The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), is a destructive insect pest of sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Outbreaks of sugarcane aphids were reported in commercial sorghum fields in Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Infestations of sugarcane aphids in sorghum fields are initiated when winged aphids land on plants in the field and produce nymphs. Infestations in a field are not uniform and can increase rapidly in size and intensity. The study used airborne multispectral remote sensing to assess change over time in infestations by sugarcane aphids in sorghum fields. Differencing of bi-temporal normalized differenced vegetation index images followed by analysis of change depicted numerically in the image was effective for assessing the extent of temporal change in infestation by sugarcane aphids in a commercial sorghum field. Classification of normalized differenced vegetation index imagery from two dates into land-cover categories including one for sorghum infested with sugarcane aphid, followed by comparison of change in area and distribution of categories was also a useful method for assessing temporal change in infestations by sugarcane aphids in sorghum. Results indicated it was possible to detect and assess change in sorghum fields infested by sugarcane aphids, with 65% increase in area in a field severely infested by sugarcane aphids in only 1 week.

A series of small ponds was constructed to determine whether dragonflies would oviposit in them. Four pond sizes - 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2 m² - were replicated and randomized in each of six blocks. Ponds in three of the blocks were planted with cattail (Typha sp.) and three with spike rush (Junca sp.). Sampling revealed that of 273 nymphs collected, 267 were Pantala flavescens (F.) and six were Orthemis ferruginea (F.), although adults of 15 other dragonfly species were seen in the study area. Dragonfly nymphs were not found in any of the smallest size of pond. Significantly more nymphs were found in ponds planted with cattail than rush (215 vs 52), but the nymphs grew larger in ponds with rushes. The mean number of nymphs was larger in the 1.2-m² ponds (21.8) than in the 0.6-m² ponds (8.7), while 0.9 m² was intermediate (15.0). However, when the number of nymphs per unit area was compared, there were no differences between any of the pond sizes within a vegetation class -- cattail or rush. Between classes, more nymphs per unit area were in ponds planted with cattails. Because the one species of dominant dragonfly was not representative of distribution of dragonfly species in normal-sized ponds and probably was the only dragonfly found in any similar experiment, use of small reference ponds of these sizes was not feasible for assessing dragonfly diversity and abundance.

Effect of transgenic maize Agrisure® Viptera^TM 3111 event with Cry1Ab and Vip3Aa20 toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner that provide resistance to Lepidoptera and mCry3A to Coleoptera was tested on abundance of the corn flea beetle, Chaetocnema pulicaria Melsheimer, at Sinaloa, Mexico and compared to isoline maize with and without insecticide applied. Ten randomly selected plants were carefully inspected every 2 weeks, and abundance, frequency, and fluctuation of the pest were recorded. Abundance of C. pulicaria during crop development was a total of 2,239 insects on the three hybrids at both locations and did not differ among the hybrids. One-hundred percent frequency was found throughout the growing season on the three hybrids. The study showed that transgenic maize expressing Bt toxins did not negatively affect the abundance of C. pulicaria.

Moringa oleifera Lam. is a plant with nutraceutical and industrial value, and its seeds can be used to make biodiesel. In recent years, cultivation began in different regions of Mexico, from which reports on pests have increased. The objective of this work was to identify and determine abundance of thrips species associated with moringa flowers in a plantation in southeastern Mexico. Eight species of phytophagous thrips identified were Frankliniella cephalica (Crawford), F. insularis (Franklin), F. invasor Sakimura, F. gardeniae Moulton, F. parvula Hood, F. bruneri Watson, F. williamsi, and Microcephalothrips abdominalis (Crawford). A species of predatory thrips identified as Karnyothrips texensis (Hood) also was found. During the 1^st year of sampling, the most abundant species of thrips was F. cephalica, while during the 2^nd year it was F. insularis.

