Identificación del insecto agallador (Trioza rusellae Tuthill) en hojas de Brosimum alicastrum Swartz en Yucatán, México

Abstract

Gall (Trioza rusellae Tuthill) insect identification in AbstractT he insect Trioza rusellae Tuthill (Hemiptera-Triozidae) produces galls on the leaves of the Ramon (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz) tree, species with high nutritional value of the Peninsula of Yucatan. The insect was isolated and identified from collections in the municipalities of Muna and Sacalum, Yucatán. Five to 10 years old trees were sampled selecting branches with leaves showing galls. The samples were placed in plastic bags and taken to the laboratory, and placed in entomological cages. Adult insects were collected using a manual vacuum, while galls were dissected to collect the nymphs directly with a brush (0001). The samples were preserved in alcohol (70 %) and in fixative formalin-alcohol-water (FAW). Nymphs and adult insects from the alcohol samples were mounted and observed on a stereoscopic microscope. The samples in FAW were processed and observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). As a result, photographs were obtained and development phases of T. rusellae were identified by entomological keys. Resumen E l insectoTrioza rusellae Tuthill (Hemiptera-Triozidae) produce agallas en las hojas del árbol de ramón (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz), especie con alto valor nutricional de la península de Yucatán. El insecto fue aislado e identificado a partir de colectas en los municipios de Muna y Sacalum, Yucatán. Los árboles de cinco a 10 años de edad se muestrearon seleccionando ramas con hojas que presentaban agallas. Las muestras se colocaron en bolsas de plástico y se trasladaron al laboratorio confinándolas en jaulas entomológicas. Los adultos se recolectaron con un aspirador manual, mientras que las agallas se disectaron para colectar las ninfas directamente con un pincel (0001). Las muestras se conservaron en alcohol (70 %) y en fijador formol-alcohol-agua (FAA). Las ninfas y adultos de las muestras en alcohol se montaron y observaron en el microscopio estereoscópico. Las muestras en FAA se procesaron y observaron en el microscopio electrónico de barrido (MEB). Como resultado, se obtuvieron fotografías y se identificaron las fases de desarrollo de T. rusellae mediante claves entomológicas.Received: August 05, 2014 / Accepted: March 10, 2015. Palabras clave:Ramón, agallas, plaga, caracterización, microscopio electrónico de barrido.

Multiple Factors Influence Seasonal and Interannual Litterfall Production in a Tropical Dry Forest in Mexico

“…Exploratory analyses carried out as part of our study showed that biomass, basal area, and stem density of deciduous species were higher on flat than on sloping sites (F ≥ 9.509, p ≤ 0.037). Flat sites provide more favorable conditions for vegetation development since they have deeper soils than sloping sites [62]. Besides the above, runoff and erosion take away water, mineral nutrients, and soil particles from sloping sites and deposit them on flat sites at the bottom.…”

“…The geomorphology of the region consists of karstic limestone, with flat areas alternating with gently sloping hills (10-25%). Cambisol and luvisol soils predominate in flat areas, and leptosol soils on hills and sites with rocky outcrops [62]. Secondary vegetation of different ages since abandonment predominates in the region as a result of the long-standing use of slash-and-burn subsistence agriculture [63,64].…”

Differences in oxalate–carbonate pathway of Brosimum alicastrum in karst homegarden and forest soils

“…This raises two possibilities: (a) ruminants in the region have adapted to consuming this forage, even though it has a high calcium oxalate content, or (b) calcium oxalate could prevent herbivory from other organisms such as insects. Only one foliar insect pest (Trioza rusellae Tuthill, a psyllid that promotes the growth of gills in the leaves) for B. alicastrum in the state of Yucatan (Ascencio-Alvarez et al, 2015) has been reported to affect vegetative growth and consequently decrease photosynthetic rates (Cuevas-Reyes et al, 2004).…”