Title : Insects present in the floral environments of Parthenium hysterophorus L., alfalfa and alfalfa in competition with Parthenium hystophorus L.
Abstract:
Coevolution makes it easier for the insect to obtain food sources from plants such as: nectar, pollen, sap and vegetative structures. As well as catching their prey and finding mates. The plant benefits from the insect with the pollination process. The type of insect visitation in floral environments allows us to know the biological importance of the plant in the production of nectar, pollen or other metabolites. By identifying the type of insect, the reason for its presence on the plant is determined, that is, if the visit is to catch its prey (zoophages) or obtain pollen, nectar and sap (phytophages). The objective was to determine the percentage distribution of insects present in floral environments of Parthenium hysterophorus, alfalfa and in alfalfa in competition with P. hysterophorus to group them in taxonomic order and determine the reason for the visitation. With an entomological net, insects were captured in the three floral environments. The captured insects were stored in alcohol and water solution in a percentage of 70:30, later with the microscope they were classified by taxonomic order level. The experimental design was completely randomized. The three treatments were the floral environments of only Parthenium, only alfalfa and alfalfa in competition with Parthenium, with five repetitions each. In the floral environments, the insects in the highest percentages were aphids, stink bugs and cicadas, grouped in the Order Heteroptera, with values ??of 90.0% in alfalfa, 78.6% in Parthenium and 63.2% alfalfa in competition with Parthenium. In abundance, the most important are the Orders Heteroptera, Diptera and Thysanoptera, which presented statistical differences (p<0.05; Tukey) in the three environments. The most abundant insects in the Order Heteroptera and Thysanoptera are characterized by being pests of agricultural crops. As well as importance in the biological control of undesirable plants. In the Order Diptera, flies were the most abundant, where it is inferred that they visit plants to obtain pollen and metabolites as food sources. It is concluded that since there is an abundance of pest insects from the Order Heteroptera and Thysanoptera in floral environments where Parthenium hysterophorus is present, these can be considered in biological control programs for this weed.
Keywords: Percentage, Taxonomic Order, Visitaduría, Arvense
