Resumen de Distribución altitudinal de trichobaris championi barber (coleoptera: curculionidae) y observaciones de campo sobre su biología
Roberto A. Huerta-Paniagua, Néstor Bautista Martínez, Hiram Bravo-Mojica, José L. Carrillo-Sánchez, Ovidio Díaz Gómez
Husk tomato is affected by several insect pests. Recently, the husk tomato weevil Trichobaris championi Barber (Coleoptera:
Curculionidae) has become the most important insect pest of this crop of the High Plateau of Puebla, México. There is little information on the geographical and altitudinal distribution of this insect or on its biology and habits. Observations and collections were done in the States of Puebla, Morelos and México to determine presence, altitudinal distribution and degree of infestation in husk tomato. Also, field observations were made abouts its biology and habits. The insect is present in three States: at Puebla, on the High Plateau, between 2055 and 2190 m with (A)Cb(w0)(w) and Bs1kw(w) climates, with 68.9 to 87.3% infestation; in Morelos, at 1720 m with a (A) Cb(w1)(w) climate, with 58.0% infestation; in the State of México between 2240 and 2250 m with a Cb(w0)(w) climate, and 8.9 to 9.3% infestation. The insect, were not detected below 1720 m. A positive correlation (0.64; p=0.01) was found between the altitude and average larval infestation. The insects were collected in the Neartic biogeographic region (for vertebrates) and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt province; no specimens were collected in the neo-tropical region. Regarding biology and habits, the insect attacks the crops between the 3rd and 7th day after transplant. This serves as a guideline for timely pest control within the first two weeks of crop establishment.
