.2, 81.0 and 51.3% of the time, respectively, while A. sp. (3: 0.68%) and A. serpentina (2: 0.45%) occurred only rarely (2.7 and 8.1%, respectively). At San Blas (FTD 0.0111), A. obliqua (57: 47.11%) and A. striata (57: 47.11%) were captured 70.3 and 62.9% of the time, respectively; A. ludens (6: 4.96%) was found less commonly (14.8%), and A. sp. (1: 0.82%) was found rarely (3.7%). Most fruit flies were trapped between February and August, coinciding with the fruiting period, with no apparent effect of abiotic factors such as temperature or precipitation on abundance.

The biology of Jerusalem crickets, genus Stenopelmatus Burmeister 1838 (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatidae), is not well known. Recent accounts suggested that Jerusalem crickets had sexual dimorphism and adult females were cannibalistic. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was sexual dimorphism and cannibalism, as shown by North American species of Stenopelmatus, in the endemic Mexican Jerusalem cricket Stenopelmatus talpa Burmeister 1838. Behavioral traits and morphometric analyses indicated S. talpa did not show sexual dimorphism, but females tended to have larger features than did males, except the hind femur of males tended to be larger than that of females. S. talpa nymphs are cannibalistic, and the cannibalism was violent. Results were discussed and related to ecological data presented. This is the first report of this kind of data for a Mexican species of the genus Stenopelmatus.

Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an oligophagous pest in the Western Hemisphere and found on cultivated and wild Solanaceae species. In Colombia, the insect has diverged into four host races according to variation in female genitalia size, wing morphometrics, and haplotype. Adult insects were collected on Solanaceae species from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, and Venezuela. Sequencing of 586 bp of the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase 1 (CO1) in 276 individuals produced 50 haplotypes. AMOVA confirmed population structuring (F_ST = 0.73, P < 0.0001). UPGMA dendrogram for F_ST paired distances indicated the Andes Mountains influenced the genetic differentiation of the pest as previously reported in Colombia. The pest might have passed through political and geographical borders by free commercialization of Solanaceae fruit from Ecuador (S. quitoense) and Honduras (S. melongena) because much genetic similarity was found between races from both countries. The Tajima test (D) indicated that populations of N. elegantalis from Brazil and Ecuador had expanded recently whereas populations from other countries were in equilibrium. Mismatch analysis showed populations of the pest expanded in Central and South America from 338,000 to 1.3 million years ago, suggesting haplotype race divergence occurred before domestication of Solanaceae plants in the Americas (10,000 years ago). The Mantel test was significant (r² = 0.1943, p < 0.0001), suggesting isolation by distance, particularly in South America.

Since 2013, garlic (Allium sativum L.) growers of the state of Puebla, Mexico, have reported production losses caused by a new pest in the agricultural region. Because there was a lack of information and the species was not identified, control measures were inefficient because the plant symptoms can be confused with those caused by other pests. The objective of this study was to contribute tools to identify the species and generate information on the damage it causes. Effectiveness of a trapping system with food bait also was evaluated. The insect was identified as Epicaerus opercularus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The larvae perforate garlic bulbs and consume several plants during development, affecting as much as 68% of production. Trapping with food bait was not effective, at least with the conditions of the experiment. Images of the immature stages, adults, and damage by larvae to garlic plants are included.

Two new species of Leia Meigen fungus gnats were discovered in western Michigan. These were the only members of the genus with black head, thorax, and abdomen that were found in a local survey. The closest relative of the two new species seems to be the mostly yellow fly Leia sublunata (Loew). Females and juveniles of Leia michigana Taber and Leia manistee Taber are unknown.

The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus 1762), was recorded for the first time at Durango City and Mezquital, State of Durango, Mexico. This is a new high-altitude record at northern latitude.

