Biological Pest Control in Mexico

Abstract

Mexico is a megadiverse country that forms part of the Mesoamerican biological corridor that connects North and South America. Mexico's biogeographical situation places it at risk from invasive exotic insect pests that enter from the United States, Central America, or the Caribbean. In this review we analyze the factors that contributed to some highly successful past programs involving classical biological control and/or the sterile insect technique (SIT). The present situation is then examined with reference to biological control, including SIT programs, targeted at seven major pests, with varying degrees of success. Finally, we analyze the current threats facing Mexico's agriculture industry from invasive pests that have recently entered the country or are about to do so. We conclude that despite a number of shortcomings, Mexico is better set to develop biological control-based pest control programs, particularly on an area-wide basis, than many other Latin American countries are. Classical and augmentative biological control and SIT-based programs are likely to provide effective and sustainable options for control of native and exotic pests, particularly when integrated into technology packages that meet farmers' needs across the great diversity of production systems in Mexico.

Fruit firmness, superficial damage, and location modulate infestation by Drosophila suzukii and Zaprionus indianus: the case of guava in Veracruz, Mexico

“…Invasive pest species represent a major challenge to many countries as a result of trade globalization. Mexico is a megadiverse country that forms part of the Mesoamerican corridor connecting continental North and South America and is exposed to invading insect pests that threaten crops and biodiversity (Williams et al, 2013). Two invasive pests, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) and the African fig fly, Zaprionus indianus Gupta (both Diptera: Drosophilidae), were recently found in traps used for monitoring tephritid pests (Anastrepha spp.)…”

Mass rearing and augmentative biological control evaluation of Rhynocoris fuscipes (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) against multiple pests of cotton

“…Several studies have long evaluated the role of natural enemies for control of cotton insect pests; , however, very few of these studies have assessed the use of predatory reduviid bugs against these pests under field conditions . Although augmentative release of predators, especially reduviids, is a major component in BIPM systems, there is limited information available about its efficacy in the literature.…”

Diaphorina citripopulations carrying the bacterial plant pathogenCandidatusLiberibacter asiaticus are more susceptible to infection by entomopathogenic fungi than bacteria-free populations

“…CLas‐carrying D. citri were more susceptible to all three fungal isolates than the CLas‐free D. citri . This vector first arrived in Mexico between 2003 and 2004, and it was not until 2009 that the CLas bacterium was reported (Williams et al , ). This suggests that the association between CLas and D. citri may not yet have evolved into a stable relationship, and this may partially account for some of the negative effects of CLas on D. citri .…”