Abstract
This study aimed to determine the composition and relative abundance of soil insects associated with lucumo (Pouteria lucuma L.) trees growing in the agricultural fields of the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina in Lima, Peru. In total, 12 pitfall traps were installed in a 5-ha lucumo field and samples were collected on a weekly basis for approximately 4 months (March–June). Insects in each sample were separated into morphotypes, and the number of individuals in each morphotype and date of collection were recorded. The collected insects were then identified at the Entomology Museum laboratory in Lima through comparison with museum samples and with the help of identification keys. Individuals in the orders Orthoptera (families Acrididae and Gryllidae), Dermaptera (Anisolabididae), Coleoptera (Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Tenebrionidae, Scarabaeidae and Elateridae), Blattodea (Blatellidae) and Hymenoptera (Formicidae) were identified. Among the Coleoptera, Tetracha chilensis (Laporte, 1834) (Carabidae) was the most abundant species; furthermore, Staphylinidae of the subfamily Oxytelinae and the families Elateridae (Conoderus spp.), Tenebrionidae (Epitragopsis sp.) and Scarabaeidae (Ataenius sp.) were identified. Additional taxa identified were as follow: Gryllus assimilis (Fabricius, 1775) (Gryllidae) in Orthoptera, Euborellia annulipes (Lucas, 1847) (Anisolabididae) in Dermaptera and Linepithema spp. in Hymenoptera.
Highlights
Various perennial crops, primarily fruit trees, are grown in Peru, along the coast
Primarily fruit trees, are grown in Peru, along the coast. One such tree is the lucumo (Pouteria lucuma L.), which is very important in this region, it is not sown at a large scale on the coast
66,901 insects were collected during the study period, with 96.6% of these species developing in and mainly inhabiting the soil
Summary
Primarily fruit trees, are grown in Peru, along the coast. One such tree is the lucumo (Pouteria lucuma L.), which is very important in this region, it is not sown at a large scale on the coast. Peru is considered to be the primary producer of lucuma in the international market, with Lima, Piura, Cajamarca, La Libertad, Ica and Ayacucho being the regions with the highest production Studies have been conducted on insects that affect this crop; these insects are mostly found in the canopy of trees. These studies have enabled the determination of many pests that are known today. On the contrary, limited information is available regarding the insects that inhabit the soils in which this crop is grown; Among these, potential pests, or beneficial insects can be found to the crop
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