Carolina Flota-Bañuelos

El cultivo de maíz ocupa extensas áreas agrícolas que constituyenhábitat de diversos insectos benéficos con funcionesecológicas esenciales. Entre ellas, las avispas (Vespidae)actúan como depredadoras de insectos fitófagos y las abejas(Apidae) como polinizadoras de numerosas especies vegetales.El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la diversidad ycomposición de especies de Vespidae y Apidae asociadas alcultivo de maíz bajo dos sistemas de producción en el estadode Yucatán. Los muestreos se hicieron en cuatro unidades deproducción de monocultivo y cuatro unidades de producciónde milpa. Las colectas se realizaron de mayo a septiembrecon redes entomológicas. Se obtuvieron 235 individuos entotal, de los cuales 206 corresponden a la familia Apidae y 29a Vespidae. En el sistema de monocultivo se registraron 120individuos y en la milpa 115. El monocultivo presentó unamayor riqueza observada, con 17, mientras que en la milpa seregistraron 8 especies; sin embargo, las curvas de rarefaccióny extrapolación no mostraron diferencias en la riqueza entreambos sistemas al considerar el esfuerzo de muestreo. Losíndices de Shannon-Wiener y Simpson presentaron valoresdescriptivamente mayores en el monocultivo, que en lamilpa para Vespidae y Apidae. Los resultados muestran queambos sistemas de producción mantienen comunidades deabejas y avispas, lo que resalta la importancia de conservarla biodiversidad funcional en los sistemas de producción demaíz en Yucatán.

Objective: To evaluate the sustainability of the beef cattle system in Laguna Grande, Escárcega, Campeche, through the analysis and evaluation of social, environmental, and economic indicators. Methodology: The evaluation was conducted using the Framework for the Evaluation of Natural Resource Management Systems Incorporating Sustainability Indicators (MESMIS). Information was obtained through surveys of 54 producers and through physicochemical analyses of soil and water samples from cattle systems. Social, environmental, and economic sustainability indicators were calculated, as well as the General Sustainability Index (IsGen), with the system classified as sustainable when the indicators reach a value of 2 or higher on a scale of 0 to 4. Results: Environmental indicators presented the highest value (2.12), followed by economic indicators (1.89) and social indicators (1.46). The IsGen reached a value of 1.83. Limitations: The sample was limited to producers from the community of Laguna Grande, Escárcega, Campeche; therefore, including producers from different regions, scales and trajectories would allow for a more solid view of the bovine system. Conclusions: Under current conditions, the beef cattle system is low in sustainability.

Introducción. Los parasitoides de la familia Ichneumonidae incluyen especies clave en la regulación de plagas en los agroecosistemas (Wang et al., 2019). Objetivo. Evaluar la riqueza, abundancia y diversidad de subfamilias de icneumónidos en el cultivo de maíz milpa y monocultivo. Métodos. Los muestreos se realizaron de agosto a noviembre de 2024 durante el ciclo de cultivo de maíz, en dos tipos de agroecosistemas de maíz: milpa (maíz-frijol-calabaza) y monocultivo. Las colectas se efectuaron cada 15 días mediante trampas Malaise, con un total de 14 muestreos; los ejemplares se identificaron a nivel subfamilia utilizando claves taxonómicas especializadas para Ichneumonidae (Gauld, 2000). Se determinó la riqueza de subfamilias (S) y la diversidad mediante el índice de Shannon. Resultados y discusión. Se registraron 130 individuos con mayor abundancia en milpa (93) que en monocultivo (37) y con total de siete subfamilias. La subfamilia Cremastinae dominó en ambos tipos de agrosistemas (73 individuos en milpa y 28 en monocultivo), seguida de Cryptinae (10 y 6, respectivamente) y Campopleginae (6 y 1). Lebaninae se presentó en ambos sistemas con un individuo, Ophioninae (2) y Anomaloninae (1) se registraron exclusivamente en milpa, e Ichneumoninae únicamente en monocultivo (1). El sistema milpa presentó un mayor número de individuos y una mayor riqueza de subfamilias (S = 6) en comparación con el monocultivo (S = 5). El índice de Shannon reportó valores similares entre ambos sistemas de producción, con 0.85 en monocultivo y 0.81 en milpa. Estos resultados sugieren que el cultivo de maíz favorece la presencia de hospederos de Ichneumonidae, y coinciden con estudios que reportan mayor diversidad de insectos entomófagos en sistemas diversificados como la milpa (Benrey et al., 2024; Grof-Tisza et al., 2024). Conclusión. Los sistemas de producción diversificados tipo milpa promueven mayor diversidad de subfamilias de Ichneumonidae, lo que resalta su importancia para la conservación de enemigos naturales.