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is an important pest that damages agriculture worldwide. Organophosphorus insecticides are used for its control; however, intensive and inadequate use of insecticides has selected for resistance. The ace-1 gene confers cross resistance to organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides in cholinergic synapses. SNPs associated with resistance to organophosphorus insecticide were searched using resequencing of the ace-1 gene in populations of S. frugiperda from eight municipalities at Zacatecas, Mexico: Calera, Fresnillo, General R. Murguía, Loreto, Ojocaliente, Tepechitlán, Tlaltenango, and Villanueva. The ace-1 gene was amplified by PCR and bidirectionally sequenced in third and fifth larval instars. Results indicated the presence of the g-301 mutation in the population at Loreto, and the g-565 mutation in populations at Calera, Ojocaliente, Tepechitlán, and Villanueva (50% of the populations) with 25% homozygous and 25% heterozygous. The g-380 mutation was not observed at any town. New variations in positions g-396, g-498, and g-768 also were found. Using association analysis with a dendrogram, four groups of populations were two homozygous resistant and two homozygous susceptible. The results suggested an extensive analysis of resistance of populations in the State of Zacatecas and in Mexico to establish better strategies for controlling the pest.

Larvae of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), were collected from 190 fields of maize (Zea mays L.) in northern Sinaloa, Mexico, during 2016 and 2017. Larvae also were collected from naturally re-growing maize plants after the rainy season. The aim of this study was to determine the natural occurrence of parasitoids and entomopathogens of S. frugiperda in this agricultural area. Taxonomic keys were used to identify parasitoids. Larvae with signs of infection by viruses, bacteria or fungi were analyzed by one-step PCR. In 2016 and 2017, the average percentages of parasitized S. frugiperda larvae in cultured maize fields were 7 and 9.3%, respectively. In contrast, in re-grown maize, 12.5 and 16.5% of larvae were parasitized, respectively. In both years, significant differences were observed in abundance of parasitism among some months. The most common parasitoids were Meteorus laphygmae Viereck (n = 862), Chelonus insularis Cresson (n = 640), and Cotesia marginiventris Cresson (n = 303), with 9.5% of total parasitism. Idiopathic mortality (2.6%) was determined throughout the study, but no entomopathogens were found in any larva collected. Parasitoids associated with S. frugiperda are well established in northern Sinaloa. But, additional studies are needed to determine their potential as biological control agents and to evaluate the possible influence of maize type on their abundance.

Virulence of 10 isolates of entomopathogenic fungi native to Mexico and their effect on reproductive behavior were evaluated in nonfed larvae and engorged females of R. sanguineus sensu lato (Latreille). Virulence was evaluated by immersion in a concentration of 1 x 10⁸ conidia per milliliter, while checks received the same aqueous formulation but without conidia. Reproductive potential was determined by calculating Reproductive Efficiency Index (eggs laid per engorged female weight) and Reproductive Aptitude Index (eggs hatched as larvae per engorged female weight). Results of bioassays on nonfed larvae showed that 40% of the isolates were able to kill ≥90% at 20 days post-treatment. Isolate Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin 135 with an LC₅₀ of 1 x 10⁶ killed 97%, while Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. Bb154 with an LC₅₀ of 8 x 10⁶ killed 90%. In engorged females, 70% of isolates killed ≥90% at 15 days post-treatment; isolate Bb154 reduced egg oviposition 83% and hatchability 96%. The isolates should be considered potential biological control agents for R. sanguineus.

Huanglongbing is an important citrus disease caused by the bacterium Candidatus liberibacter and transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liividae). Psyllids are suppressed by chemical and biological controls including several entomopathogenic fungi such as Hirsutella citriformis Speare (Hypocreales: Ophiocordycipitaceae). A native strain of H. citriformis INIFAP-Hir 2 from Mexico was cultured in two substrates, rice (Oryza sativa L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) in two types of containers (plastic and glass). The fungal strain was exposed to different concentrations of ethyl methane sulfonate to obtain mutants with improved production and germination of conidia, while maintaining virulence against the Asian citrus psyllid. Mutants were selected based on the amount of synnemata and sporulation. Four putative mutants were obtained, with 53-10 producing the most conidia in potato dextrose with 1% yeast extract, and also on oatmeal, compared with the wild strain. The mutant and wild strains killed 100 and 94.4%, respectively, of Asian citrus psyllids. Mycosis on adults was 60.5 and 73.4% by wild and mutant strains, respectively.