Peridomestic water containers such as livestock water troughs are considered important reservoirs of mosquito larvae. This study identified environmental factors that favored seasonal abundance and relative frequency of yellow fever mosquito (Ae. aegypti Linnaeus, 1762; Diptera: Culicidae) larvae in suburban livestock drinking-water troughs at La Paz, Mexico. Water was sampled (n = 280) each week by dipping from five water troughs and two sentinels during a 14-month (2015–2016) period. Overall frequency of Ae. aegypti in all samples was 57.5%, with a mean of 21.4 larvae per liter. Few larvae were found during summer and autumn (21.8 ± 3.8 and 29.1 ± 4.7 per liter, respectively), with fewest during winter (1.4 ± 1.0). Water samples from troughs containing Ae. aegypti larvae had significantly greater turbidity (p = 0.02), water-dissolved oxygen (p < 0.001), and total solids (p < 0.001) than did samples without mosquitoes. Average number and frequency of larvae per liter were positively and significantly (p = 0.05) correlated with water temperature. Changes in water temperature influenced the relative percentage of Ae. aegypti larvae approximately 1 month later. The model NL = - 37.27 0.68 WT, where NL was the number of larvae per liter and WT was water temperature explained the relationship (R² = 0.46, p = 0.03). The water troughs provided conditions that supported proliferation of mosquito larvae, especially Ae. aegyti. In water troughs where Ae. aegypti larvae were established, water temperature was most closely correlated to abundance and frequency of the larvae.

Leucanella nyctimene es una polilla de la familia Saturniidae, cuyas larvas se observan alimentándose de varias especies arbóreas en la Sabana de Bogotá. A pesar de la gran abundancia exhibida, la relación con especies nativas, su belleza y ser causal de erucismo, se desconocen los principales rasgos de vida y los efectos de antiherbivoría de los huéspedes en su desarrollo. En este trabajo se presentan algunos atributos de vida de L. nyctimene y el efecto del borrachero (Brugmansia aurea, Solanaceae) del laurel de cera (Morella parviflora, Myricaceae) y del aliso (Alnus acuminata, Betulaceae) en el desarrollo del lepidóptero. La investigación se efectuó en condiciones de laboratorio, evaluando el crecimiento de 104 larvas por especie vegetal. Los resultados indican que el borrachero no le permitió a la especie completar su estado larval; los individuos alimentados con laurel de cera completaron su ciclo de vida en menor tiempo, en comparación con el aliso; con esta última planta se obtuvo mayor sobrevivencia. Además, se presenta la distancia entre las sedas frontales, característica empleada para diferenciar los estadios larvales. Sin importar la fuente alimenticia se presentó una alta mortalidad durante el estado larval, sobre todo durante el primer estadio y luego se mantuvo constante hasta el estado adulto.

Some studies have reported the low genetic differentiation of Melanaphis sacchari/sorghi and its great phenotypic plasticity to quickly undergo adaptive changes that include change of host and rapid dispersion. In this experiment, damage and behavior of six commercial Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench hybrids, against attack by the aphid were evaluated at Xalostoc, Morelos. The incidence of the sugarcane aphid from 21 after days sowing (ADS) was observed in all genotypes, despite insecticides coating the seed. The intensity of attack was light (25%) to 35 ADS. The intensity increased at the 49 ADS to (grade 2), with least severity in the Ambar hybrid (50.6%) and the greatest for Milenia (65%). The aphid was most abundant at 56 ADS, with P20 (85%) and Milena (83.7%) the most affected hybrids. At the end of the crop cycle, two groups were formed, the least infested (85 P15, Ambar, and DKS-46) and the most damaged one (Milenia, Cobalt, and 85 P20). Agronomic variables such as fresh weight of the plant, plant height, tang weight, and dry weight of the plant were not different. There were differences only in the brix degrees, with low values for Ambar (3.5°Bx) and P15 (4.2°Bx) hybrids, significantly different from 85 P20 (6.9) and Milena (6.5°Bx).

