Two new species of Coelinius Nees (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) from Mexico.

Two new species, Coelinius carmenae Figueroa, Sánchez, and Kula, n. sp. and Coelinius danielae Figueroa, Sánchez, and Kula, n. sp., from Mexico are described and illustrated. These are the first records of Coelinius sensu Wharton (1994) reported from Mexico. Four Nearctic species, Coelinius mahackemoi (Viereck), stat. rev., Coelinius meromyzae Forbes, stat. rev., Coelinius nigripes Ashmead, stat. rev., and Coelinius occom (Viereck), stat. rev. are returned to Coelinius Nees from Coelinidea Viereck. Coelinius longulus Ashmead, stat. rev. is returned from Lepton Zetterstedt, 1838 nec Turton, 1822 to Coelinius. Coelinius linearis (Provancher), n. comb. is transferred from Coelinidea to Coelinius.

Lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides on Engytatus varians (Heteroptera: Miridae), a predator of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

The mirid Engytatus varians (Distant) is a promising biological control agent of the tomato borer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), one of the most destructive pests of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The effects of five insecticides commonly used on tomato crops in Brazil were evaluated on E. varians in laboratory and semifield conditions. Glass Petri dish with residues of chlorfenapyr, thiamethoxam, and abamectin caused ˃90% mortality in both stages of the predator 72 h post-treatment, except imidacloprid that caused 78% of nymphs mortality. Teflubenzuron caused 24 and 66% mortality on adults and nymphs, respectively. The offspring of females derived from treated nymphs with teflubenzuron was significantly lower than the control but not when females were treated as adults. Longevity of males derived from nymphs treated with teflubenzuron was significantly reduced, but no effects were observed on females. When males and females were treated as adults with teflubenzuron there were no effects on their longevity. In the greenhouse-aged tomato plants, the 2 h-old residues of thiamethoxam, chlorfenapyr, and abamectin caused more than 70% of mortality of third instar of E. varians at 72 h post-treatment, 12 day-old residues of all three compounds caused a mortality lower than 30%. These data suggest that teflubenzuron can be associated with releases of E. varians adults, while the use of other evaluated pesticides should be avoided in this situation. Although, the low persistence of these products indicate that their spraying and later releases of E. varians adults on tomato crops are a possible strategy to control T. absoluta.

Natural Parasitism of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) Collected From Two Host Plants in the Apatzingán Valley, Mexico, by Tamarixia radiata (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).

Tamarixia radiata (Waterson) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is an idiobiont ectoparasitoid of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). This study evaluated natural parasitism of the different nymphal instars of D. citri by T. radiata on three different dates in 2015 at four sites with Mexican lemon (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) groves and at one site with orange jasmine (Murraya paniculata [L.] Jacq.) plants in the Apatzingán Valley, Michoacán state. Different patterns of parasitism by T. radiata were observed among the different nymphal instars of D. citri, sites, and collection dates. No parasitism of first and second instars was observed, and it only reached up to 5.0% in third instars. In fourth and fifth instars, parasitism was highly variable (2-69 and 1-38%, respectively). In terms of the accumulated parasitism across host instars, the highest percentages were observed in the collections conducted in May in Crucero de Parácuaro (86%) and Antúnez (91%), and they were approximately 45% in the collections conducted on 23 March in Antúnez and on 10 April in Nueva Italia-2. In the remaining collections, parasitism was between 2 and 15%. Our results suggest that T. radiata is an important mortality factor for populations of D. citri; this could have potentially important implications for the biological control of D. citri and for the management of huanglongbing, a disease transmitted by D. citri, in citrus groves.

Natural Parasitism in Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Populations in Disturbed Areas Adjacent to Commercial Mango Orchards in Chiapas and Veracruz, Mexico.

To determine the natural parasitism in fruit fly populations in disturbed areas adjacent to commercial mango orchards in the states of Chiapas and Veracruz, Mexico, we recorded over one year the fruit fly-host associations, fly infestation, and parasitism rates in backyard orchards and patches of native vegetation. We also investigated the relationship between fruit size, level of larval infestation, and percent of parasitism, and attempted to determine the presence of superparasitism. The most recurrent species in trap catches was Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart), followed by Anastrepha ludens (Loew), in both study zones. The fruit infestation rates were higher in Chiapas than in Veracruz, with A. obliqua again being the most conspicuous species emerging from collected fruits. The diversity of parasitoids species attacking fruit fly larvae was greater in Chiapas, with a predominance of Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti) in both sites, although the exotic Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) was well established in Chiapas. Fruit size was positively correlated with the number of larvae per fruit, but this relationship was not observed in the level of parasitism. The number of oviposition scars was not related to the number of immature parasitoids inside the pupa of D. areolatus emerging from plum fruits. Mass releases of Di. longicaudata seem not to affect the presence or prevalence of the native species. Our findings open new research scenarios on the role and impact of native parasitoid species attacking Anastrepha flies that can contribute to the development of sound strategies for using these species in projects for augmentative biological control.

Long-term effects of methoxyfenozide on the adult reproductive processes and longevity of Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The long-term effects of methoxyfenozide on the longevity and reproductive processes of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), adults were assessed after exposure by ingestion. Methoxyfenozide significantly reduced adult male longevity compared with females by 1.1 and 1.5 d at 75 and 150 mg (AI)/liter, respectively. Fecundity decreased by >60% with both concentrations at 72 and 96 h after treatment, but at 48 h, no significant effect was observed. The carbohydrate, protein, and lipid content in the eggs were determined as representatives of the biochemical effects of methoxyfenozide associated with the disruption of reproductive processes. The content of carbohydrates in the eggs laid 48 h at treatment was similar to that of controls, but it increased by approximately 1.5 and 2-fold in eggs laid after 72 and 96 h, respectively, compared with controls (15 microg per egg). Protein content was reduced approximately 2.5 and approximately 3-fold for each treatment concentration, respectively, compared with the controls (25 and 23 microg per egg for 75 and 150 mg [AI]/liter, respectively) in eggs collected 72 and 96 h after treatment. Lipid content significantly decreased by approximately 1.6-fold in both treatment concentrations in eggs collected at 48 and 96 h after treatment compared with the controls (24 and 21 microg per egg for 48 and 96, respectively), but it was similar to controls (approximately 19 microg per egg) at 72 h (approximately 15 microg per egg) for both concentrations. The biochemical effects of methoxyfenozide on S. exigua egg formation detected in this work are consistent with the reduction in fertility observed, as reported previously.

Toxicity and sublethal effects of methoxyfenozide on Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The toxicity and sublethal effects of methoxyfenozide were evaluated in third instars of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), that fed on contaminated semisynthetic diet. The LC50 value was estimated at 0.23 mg of active ingredient (AI) /kg diet (range, 95% CI: 0.17-0.37) at 264 h after treatment. The effects on development, survival, and reproduction were observed in third instars of this pest that survived exposure to an LC25 concentration of methoxyfenozide. The larvae from the insecticide treatment exhibited lower pupal weights, an increase in both larval and pupal developmental times and a higher frequency of malformations of the wings in adults than untreated larvae. Adults from the methoxyfenozide treatment did not show reduced fecundity (mean cumulative number of eggs laid per female), but fertility as measured by the percentage of eggs hatched (fertility) was significantly reduced compared with untreated control insects. No significant effects were observed on pupal sex ratio. We concluded that the lethal and sublethal effects of methoxyfenozide are likely to have a significant impact on S. exigua populations on treated crops.