Biology and identification of white grubs (Phyllophaga) of economic importance in central America
Titel:
Biology and identification of white grubs (Phyllophaga) of economic importance in central America
Auteur:
King, A. B. S.
Verschenen in:
International journal of pest management
Paginering:
Jaargang 30 (1984) nr. 1 pagina's 36-50
Jaar:
1984-03
Inhoud:
The larvae of Phyllophaga (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae), known as white grubs, gallina ciega or joboto, are important soil-living pests in many parts of Central America, where they may cause serious though often very localised damage to the roots of maize, sorghum and other crops, and to pasture. Peasant farmers seldom take control measures against these pests, which are rarely visible and whose damage is sporadic. The economically important Phyllophaga in Central America may be separated into one- or two-year species. Those having a two-year life cycle are more prevalent in the north of the region, normally occurring at low elevations and in areas with a long dry season of 4 to 6 months. One-year species are more widely distributed at intermediate and higher elevations and in areas with a short dry season of 2 to 3 months. The life histories of P. menetriesi (Blanchard), a common one-year species, and P. elenans Saylor, a two-year species, are described. Aspects of the development of the five most common injurious species, P. menetriesi, P. elenans, P. parvisetis (Bates), P. vicina (Moser) and P. obsoleta (Blanchard), are compared. The adults of many economically important species are very similar in appearance and can be identified with confidence only by reference to the male genitalia; these are illustrated. There is also an illustrated key to the final instar larvae based on the arrangements of setal hairs (rasters) on the venters of their terminal abdominal segments.
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