Insects Associated with Quinoa, Chenopodium quinoa, in Colorado

Abstract

abstract: quinoa Willd. is a cultivated to Quinoa, Chenopodium (Chenopodiaceae) crop endemic the Andes of South America and grown primarily for its seed. Recently, interest in the plant has greatly increased in North America. Limited production of this crop occurs in the United States, primarily in the Rocky Mountain centered in Colorado. Observations of insects associated with region, the crop in Colorado indicate that it shares much of the fauna previously described from both sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and lambsquarters [C. alba (L.)]. Significant seedling injury is caused by the plant bugs Melanotrichus (Uhler) and Atomoscelis modestus coagulatus (Van Duzee), and by the seed bug, Nysius raphanus Howard. Foliar feeding species include two leafminers, a fly Pegomyia hyoscyami (Panzer) and a beetle Monoxia nr. pallida Blake; a leafcurling aphid, Hayhurstia atriplicis (L.); and various foliar feeding Lepidoptera, notably Spodoptera exigua (Hübner). The foot feeding aphid, Pemphigus populivenae Fitch, causes significant injury during the late season. Lygus spp. plant bugs appear to be the major phytophagous species associated with injuries to the developing seeds. Various entomophagous ans saprophytic species frequently collected are also reported.