Interactions between plants and insects have been widely studied. Plants develop numerous strategies to avoid establishment and/or feeding by insects. The aim of this research was to evaluate oviposition preference, nymphal development, and survival of Bactericera cockerelli Sulc on ‘Floradade’, ‘Micro-Tom’, and ‘Wild’ varieties of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Free-choice assays showed B. cockerelli oviposited twice more on ‘Floradade’ than ‘Micro-Tom’ with 1,000 and 479 eggs, respectively. Nymphal stages as well as adults of the pest developed much better on Floradade’ variety to emerge 3 days earlier than in ‘Micro-Tom’ and ‘Wild’ varieties. Adult emergence percentage was 52, 36, and 18% for ‘Floradade’, ‘Micro-Tom’, and ‘Wild’. Results in a greenhouse showed the degree of domestication of tomato varieties affected oviposition preference and survival of the insect.

The main ectoparasites of small rodents at a Mayan community of Yucatán State, southeastern México were determined. Rodents were trapped in peridomestic areas of 20 houses from March to September 2016. Ectoparasites were removed from the rodents and morphologically identified. Total rodents infested were 22.9% (53/231). Prevalence of ectoparasites by rodent species was 65% (13/20) on Sigmodon toltecus Saussure, 50% (4/8) on Peromyscus yucatanicus J.A. Allen & Chapman, 37.5% (3/8) on Heteromys gaumeri J.A. Allen & Chapman, 25% (30/120) on Rattus rattus L., and 4% (3/75) on Mus musculus L. In total, 250 ectoparasites were collected. Mites were identified as Androlaelaps fahrenholzi (Berlese) (n = 115), Echinolaelaps echidninus (Berlese) (n = 89), and Steptolaelaps heteromys Furman (n = 22), and lice were identified as Polyplax spinulosa (Burmeister) (n = 24). Results suggested association among particular ectoparasite and rodent species, i.e., P. spinulosa and E. echidninus with R. rattus. Likewise, S. heteromys was significantly associated with H. gaumeri, and A. fahrenholzi with S. toltecus. The presence of ectoparasites such as E. echidninus and P. spinulosa on peridomestic rodents indicated risk of pathogen transmission to humans in the study area; therefore, focusing on surveillance and control of rodents in household environments is imperative.

The effect of environmental variability on species richness, community structure, and daytime activity of ants along a disturbance gradient was examined at El Cielo Biosphere Reserve, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The study site was delimited by LANDSAT satellite images. Ants were evaluated using pitfall traps from 0800 to 1800 every hour for four consecutive days in August 2016. In total, 1190 individuals of 20 species and seven subfamilies were obtained. Six species responded positively to the disturbed environment during the morning, with variation between assessment days. The daytime activity of ant species was variable during the day along the disturbance gradient. Solenopsis geminata was the species that showed the most activity during most of the day in the study. Abundance of species differed between most environments each hour. The total variation explained by the first two axes of the relationship analysis of species abundance and environmental attributes was 83% (Axis 1: Temperature and humidity = 64%, Axis 2: Rocks = 19%). S. geminata and Forelius pruinosus were the species that responded significantly to the variables evaluated. The results suggested that environmental variability along a disturbance gradient determines the establishment of the niche and the diurnal activity profile of each species throughout the day and between days.

Biodiversity indicator beetles were evaluated to establish diversity and abundance at four localities, including disturbed and conserved environments, to contribute to a conservation proposal. Species of coprophagous biodiversity indicator beetles were collected during four field trips to four localities, indicating a decreasing disturbance gradient in tropical deciduous forests from north to south, of the Atoyac-Tehuitzingo sub-basin, between 18.67° and 17.97°N latitude. Species richness indicated an increasing (non-significant) number (S = 3 versus 10) relative to the disturbance pattern; diversity showed an increasing (significant) pattern from north to south (H′ = 0.74 versus 1.17). The effective number of species was 1.5 times greater at Tulcingo (south) than at San Mateo (north), consistent with the diversity pattern. The richness of Scarabaeinae beetle species as indicators of diverse environments could be sensitive to disturbance of vegetation in the Basin; however, more work is needed to overrule the effect of other environmental variables.

