Abstract
We report for the first time that larvae of the genus Bothynus Hope (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) caused economic damage to lucerne (Medicago sativa L., Fabaceae) crops in General Acha, province of La Pampa, Argentina. In two consecutive years (2021 and 2022), this insect infested 150 ha of lucerne, causing seedling losses of 80 ha. Based on soil sampling and laboratory insect rearing, the species was identified as Bothynus striatellus (Faimaire) (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae). Information is given here on the damage recorded in this forage crop, the density of the larvae observed at the time of damage assessment and the morphological characteristics of the third instar larvae reported in this crop in Argentina.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Dr. Paulo Duarte (Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Brazil) for confirming the identification of the Bothynus species and for the data provided.
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S. N. conceptualization, S. N., G. L. and R. F. M. conducted the insect sampling, data analysis, writing-original draft, and writing-review. G. L. contributed to insect rearing and S. N. editing. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.
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Niveyro, S., Lara, G. & Madero, R.F. First Report of Bothynus striatellus (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) Damaging Lucerne Crops in Argentina. Neotrop Entomol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-024-01184-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-024-01184-z