HELICONIINAE (LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE) DEFOLIATORS OF PASSIFLORACEAE AND THEIR NATURAL ENEMIES IN CERRO PUNTA, CHIRIQUÍ | HELICONIINAE (LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE) DEFOLIADORES DE PASSIFLORACEAE Y SUS ENEMIGOS NATURALES EN CERRO PUNTA, CHIRIQUÍ
2025
Collantes-G., Rubén D. | Santos-Murgas, Alonso | Pittí-C., Javier E. | Samaniego, Jahzeel
English. The aim of this research was to identify the species of defoliating larvae of passion fruit (Passiflora ligularis) and curuba or tumbo (Passiflora tripartita), as well as their natural enemies. The land of the Experimental Station of the Institute of Agricultural Innovation of Panama (IDIAP), located in Cerro Punta, Chiriquí, Panama, was selected as the study area. The foliage of both plant species was randomly reviewed, manually collecting larvae and pupae for analysis and identification in the laboratory, as well as for the possible recovery of adults and parasitoids, consulting specialized literature. Additionally, surrounding wild vegetation was reviewed. According to the results, two species of defoliating larvae were identified, Dione juno (Cramer, 1779) and Agraulis vanillae (L., 1758) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae); both with apocematic coloration (mainly black and orange) and widely distributed from southern North America, Central America, the Caribbean and South America; being reported as pests of Passifloraceae in other countries. However, adult specimens are pollinators, playing a vitally important role in the sustainability of plant biodiversity. As for natural enemies, in the field the presence of lacewing eggs (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and spiders hunting larvae were observed, and in the laboratory four pupae of Tachinidae (Diptera) were recovered, from which an adult of Lespesia archippivora (Riley, 1871) could emerge, which has been previously reported as a parasitoid of D. juno. In conclusion, the defoliating larvae that affect Passifloraceae in Cerro Punta correspond to two Heliconiinae species, which have at least three natural enemies in said agroecosystem.
Show more [+] Less [-]Spanish; Castilian. El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar las especies de larvas defoliadoras de granadilla (Passiflora ligularis) y curuba o tumbo (Passiflora tripartita), así como sus enemigos naturales. Se seleccionó como área de estudio los terrenos de la Estación Experimental del Instituto de Innovación Agropecuaria de Panamá (IDIAP), ubicada en Cerro Punta, Chiriquí, Panamá. Se revisó aleatoriamente el follaje de ambas especies vegetales, colectando de forma manual larvas y pupas para su análisis e identificación en el laboratorio, así como para la posible recuperación de adultos y parasitoides, consultando literatura especializada. Complementariamente, se revisó vegetación silvestre aledaña. Según los resultados, se identificaron dos especies de larvas defoliadoras, Dione juno (Cramer, 1779) y Agraulis vanillae (L., 1758) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiinae); ambas con coloración apocemática (negro y naranja, principalmente) y de amplia distribución desde el sur de Norteamérica, América Central, el Caribe y Suramérica; siendo reportadas como plagas de Passifloraceae en otros países. Sin embargo, los especímenes adultos son polinizadores, desempeñando un rol de vital importancia en la sostenibilidad de la biodiversidad vegetal. En cuanto a los enemigos naturales, en campo se observó la presencia de huevos de crisopas (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), arañas cazando larvas y en laboratorio se recuperaron cuatro pupas de Tachinidae (Diptera), de las cuales pudo emerger un adulto de Lespesia archippivora (Riley, 1871), la cual ha sido reportada previamente como parasitoide de D. juno. En conclusión, las larvas defoliadoras que afectan Passifloraceae en Cerro Punta corresponden a dos especies de Heliconiinae, las cuales tienen al menos tres enemigos naturales en dicho agroecosistema.
Show more [+] Less [-]Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Instituto de Investigación Agropecuaria de Panamá