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The Diatraea Complex (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Colombia’s Cauca River Valley: Making a Case for the Geographically Localized Approach

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Abstract

The sugarcane stem borers Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) and D. indigenella Dyar & Heinrich are common pests of sugarcane crops in Colombia’s Cauca river valley (CRV). In 2012, however, D. tabernella Dyar was recorded for the first time in northern CRV and just 1 year later, D. busckella Dyar & Heinrich was detected, also for the first time, in central CRV. The Diatraea outbreak in the CRV was studied, its distribution and population in the region was analyzed, and levels of larval parasitism were observed. During the study of the outbreak, Diatraea species in the CRV were characterized based on the morphology of larval, pupal, and adult stages. Keys to the identification of Diatraea in the CRV based on male genitalia and pupa are provided. Pupal cephalic horns and lateral lobes were discovered as new, reliable characteristics to separate the species at the pupal stage. We suggest biological control program modifications to decrease economic impact and studies at geographically localized levels to better understand the dynamics between the pest species and their parasitoids.

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Acknowledgments

We thank professionals and collaborators from different sugarcane mills that helped in coordinating and executing field collections: Amanda Villegas and Isabel Cristina Molina, Ingenio Risaralda; Armando González, Ingenio Mayagüez, Jorge Tafur, Sebastian Londoño and Ricardo Palomino, Ingenio Manuelita; Napoleón Bernal, Ingenio Carmelita; María F. Montenegro and Alexander Bohorquez, Ingenio Riopaila-Castilla, Yohanna Melo, Ingenio Pichichí; Carlos Rodríguez and Alberto Roldán, Ingenio Sancarlos, Yolanda Gutierrez, Incauca and Ingenio Providencia, Pedro Bastidas, Ingenio La Cabaña; Frank Bohorquez and Erasmo Rojas, Ingenio María Luisa. We are also grateful to Claudia Echeverri, Luis Bolaños, Luis Arboleda, Orlando Rojas, Cristian Naranjo, Edison Quiñones, and Nelson Tipas; from the Colombian Sugarcane Research Center, Cenicaña; for technical assistance in insect’s maintenance in laboratory. We thank also Alcira Arias (Cenicaña) for assistance with figures, Juan Manuel Valencia and Fabio Andrés Herrera (Cenicaña), for assistance with distribution maps, and Lynn Menendez for editorial assistance. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the United States Department of Agriculture, USDA. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Correspondence to G Vargas.

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Edited by André VL Freitas – UNICAMP

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Vargas, G., Lastra, L.A., Ramírez, G.D. et al. The Diatraea Complex (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Colombia’s Cauca River Valley: Making a Case for the Geographically Localized Approach. Neotrop Entomol 47, 395–402 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-017-0555-6

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