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Abstract
The native range of
Miconia calvescens extends into southern Mexico, but no surveys of its natural enemies had previously been done in Mexico. In August 2006 we conducted a 2-week survey of the state of Chiapas to locate populations of
Miconia calvescens and to identify insect and other natural enemy species present on it that might have potential as biological control agents.
M. calvescens was found to be present in Chiapas, although at very low population densities. Seven locations were found in two separate areas, one east of the Lagunas de Montebello National Park, and the other in the municipality of Ocosingo, near the Metzabok Natural Area. All locations of
M. calvescens were in shaded secondary roadside vegetation between about 450 m and 1,100 m elevation. All plants were in the vegetative stage except for one that had flower buds. A number of insect species were collected, including larvae of Riodinidae, Geometridae, and Megalopygidae (Lepidoptera). A habitat analysis was conducted to identify further areas in the state of Chiapas that might be suitable habitat for
M. calvescens. It is recommended that further surveys of areas identified as potential habitat for
M. calvescens should be conducted at other times of year to locate additional populations and to further document its natural enemies. Planting cohorts of
M. calvescens seedlings in areas where it occurs naturally could provide useful information on the role of natural enemies in its population dynamics, and assist in identifying suitable biological control agents.
Citation
McClay, A.; Gómez y Gómez, B.; Beutelspacher, C. R.; Johnson, T. 2010. First survey for Miconia calvescens and its natural enemies in southern Mexico. In: Loope, L.L., J.-Y. Meyer, B.D. Hardesty and C.W. Smith (eds.), Proceedings of the International Miconia Conference, Keanae, Maui, Hawaii, May 4-7, 2009, Maui Invasive Species Committee and Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawaii at Manoa. www.hear.org/conferences/miconia2009/proceedings/