Background: the use of pesticides has had a negative impact on the environment and human health. This is why sustainable alternatives, such as biorational insecticides, are being promoted. However, several studies have reported sublethal effects on beneficial insects, highlighting the need for further research. Objective: to evaluate the effects of biorational insecticides on damage caused by S. frugiperda and beneficial insect communities in corn crops. Methods: an experimental plot of hybrid corn (variety Sorent) was established in an agricultural area of the Tecnológico Nacional de México, Campus Conkal from June to August 2021. Two biorational treatments (Spinetoram and Novaluron) and one control were applied. Insects were collected using sweep nets, forceps, and aspirators, identified to the family level, and classified into functional groups. To analyze the composition of beneficial insects, Whittaker plots were constructed, and a Kruskal–Wallis test was performed to assess differences in composition and abundance among treatments. In addition, damage and parasitism rates in Spodoptera frugiperda were evaluated, and the presence of pesticides in beneficial insects was also assessed. Results: a total of 639 beneficial insects were collected from the maize crop, including 491 predators, 85 decomposers, 43 parasitoids and 20 pollinators. There were no significant differences in the number of beneficial insects in each treatment group. S. frugiperda caused visible damage to the plants, but again, there were no significant differences between the treatments. The percentage of parasitoidism obtained with the Braconidae and Tachinidae families was 13.15%. Pesticides, including insecticides such as HCH and DDT, and the herbicide glyphosate, were present in the crop. Implications: the results indicate that biorational insecticides can be integrated into pest management programs without significantly affecting beneficial insects. Conclusion: it is crucial to evaluate the long-term effects of using these products on biodiversity and the health of agroecosystems.

Objective: To evaluate different scarification methods for maax pepper seeds under humid tropical conditions. Design/methodology/approach: Maax chili pepper seeds collected in greenhouses at the Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Campeche were evaluated. These seeds were subjected to six scarification methods by immersion in a solution of coconut water (Cocos nucifera L.) (8 and 12 h); hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (5 and 10 minutes); and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) (1 and 5 minutes), plus a control treatment. The evaluation was carried out under greenhouse conditions in plastic planting trays. Results: The germination percentage and germination time of maax pepper seeds improved with all pre-germination treatments, advancing the onset of germination by up to three days compared to the control. The most effective treatments were seed immersion in coconut water for 8 and 12 h. Early seedling growth of maax pepper exceeded that of the control by 26%, 25%, 18%, and 14% in plant height, stem diameter, leaf width, and number of leaves, respectively. Study limitations/implications: Capsicum annuum L. var. Glabriusculum seeds have difficulty germinating if they are not in their natural state and are not ingested by a bird. Findings/Conclusions: Due to its plant hormone and other nutrient content, coconut water is a suitable pre-germination treatment for breaking seed dormancy and promoting early growth of maax chili peppers under tropical conditions.

Introducción. México es una región clave en la producción de maíz. En su cultivo se usan amplias extensiones de tierra, mismas que albergan gran diversidad de insectos, entre ellos los benéficos del orden Hymenoptera. Objetivo. Determinar la riqueza, abundancia y diversidad de familias de Hymenoptera en dos sistemas de manejo del cultivo de maíz: monocultivo y cultivo asociado (milpa). Métodos. El estudio se realizó de agosto a noviembre de 2024, en los municipios de Muna (monocultivo) y Peto (milpa) en Yucatán. Los insectos se colectaron con trampas Malaise y se identificaron mediante caracteres morfológicos. Se calcularon los índices de Shannon (diversidad), Simpson (dominancia) y Margalef (riqueza); también se construyeron curvas de rango-abundancia. Resultados y discusión. Se recolectaron 3 144 individuos de 31 familias. En el sistema de monocultivo se recolectó 2 051 individuos y en el sistema milpa 1 093. Las familias dominantes fueron Formicidae con 2 391 individuos, Braconidae con 233 e Ichneumonidae con 151. El sistema milpa presentó valores numéricamente más altos en los índices de diversidad de Shannon (1.89), Simpson (0.72) y Margalef (3.71), en comparación con el monocultivo, pero tales diferencias no fueron estadísticamente significativas (p > 0.05). La familia Formicidae dentro del orden Hymenoptera presenta amplia abundancia en los cultivos de maíz (Chanatásig-Vaca et al., 2011). Diferente a lo que previamente se documentó que los cultivos asociados (milpa) albergan mayor abundancia de insectos benéficos (parasitoides) que los monocultivos de maíz (Pierre et al., 2022). Conclusión. Aunque los valores numéricos de los índices de diversidad fueron mayores en el sistema milpa, no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas; por lo tanto, ambos agroecosistemas presentaron comunidades de insectos con niveles de diversidad y equidad similares.

