Spatial distribution of Phyllophaga vandinei (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) emergence within and around a mamey sapote orchard

Abstract

Evidence to support the hypothesis that more P. vandinei would be caught in traps placed to the west of the tree was only observed in 2008. In 2009 cages placed to the east of host trees were as effective as cages placed to the west of the tree and cages placed at the base of the tree trapped more beetles than cages placed between host trees or cages placed in an adjacent field. Cone emergence cages placed in an adjacent field caught significantly fewer adults the second year but cages within the orchard caught similar numbers of beetles the first and second years, except traps to the east of the tree, which caught more beetles the second year. This suggests that ovipositionmay be occurring not at the base of the host trees as has been thought, but in adjacent grass fields.