Diversity of insects associated with the fruits of four tree species of Lauraceae from Los Tuxtlas region, Mexico: an annotated and illustrated taxonomic list

Abstract

Besides recruitment and dispersal, fruits are key resources for the maintenance of insect communities. This study is focused on the insects inhabiting the fruits of 4 wild Lauraceae species. Although the trees of this family are important elements of tropical forests, their interaction with insects, especially in association with fruits, remains poorly studied in wild tree species. Our study aims to characterize the diversity of insects associated with fruits of Damburneya ambigens, Damburneya gentlei, Damburneya salicifolia, and Nectandra turbacensis, in the rainforest of Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz. We present an illustrated taxonomic list of species, annotated with a comprehensive review of the insects’ natural history and their interactions with Lauraceae species. We reared 54 insect species from approximately 6,500 fruits, some of which represent potential new species and records for Mexico. Insect species diversity was high and differed between Lauraceae species. The reared insects comprise a wide variety of distributional ranges, feeding types, and habitats. This research provides novel information about the interactions among insects and fruits of Lauraceae and the complexity of their trophic networks in tropical rainforests. Furthermore, it evidences the importance of wild fruits as resources for insect communities.