Entomofauna of native tree, medicinal, or biopesticides, in agricultural farms of mariscal sucre, guayas-ecuador

Abstract

In the agricultural farms of Mariscal Sucre, Milagro-Ecuador. there are native tree species such as Muntingia calabura Linneo, Pseudobombax millei (Standl.)A. Robyns, Brugmansia candida Pers., and Tessaria integrifolia Ruiz & Pav., which are entomofauna habitats that can be beneficial or harmful to the crops of the area. This fauna and their interactions with crops are not known, nor is the farmer's perception of it. Knowing these interactions was the purpose of this research. Twelve farms of less than 10 ha that had the trees under study were evaluated. The owners were interviewed freely, informed, and consensually about their perception of the entomofauna-agricultural crops interaction. Entomophaunic samples were taken in each tree species under study. They were taken to the Laboratory of Plant Genetic Resources of the Dr. Jacobo Bucarám Ortíz University City (Agrarian University of Ecuador) for the closest possible taxonomic identification and discrimination of those with pollinating activity. 3665 individuals (three subphylum, fifteen orders and 50 families) were registered. The most represented orders were Hymenoptera (59%), Hemiptera (14%)  and Coleoptera (12%). Five pollinator groups were identified: Wasmannia auropuntacta Roger, Apis mellifera Linneo, Eristalis tenax Linneo, Family Muscidae and Family Coccinellidae. 83% of the interviewees mentioned that the studied species are not hosts of harmful entomofauna and 50% consider that they fulfill a role of pollinators or predators. This is the first contribution to the entomophaunic study of native trees in the area and it raises awareness about the need to conserve this arboreal component.