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Taxonomic and Functional Structure of Phytophagous Insect Communities Associated with Grain Amaranth
1Fac de Agronomía, Univ Nacional de La Pampa, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina. niveyro@agro.unlpam.edu.ar.
Neotropical Entomology
|May 20, 2016
Summary
Amaranthus plants face diverse insect pests globally, with leaf chewers being most common. Pest distribution varies by location and plant growth stage, impacting Amaranth cultivation.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Entomology
- Plant-Insect Interactions
- Crop Protection
Background:
- Amaranthus species are globally susceptible to various insect pests, primarily leaf chewers and sucker insects.
- Other significant pests include stem borers and leaf miners, with leaf rollers, folders, and rasping-sucking insects being less common.
- Understanding the herbivorous community composition and dynamics is crucial for effective Amaranthus management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the insect herbivore community attacking Amaranthus species in Argentina.
- To compare the observed pest composition with global data on Amaranthus herbivores.
- To analyze the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of different insect guilds.
Main Methods:
- Field surveys were conducted to identify and quantify insect herbivores on Amaranthus plants.
- Insect guilds were categorized based on feeding behavior (e.g., leaf chewers, suckers, borers).
- Data on pest density and location (leaves, stems, inflorescences) were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- The herbivorous community on Amaranthus in Argentina aligns with global patterns in guild composition and order proportion.
- Amaranth plants host more phytophagous species in their native range compared to introduced areas.
- Leaf chewers were most abundant early in plant development, while borers and suckers peaked during reproductive stages. Leaf chewers predominantly attacked leaves (92.6%), while borers were more concentrated in stems (approx. 4x higher than inflorescences).
Conclusions:
- The study confirms the consistency of Amaranthus-associated insect guilds globally and highlights the impact of the plant's origin on species richness.
- Distinct temporal and spatial distributions of insect guilds necessitate tailored pest management strategies.
- Understanding these dynamics is key to developing integrated pest management (IPM) programs for Amaranthus.
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