Insectos Asociados al Amaranto Amaranthus hypocondriacus L. (AMARANTHACEAE) en Irapuato, Guanajuato, México

Abstract

The study was developed in order to know the insects associated to amaranth in Irapuato, Gto, Mexico. Samples were taken in the flowering stage. Larvae were reared under laboratory conditions to obtain the adult stage. Forty-three species of insects were identified. The relationships with the plant is not clear in several species; but others, were found to make severe damage to the plant, such as Diabrotica virgifera zeae larvae feeding on roots, Stictobaris ornatella larvaeas stem borer; there were also several insect larvae eating the flowers: Ephyriades brunnea, Pholisora mexicana, Spodoptera exigua, Helvibotys helvialis, and Spolodea recurvalis. This is the first study about insects associated to amaranth in the central Mexican plateau; this study will contribute to the effective integrated management pest on amaranth.