Mediante una trampa de luz, durante tres años, se recolectaron en Tierra Blanca (Cartago, Costa Rica) las siguientes 13 especies de Melolonthidae: Paranomala sp., P. vanpatteni, Astaena sp., Cyclocephala castaniella, C. lunulata, C. sanguinicollis, Diplotaxis sp., Isonychus chiriquinus, Pelidnota costaricensis, Phyllophaga menetriesi, P. obsoleta, Phyllophaga sp., y Xyloryctes lobicollis. De ellas, solamente ocho especies fueron realmente abundantes, entre las que destacaron Diplotaxis sp., P. obsoleta, y P. menetriesi. Su patrón de emergencia estuvo cercanamente asociado con el patrón de precipitación, expresándose en abril y mayo, al iniciarse la estación lluviosa. Las capturas entre años fueron muy variables. El índice de estabilidad de Wolda fue menor (lo cual indica mayor estabilidad) para Phyllophaga spp. y Astaena sp., con valores de -3,101 (P. obsoleta), -2,465 (Phyllophaga sp.), -1,720 (Astaena sp.), y -1,320 (P. menetriesi). Esto quizás obedece a la abundancia y constancia de alimento, representado por un mosaico de hortalizas típico de dicha zona, entre las que sobresale la papa, al cual se suman amplias áreas de potreros, en los cuales varias especies de Phyllophaga se pueden reproducir masivamente.

Se efectúa una descripción morfológica basada en la genitalia de especímenes del género Sphenophorus Schoenherr colectados en césped (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz) de campos de golf en los municipios de Solidaridad y Benito Juárez del estado de Quintana Roo, y en césped ornamental (Penisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov) y en la maleza Cyperus spp. dentro del municipio de Texcoco, en el Estado de México. La mayoría de especímenes recolectados en césped de campos de golf correspondieron a S. venatus vestitus (Chittenden). Otras tres especies representan nuevos registros para México: S. neomexicana (Chittenden) para Quintana Roo, y S. cicatristriata (Fahraeus) y S. championi (Vaurie) para el Estado de México. Se describe e ilustra la genitalia masculina de estas especies de Sphenophorus que se alimentan sobre diversas especies de Poaceae en México. Las formas y tamaños relativos de los edeagos, espícula, tegmen y apodemas muestran diferencia entre las especies y pueden ser de utilidad para su identificación.

Se analiza la ultraestructura de Allonothrus neotropicus con ejemplares recolectados en hojarasca de suelo de la región Caribe de Costa Rica. Los caracteres que definen esta especies son: 1) seta e₁ el doble de larga que la seta d₁, 2) seta e₁ con la misma longitud que la distancia entre las setas e₁-h₁, 3) seta d₂ 1.5 X más larga que de la seta d₁, 4) ausencia de cavidad oval en la sección distal del notogaster, 5) forma del notogaster ovalada, 6) superficie de las setas adanales 1 y 2 ciliada, 7) longitud 582 μm. En la deutoninfa las setas le son tan largas como los sensilos que presentan el mismo ensanchamiento distal que los adultos. Las setas e₁ son mayores que las setas d₂, las setas c₁, d₁, y d₂ son similares en desarrollo. La distancia entre la seta e₁-h₁ es de dos veces la longitud de la seta e₁. Los tarsos son monodáctilos a diferencia del adulto. La placa genital presenta solo 7 pares de setas. Las placas anales y adanales presentan poco desarrollo. La longitud total de la deutoninfa es de 391 μm. Es notable la diferencia de tamaño registrada entre los especímenes adultos de México y Bolivia (617–658 μm) y los de Costa Rica (479 μm); los cuales presentan una reducción de tamaño de entre 20 y 30% respecto a los especímenes de México y Bolivia. La mayoría de los caracteres considerados diagnósticos de la especie se hallan bien definidos, excepto la longitud corporal y la distancia entre las setas e₁-h₁.

Se examina el corion de Ectima thecla thecla y se compara con la morfología coriónica de Hamadryas spp.; se construye un glosario ilustrado de la terminología empleada en las descripciones coriónicas en Ageroniina. El corion de ambos géneros se tipifica como globoso y único para el clado; con estructuras plesiomóficas en Ectima respecto a Hamadryas. Se señala la necesidad de aclarar y detallar las descripciones coriónicas de Batesia y Panacea, debido a que publicaciones previas reconocen otros tipos de corion afines a diferentes subgrupos de Biblidinae, cuando tal vez se esperaría un corion globoso para toda la subtribu Ageroniina.