In México, one of the main phytosanitary problems affecting maize and sugarcane is damage caused by the rhizophagous larvae of Phyllophaga ravida (Blanchard) (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae: Melolonthinae). Knowledge of the actual distribution is largely based on specimen collection data. Potential species niche models use algorithms to estimate the geographic interactions of a pest with respect to the distribution of a crop. This tool can be useful for designing monitoring programs. For this purpose, the information on the distribution of P. ravida was analyzed from material deposited in entomological collections and scientific literature; these data were incorporated into the Maxent entropy logarithm with 15 environmental variables. Areas with environmental suitability for P. ravida include the central and western states of Mexico: Hidalgo, Morelos, Oaxaca, and Puebla; with particular areas in Colima, Chiapas, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Veracruz. Areas in which P. ravida does the most damage to these crops coincide with the appropriate environmental availability.

From bimonthly and quarterly collections on the ground at three ranches in the municipality of Xico, Veracruz, Mexico in 2015 and 2016, 779 specimens in 62 monoliths representing 58 taxa (86% Coleoptera) were obtained, Scarabaeoidea with 26 species or morphospecies was dominant. The samples shared three of the 26 species. Cocoxatla and Temascalapa ranches shared five species, Temascalapa and Xamalapa shared nine species, and Xamalapa and Cocoxatla shared six species, representing a large amount of species replacement. In 2015, abundance was greatest (144 specimens) at Xamalapa, and greatest richness (14 species) was at Temascalapa and Xamalapa. In 2016, Ranch in Xamalapa recorded most abundance (44 individuals) and greatest species richness (11 species). At the three localities, eight and 14 species or morphospecies of edaphic beetles were identified. This showed proportionately greater values of specific diversity; the region has a long history of modification of natural communities, like predominance of exotic grasses. Data obtained in the samples in sunny or partially shaded grass included 20 species or morphospecies, only four species were shared by the three ranches. The dominant species were Hoplia, Phyllophaga, Paranomala, Strigoderma, Epectinaspis, and Pachystethus. The “white grub” species potentially harmful to roots of grasses are Phyllophaga tenuipilis (Bates), Ph. menetriesi (Blanchard), and Ph. testaceipennis (Blanchard), none found at densities greater than five larvae of third instar per square meter. Among the species beneficial by their abundance and habits of incorporating nutrients, helping circulate air, and circulating air and assisting in movement of air and water in the soil are Hoplia squamifera Burmeister, Ataenius spp., and Germarostes sinuatus (Bates).

From collections in land with four uses (rainforest, agroforestry, maize crop, and grassland) from the localities of López Mateos (LM), San Fernando (SF), and Venustiano Carranza (VC) in the Santa Marta Volcano, Veracruz, Mexico, 967 specimens were obtained in 11 subfamilies, 47 genera, and 114 morphospecies of the family Staphylinidae. The subfamilies with the greatest morphospecies richness were Aleocharinae (35), Paederinae (30), and Staphylininae (20). Greatest morphospecies richness was at SF (78) at the highest altitude (850 m) and has a rainforest cover of 50%, while LM occupied second place (61), and VC third place (38). The last two localities were at 250 m of altitude, but LM has a rainforest cover three times larger than VC. By type of land use, the greatest number of morphospecies was in the rainforest (59), followed by grassland, agroforestry land, and maize crop (46, 45, and 42 morphospecies, respectively). Pitfall traps collected markedly more abundance and taxa richness compared to the monolith collection, both at the three locations and with different land uses. The Staphylinidae analyzed is considered moderately diverse, because many morphospecies were represented by one or two individuals and because it represents 16.6% of all recorded species of the State of Veracruz (685). Staphylinidae is the family of Coleoptera with the most taxonomic richness of the edaphic fauna of the Santa Marta Volcano and plays an important role in natural control of populations of other invertebrates, including beneficial impact on maize crops by having 78% of morphospecies with predatory habits and more than 20% recycling decomposing organic matter.

