Entomofauna Associated with Corn Cultivation and Damage Caused by Some Pests According to the Planting Season on the Ecuadorian Coast
Dorys T. Chirinos,
Fernando Sánchez-Mora,
Freddy Zambrano,
Jessenia Castro-Olaya,
Gregorio Vasconez,
Galo Cedeño,
Kevin Pin,
Jeison Zambrano,
Viviana Suarez-Navarrete,
Vicente Proaño,
Julio Mera-Macias,
Carlos Vasquez
Affiliations
Dorys T. Chirinos
Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí (UTM), Portoviejo 130105, Manabí, Ecuador
Fernando Sánchez-Mora
Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí (UTM), Portoviejo 130105, Manabí, Ecuador
Freddy Zambrano
Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí (UTM), Portoviejo 130105, Manabí, Ecuador
Jessenia Castro-Olaya
Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí (UTM), Portoviejo 130105, Manabí, Ecuador
Gregorio Vasconez
Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias y Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ), Av. Quito, Quevedo 120301, Los Ríos, Ecuador
Galo Cedeño
Carrera de Ingeniería Agrícola, Escuela Superior Politécnica Agropecuaria de Manabí Manuel Félix López (ESPAM), vía Calceta-El Morro, Calceta 130601, Manabí, Ecuador
Kevin Pin
Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí (UTM), Portoviejo 130105, Manabí, Ecuador
Jeison Zambrano
Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias y Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ), Av. Quito, Quevedo 120301, Los Ríos, Ecuador
Viviana Suarez-Navarrete
Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí (UTM), Portoviejo 130105, Manabí, Ecuador
Vicente Proaño
Carrera de Ingeniería Agrícola, Escuela Superior Politécnica Agropecuaria de Manabí Manuel Félix López (ESPAM), vía Calceta-El Morro, Calceta 130601, Manabí, Ecuador
Julio Mera-Macias
Departamento de Ciencias Agronómicas, Universidad Técnica de Manabí (UTM), Portoviejo 130105, Manabí, Ecuador
Carlos Vasquez
Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Campus Querochaca, Universidad Técnica de Ambato (UTA), vía Cevallos-Quero, Ambato 180104, Tungurahua, Ecuador
Corn (Zea mays L.) is an important cereal for food sovereignty, extensively planted due to its adaptation to various agroecological conditions. Climatic conditions and pests can affect its production. Concerning the latter, natural enemies could be considered in biological control programs. The objective of this study was to estimate the influence of the presence of insects, damage to plants and cobs, and their incidence on corn yield in two planting seasons. During the rainy (February to May) and dry seasons (Jun to October) of the year 2023, in Calceta, Lodana, and Quevedo, three important corn-growing areas on the Ecuadorian coast, corn plots of 1126 m2 were planted. The diversity of phytophagous and natural enemies was estimated. Damage to young plants and cobs was observed, and corn yield was determined. Of the 9073 insects observed, 44.2% and 55.8% constituted phytophagous and natural enemies, respectively. A moderate diversity (Shannon-H Index = 2.474–2.629 and Margalef Index = 2.734–3.110) of insects associated with corn was determined. Yield (range: 6.9 to 15.3 t) was negatively correlated with rainfall and cob damage (p < 0.05). Although precipitation is necessary for planting in rainy season, frequent and intense rains could be affect corn yield.
