Identification of entomophagous insects in corn crops in the Santa Elena province, Ecuador

Abstract

The work was based on the identification of natural enemy insects of pest insects located in two agricultural areas of the province of Santa Elena, the communes of El Azúcar and Zapotal, where biological control had never been used. Systematic random entomological surveys were demonstrated in corn crops in these two communes. In plants affected by pests, samples of insects were taken in all stages, for their identification at the laboratory level. Collections of clutches of these insects were carried out and the eggs were counted, of these the parasitized ones were prolonged, the species of parasitoids were identified and the percentage of parasitism was calculated. In the El Azúcar commune, four types of Chrysopa were located: C. carne, C. externa, Ceraeochrysa smithi and Ceraeochrysa tucumana, in the corn crop. Telenomus remus and Trichogramma exiguum were also captured parasitizing the same Spodopthera egg clutch, as well as the coccinellids Harmonia axyridis, located in Alfalfa fields preying on green aphids. In the commune of Zapotal, Cheilomenes sexmaculata was found, reported in Peru as a new species; also the coccinellids Cycloneda sanguinea and Coleomegilla maculata were collected. These findings constitute new reports of entomophagous insects in the Ecuadorian coast and demonstrate the ecological plasticity of these parasitoids and predators.