The genetically modified cotton expressing Cry toxins from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (transgenic or Bt cotton) was introduced to Mexico in 1996, achieving a high degree of adoption by cotton producers, due to its high effectiveness against lepidopteran pests, which resulted in a reduction of the use of insecticides and a significant increase in crop yields. This study was conducted to determine and compare the populations and levels of damage of the main insect pests in commercial conventional (non-Bt cotton) and transgenic cotton (Bt cotton) fields in the Comarca Lagunera, Mexico during 2016, after 20 years of planting Bt cotton. In four fields of each type of cotton samplings were carried out from June 30 to August 27 to evaluate densities and damages of bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie); beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner); pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders); boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis (Boheman); conchuela, Chlorochroa ligata (Say); and sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). Bollworm and beet armyworm populations were significantly lower in Bt cotton than in conventional cotton, with reductions from 70-100% and 90-98%. Damage to squares and bolls by these two pests were lower in Bt cotton than in conventional cotton, with reductions from 82 to 84%. The pink bollworm and tobacco budworm were not detected in any type of cotton. Damage to cotton bolls by boll weevils and conchuelas were low and did not differ between types of cotton. Sweetpotato whitefly populations did not differ between types of cotton and increased at the end of the crop season. These results show that Bt cotton (Bollgard II) expressing Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab toxins continues to be effective against bollworm and beet armyworm; while the pink bollworm and tobacco budworm are practically eradicated from this region. The Bt cotton showed no effectiveness against sweetpotato whitefly, boll weevil, and conchuela, as was to be expected because they are non-target pests.

Se reporta la riqueza de odonatos en el Área Natural Protegida Sierra del Laurel, municipio de Calvillo, Aguascalientes, México. Se colectaron 31 especies de 21 géneros y seis familias en 13 localidades, las cuales representan 50% de las especies registradas en Aguascalientes. Rhionaeschna jalapensis (Williamson, 1908) y Dythemis nigrescens Calvert, 1899 se registran por primera vez para el estado de Aguascalientes y se presentan ocho registros nuevos para el municipio de Calvillo. La lista de Odonata de Aguascalientes incluye ahora 61 especies, y la Sierra del Laurel es uno de los sitios con mayor riqueza de odonatos del estado.

To optimize Drosophila suzukii rearing and establish mass rearing its local parasitoids, this washing method collects pupae from wheat germ diet. The diet consists of purified water (480 ml), raw wheat germ (100 g), table sugar (45 g), Brewer's yeast (35 g), and maize flour (30 g). Preparation requires stirring and boiling all ingredients for 7 minutes, then cooling to room temperature. Implementation of the method allows collecting clean pupae and compiling them into a smaller space, so it helps mass rearing D. suzukii and its parasitoids. Additionally, it could facilitate execution of other ideas with potential to control the pest, among them, the sterile insect technique and sterile insect technique entomopathogenic fungi.

El consumo del insecto comestible Comadia redtenbacheri (Hammerschmidt) conocido como gusano rojo del maguey, aumentó en los últimos años, lo que ha llevado a una colecta excesiva de poblaciones silvestres de esta especie. La presente investigación propone métodos para la infestación inducida de plantas de Agave salmiana en macetas con larvas de ∼0.12 g y ≥⃒ 0.30 g de peso promedio a densidades de 20, 30, y 40 por planta, así como adultos recién emergidos en las proporciones hembra-macho 1:1, 1:2, y 2:1, además de plantas en suelo con larvas ≥⃒0.30 g a densidades de 30, 60, 90, y 120. Las larvas de mayor peso en macetas, a densidades de 30 y 40 individuos por planta, presentaron más pupas y emergencia de adultos. Hembras-machos liberados a 1:2 tuvieron un promedio de 12 larvas por planta y 75% de plantas infestadas. Con las larvas liberadas en el suelo a una densidad de 60, se logró el establecimiento de una segunda generación con 72% de plantas infestadas y 14.5% de daño promedio al interior del tallo. Los resultados obtenidos pueden servir de base para programas de producción o restablecimiento de poblaciones de gusano rojo.

