Entomofauna present in the initial stage of development of trees planted in broadleaf forest, Panzos, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

Abstract

Subtropical rainforests are one of the most important ecosystems for preserving life on the planet. Determining the entomofauna associated with a vegetative region of interest provides information that can be used in biodiversity, species richness, or abundance studies, or in plant health–related topics. The objective of this research was to determine the entomofauna present during the initial development stage of trees planted in a broadleaf forest. Direct inspection sampling was conducted in stands in the early stages of development; insects were collected and taxonomically identified to genus and species. The abundance and diversity of the entomofauna, the climatic factors affecting these populations, and the potentially pest insects were analyzed. Four taxonomic orders were identified in the total collections made during the three-month field study: Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Orthoptera, of which 14 families were identified: Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Chrysomelidae, Lycidae, Bruchidae; Hemiptera: Cicadellidae, Ligaeoidea, Coreidae, Membracidae, Acanaloniidae; Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Formicidae, Orthoptera: Acridiadae, Tettigonidae, Grillidae, 30 genera and nine species. The order with the greatest diversity of collected species was Coleoptera (31%), followed by Hemiptera and Orthoptera (28% each); however, Orthoptera accounted for the highest number of captures, representing 39% of all specimens collected. Stands with greater tree species diversity had fewer phytophagous insects. It was determined that in December, when the average temperature dropped by 2°C, this condition affected the abundance and diversity of insects.