Host-Dryinidae (Hymenoptera) interactions on edge grasses of maize agroecosystem throughout winter in Mexico

Abstract

Little is known about the host-parasitoid interactions on the edges of crops during winter. Our objective was to determine the parasitoid species that attack nymphs and adults of leafhoppers and planthoppers, and evaluate the interactions that occur during winter on maize edges. Between January and June of 2014 and 2015 leafhoppers and planthoppers with evidence of parasitism by Dryinidae (Hymenoptera) were collected on grasses that grow in maize fields margins in Mexico and were maintained alive until parasitoid adult emergence. Dryinids such as Gonatopus huggerti (Olmi), Gonatopus mimoides (Perkins), Gonatopus breviforceps (Kieffer), and Gonatopus caraibicus (Olmi) were the most common parasitoids. They attacked several leafhopper species such as Dalbulus maidis (DeLong), Balclutha incisa (Matsumura), Exitianus picatus (Gibson), and Stirellus bicolor (Van Duzee). The connection of the net was of 31%. The presence of parasitoids in winter margins highlights the importance of conserving maize edges for biological control.