El nucleopoliedrovirus de Anticarsia gemmatalis (AgNPV) y el insecto depredador Chrysoperla carnea Stephens juegan un papel importante en el control de Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner. Actualmente, se desconoce si C. carnea se alimenta de las larvas de A. gemmatalis infectadas con el virus AgNPV. Por lo anterior, el objetivo del presente estudio de investigación fue determinar si C. carnea se alimenta de las larvas de A. gemmatalis sanas e infectadas con AgNPV. En el laboratorio, se desarrollaron los siguientes bioensayos: 1) larvas con 24 horas después de la infección viral (DIV) vs. larvas sanas, 2) larvas con 48 horas DIV vs. larvas sanas, 3) larvas con 72 horas DIV vs. larvas sanas. En el bioensayo con larvas sanas y larvas con 24 horas DIV, C. carnea se alimentó de ambas larvas. En contraste, en el bioensayo con larvas sanas y las larvas con 48 horas y 72 horas DIV, C. carnea se alimentó solo de larvas sanas. Lo anterior, posiblemente se debió al comportamiento y al proceso de descomposición de las larvas infectadas. Los resultados obtenidos es información base para el entendimiento de la interacción entre C. carnea y las larvas de A. gemmatalis infectadas con el virus AgNPV en el cultivo de soya.

El uso de hongos entomopatógenos como control microbiano presenta algunas ventajas sobre los insecticidas químicos, ya que exhibe una mortalidad natural y tienen menor impacto ambiental. La producción de agentes de control biológico como Beauveria bassiana encuentra limitantes para definir la concentración óptima de conidios, además, se desconoce el potencial que pueden tener las cepas nativas para su uso en el chapulín. En la presente investigación, se evaluó la mortalidad de Sphenarium purpurascens in vitro, mediante bio-preparados a diferentes concentraciones de conidios de la cepa MA-Bb1 y dos preservadores (tierra de diatomita (D) y zeolita). Los diferentes bio-preparados obtuvieron concentraciones de 2.78 × 10⁸ a 10.30 × 10⁸ conidios/ml, mostrando una tendencia lineal respecto a la mortalidad de ninfas del 2 y 4º estadío, así como adultos de S. purpurascens in vitro, la cual fue directamente proporcional a la concentración de conidios de B. bassiana. La mayor concentración de conidios se presentó en el biopreparado (Z D Bb1 [1/1]) con 10.30 × 10⁸ conidios/ml, una viabilidad del 93% y una mortalidad mayor al 90% para los diferentes estadíos, así como para el adulto de S. purpurascens. Estos resultados muestran la factibilidad del uso de la cepa nativa MA-Bb1 de B. bassiana en combinación con la tierra de diatomita y zeolita para el control biológico del chapulín en condiciones de laboratorio.

Se reporta por primera vez la presencia de Euphoria iridescens en el estado de Oaxaca, México. El nuevo registro se documenta con base en la revisión de cinco especímenes (dos machos y tres hembras) colectados en cuatro sitios de la región de los Valles Centrales de Oaxaca. También, se registra por primera vez a E. iridescens alimentándose de frutos de Ficus carica. Adicionalmente, se presenta un mapa de la distribución de E. iridescens en México.

La polilla negra y amarilla de líquenes, Lycomorpha pholus (Drury), pertenece a la familia Erebidae, la cual en estado de larva se alimenta típicamente de líquenes, sin reportarse hasta ahora hábitos fitófagos. En este trabajo se reporta por primera vez a larvas de L. pholus alimentándose de hojas y frutos de Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae).

Enicospilus es un género de Ichneumonidae con actividad crepuscular o nocturna; es muy común en México. Se colectaron algunos especímenes de este género en trampas de luz ultravioleta TDB 1107 en áreas citrícolas de naranja Valencia en Padilla, Tamaulipas, México. La especie se determinó como Enicospilus laurenae Gauld que se había colectado previamente en Costa Rica, Panamá, y Ecuador por lo que éste es un nuevo registro para México.