Population fluctuation of Disonycha teapensis Blake (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Crotalaria longirostrata Hook. & Arn. (Fabales: Fabaceae) in Huimanguillo, Tabasco, Mexico

Abstract

Objective: To know the population fluctuation of adults and larvae of D. teapensis, and to determine its relationship with the amount of damaged foliage, temperature and precipitation

Methodology: The study was carried out in a culture of C. longirostrata of 48 plants. Weekly data were recorded on the number of adults and larvae, percentage of damaged leaflets, phenology of the plants, temperature and precipitation. With these data, monthly averages were calculated, and correlation analyzes were performed between the population fluctuation of D. teapensis and the fluctuation of the percentage of damaged foliage, temperature and precipitation.

Results: The pest occurred in all phenological stages of C. longirostrata, with constant population growth. The population fluctuation was similar to the fluctuation of the percentage of damaged foliage, with a significant positive correlation between both variables. Respect to temperature and precipitation, the correlation was negative but not significant, so the relationship between population fluctuation and that of these climatic factors is not clear.

Limitations on study: It was not possible to conduct the study for a full year.

Conclusions: The population development of Disonycha teapensis is dependent on the increase in the amount of foliage of its host plant. This insect attacks plants in all their phenological stages and the amount of damaged foliage is considerable.

Keywords: Chrysomeloidea, population, chipilin.