Tree infection by Hypsipyla grandella in Swietenia macrophylla and Cedrela odorata (Meliaceae) in Mexico's southern Yucatan Peninsula

Abstract

In small-scale plantations (0.5–2 ha) of Swietenia macrophylla King (big-leaf mahogany) and Cedrela odorata L. (Spanish cedar) in the southern Yucatan Peninsula, we evaluated whether the proportion of Hypsipyla grandella (mahogany shoot borer) was affected by the species used in the plantation ( S. macrophylla, C. odorata or both) or by the density and height of individuals planted. We found that the proportion of infected individuals did not differ between the species used in plantations, either planted as monocultures or in mixed plantations. The proportion of infected S. macrophylla and C. odorata individuals in plantations differed among locations and was affected by the mean height of planted individuals, but was not affected by the density of individuals planted.