Background: Currently, agroecosystems (AES) face problems related to climate change, soil erosion, environmental pollution, and resource degradation that directly impact sustainability. Objective: To understand the degree of sustainability of the sugarcane agroecosystem of the community of Sihochac, Champotón, Campeche, Mexico, through the analysis and evaluation of economic, environmental and sociocultural indicators. Methodology: The MESMIS method was used to define the indicators corresponding to each dimension. The information from each was gathered based on a sample of 70 farmers, calculated through the finite population formula; a questionnaire with closed questions was applied and answers with a scale of 0 to 4. Results: The sociocultural indicators obtained the highest value with 2.32, followed by the economic with 2.14, and lastly, the environmental with 0.57. The General Sustainability Index (GSI) obtained was 1.68, which indicates that the sugarcane agroecosystem is not sustainable. Implications: The sugarcane farmers manage their agroecosystems with various conventional methods, so they require using more sustainable practices to reduce the environmental impact on this crop. Conclusions: Because the sugarcane AES is not sustainable, it is necessary to implement conservation measures, for example, using varieties that are more resistant to pests and diseases which require less synthetic chemical products and promoting the use of organic fertilizers, as well as fostering social relationships and fairer and more solidary support both for farmers and for representatives of sugarcane-growing groups.

Escarabajos estercoleros (Coleoptera: Scarabeidae): alternativa para el mejoramiento en sistemas ganaderos en el sureste de México

Dicotyles tajacu faces habitat destruction, free-range poaching, and parasitism in captive animals, which causes diarrhea, weight loss, and death. This study aimed to determine the presence of nematodes and protozoa in peccaries in captivity in Campeche and Yucatán, México. The study was carried out in 2 Management Units for Wildlife Conservation (UMAs, from its name in Spanish) and 1 backyard located in Campeche, and in a Wildlife Management Farm and Facility (PIMVS, from its name in Spanish) in Yucatán, where fecal samples from 47 individuals were collected and placed in labeled polyethylene bags. In the laboratory, feces were processed by sedimentation and flotation, and gastrointestinal parasites were identified based on morphometric characteristics. The data obtained were analyzed using the χ2 test (P ≤ 0.05) in the Statistica v. 9.1 software. The peccaries of PIMVS showed a higher prevalence of parasites, with 53.3 % positive individuals, and the highest parasite load (P ≤ 0.05) due to eggs of the helminth Strongylida sp. and oocysts of the protozoan Eimeria sp. The prevalence recorded and the parasites Strongylida sp. and Eimeria sp. observed in peccaries of the PIMVS were similar to those in zoos in other countries, implying that captive peccaries are more vulnerable to endoparasitism. The determination of endoparasites in D. tajacu is relevant for animal health management in PIMVS, UMAs, and backyards to avoid zoonoses, especially before merging common spaces for the management of 2 or more species.

Actualmente la mayoría de los productores agrícolas del municipio de Champotón, Campeche, continúan realizando prácticas que desfavorecen el suelo, como son: siembra en monocultivo, uso de semillas hibridas o genéticamente modificadas, control químico irracional de plagas, enfermedades y malezas, compactación y aumento de salinidad, siendo factores que provocan la pérdida de macrofauna benéfica. Estos organismos son responsables de la descomposición de la materia orgánica, abastecimiento y ciclaje de nutrientes para plantas, y mantenimiento de la estructura del suelo. Así como retención del agua y regulación de la composición de gases atmosféricos. Por lo que su presencia es indispensable para sostener la productividad de los suelos.