Se examina la estructura coriónica de Orophila cardases campaspe; también se efectúan comparaciones con el corion de siete especies de la subtribu Callicorina, taxón que aquí se caracteriza. Su corion se tipifica por la presencia de ‘ventanas’ en la base de las crestas, el relieve apical en semicírculos y la ausencia parcial o total de las costillas entre los ejes. Se reconocieron las similitudes del corion entre ésta y la subtribu Epiphilina, así como la posibilidad de reducción u optimización del material que derivaría en las crestas ‘en puente’ de la subtribu Eubagina. Es indispensable una mayor exploración del corion en otras especies de Callicorina, por su posible empleo como fuente de caracteres y para contrastar la hipótesis de Freitas et al. (2014) sobre las relaciones filogenéticas entre los géneros de dicha subtribu.

Se describe y nombra una subespecie nueva de Prepona brooksiana G. & S., la cual es la más septentrional de todas las razas geográficas de este taxón; ocurriendo dentro de la vertiente del Golfo de México en la porción más boreal del bosque mesófilo de montaña. Se describe la variación poblacional de los caracteres que la diagnostican y se mencionan aspectos de su conducta y hábitat. Se determina que las subespecies mesoamericanas del grupo Prepona deiphile realmente corresponden a Prepona brooksiana, cuya distribución solo ocurre en México y Centroamérica. De esta forma, el grupo deiphile en el género Prepona Boisduval estaría compuesto de tres especies: P. deiphile Godart y P. xenagoras Hewitson, con distribución en Sudamérica, y Prepona brooksiana en México y América Central.

Se describen dos nuevas especies de melolóntidos colectados en Barra de Potosí, localidad ubicada en la costa de Guerrero, México: Cyclocephala huamilule recolectada en un matorral xerófilo cercano a la playa a 10 m de altitud y Phyllophaga barrapotosiana, especie que se incluye en el grupo pallida y que se colectó dentro de un remanente de selva baja caducifolia en recuperación a 15 m de altitud. Se incluyen ilustraciones de los caracteres diagnósticos, una modificación de las claves más recientes, así como comentarios sobre la taxonomía de las especies nuevas y se comparan con otras cercanas.

Tamarix (L.) was introduced to North America in the 1800s and has become an ecological dilemma because of its rapid spread. Control of the species has become top priority for many ranchers and land owners across the United States. Sul Ross State University at Alpine, TX has been part of a biological control project using Diorhabda (Brulle') as a method to reduce the biomass of existing saltcedar. While gathering observational data for the project at Big Bend Ranch State Park, another biological control agent, Coniatus splendidulus (Fabricius), was discovered. The species has been documented in other parts of the United States and Mexico where Tamarix sp. has spread.

The entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis indica Poinar, Karunakar & David (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) was reported for the first time as a natural parasite of the sugarcane weevil, Sphenophorus incurrens Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) fields in Mexico.

A principal pest of maize, Zea mays L., in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, is the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). There is only one report of Tachinidae (Archytas spp.) parasitizing fall armyworm larvae. In the present work, we reported for the first time Distichona auriceps Coquillett and Hypovoria discalis (Brooks) parasitizing 1.8 and 0.92%, respectively, of S. frugiperda larvae in maize at Guanajuato, México.

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidóptera: Noctuidae), is the most important insect pest of maize, Zea mays L., because it causes great economic loss and insecticide to be overused for its control, which increase costs of production and contaminate the environment. However, the pest is naturally controlled by various parasitoids of the Tachinidae family. Here, we report molecular identification of a new species of the genus Lespesia parasitizing larvae of S. frugiperda in the central region of Chiapas, México.

Se reporta la incidencia de Sphenophorus incurrens Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) en parcelas comerciales de caña de azúcar, Saccharum officinarum L. (Poaceae), en el Sureste de México durante la zafra 2016/2017. En esta región en el 2015 se reporta la presencia de este picudo alimentándose de la caña de azúcar y matando cepas completas. La incidencia registrada fue relativamente alta en los tres lugares evaluados, por lo que este insecto plaga puede extenderse a otras regiones de México y causar daños importantes en el futuro. Es probable que las poblaciones establecidas en la región presenten más de una generación al año, y el conocimiento sobre comportamiento de los insectos durante todo el año plantea problemas adicionales.