Spatio-temporal variation of Mocis latipes (Guenée, 1852) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) populations in Brazil according to meteorological factors

Abstract

Mocis latipes (Guenée, 1852) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) has been recognized as a major owlet caterpillar associated to the herbivory of gramineaceous plants across the American continent. During outbreaks, the caterpillars are capable of completely consuming preferred hosts (grasses) and, when these hosts are destroyed, they can move to adjacent non-grass plants and cause similar damage. Meteorological variable such as temperature and humidity are described as factors that affect the development and abundance of M. latipes. This paper aimed to describe and compare the spatial and temporal distribution of M. latipes in different locations in Brazil and to evaluate the influence of meteorological variables on the temporal range. A total of 12 locations were evaluated, in each collection point light traps were installed near cultivated areas. In order to understand the influence of meteorological variables on the abundance of M. latipes, the data were analyzed using a Generalized Linear Model according to Poisson regression. A linear regression was also used to verify the relation between the abundance and the latitude. A total of 1,985 moths were collected. The highest collections were in Amazon and Cerrado biomes. Results show that abundance was inversely related to increasing latitude and Poisson regression analysis indicated that the main meteorological variables were significantly related to abundance at each site. This study shows that due to the high preference for gramineas and the high temperature requirements (30°C), M. latipes is an important species in hot regions and regions with hight humidity. Furthurmore, even in higher latitudes, in subtropical areas, during summer months, populations can Rapidly growth being able to cause economic damages.

IDENTIFICACIÓN TAXONÓMICA DE Mocis latipes Guenée (LEPIDOPTERA: EREBIDAE) EN PASTOS FORRAJEROS DE VERACRUZ, MÉXICO

“…La especie M. latipes es un insecto polífago y voraz que se alimenta de pastos forrajeros, avena, algodón, soya, trigo, maíz, sorgo, alfalfa, caña de azúcar, arroz y algunas plantas silvestres (Lourenção et al, 1982;Cruz y Santos, 1983;Lübeck et al, 1995;Zanuncio et al, 1995;Gallo et al, 2002;Kahl et al, 2018). En el Continente de América, su distribución abarca del norte de Canadá hasta Brazil (Cruz y Santos, 1983;Silva et al, 1991;Assunção-Albuquerque et al, 2010;Claudino et al, 2021). En el presente trabajo se reporta por primera vez en el estado de Veracruz, México al lepidóptero M. latipes alimentándose de P. maximum cv.…”

“…Ambos pastos mejorados son resistentes al salivazo Aeneolania postica, pero al ser cultivados como monocultivos son más susceptibles a ser devastados por otras plagas (UNIPASTO, 2017; Velasco et al, 2018). La implementación de buenas prácticas agrícolas, como la rotación de cultivos y los policultivos permiten disminuir la ocurrencia de éstas (Zepeda-Jazo, 2018), por ejemplo Mocis latipes o el falso medidor de los pastos tiene importancia económica en Brasil, Cuba, Venezuela y Argentina con altas infestaciones en P. maximum y Cynodon plectostachyus, en bajas poblaciones en Pennisetum purpureum, Brachiaria decumbens, B. decumbens, Digitaria insularis, Setaria italica y Cenchrus echinatus (Silva y Neves, 1984;Assunção-Albuquerque et al, 2010;Claudino et al, 2021).…”

Cutworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in central Brazil Savanna: temporal distribution and association of species abundance with climatic and meteorological factors

“…2019; Claudino et al . 2021) are strongly affected by the marked seasonality in the Cerrado. Not less important, also the spatio‐temporal distribution of crops plays a role in the temporal distribution and abundances of species of agricultural importance, regardless of the local ecosystem.…”

“…The temporal distribution and abundances of species in their natural environments (Scherrer et al 2013;Freire & Diniz 2015) and species of agricultural importance (Fonseca-Medrano et al 2019;Claudino et al 2021) are strongly affected by the marked seasonality in the Cerrado. Not less important, also the spatio-temporal distribution of crops plays a role in the temporal distribution and abundances of species of agricultural importance, regardless of the local ecosystem.…”

Phenology of the semiaquatic caterpillar Paracles klagesi and its response to environmental changes

“…Abiotic factors in different biomes influence the abundance of a species, such that the phenological pattern is shaped by the environment. For example in a study on Mocis latipes in the humid tropical forest, its adult individual population abundance peaked in the rainy months (July, August and September); in the same period, the Cerrado biome had a low abundance of adult individuals (Claudino et al 2021). Additionally, it was during the Cerrado's dry season that the immature stages were at their highest abundance (Morais et al 1999;Bendicho-L opez et al 2006).…”