Abstract

DIAZ-SANCHEZ, Ángel Adalberto; BARRIENTOS-LOZANO, Ludivina; ALMAGUER-SIERRA, Pedro  and  BLANCO-MACIAS, Fidel. Chromatism and morphometrics of nymphs of the Central American Locust (Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons Walker, 1870) in South Tamaulipas, Mexico. Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2015, vol.31, n.2, pp.298-305. ISSN 2448-8445.

The Central American Locust (Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons) is one of the most important pests in México and Central America. It is a polyphagous insect that causes great economic damage to agricultural crops. It exhibits two extreme phases: solitarious and gregarious. Here we document chromatic and morphometric variation of the Central American Locust (S. p. piceifrons) populations in South Tamaulipas, Mexico. The statistical analysis of correspondence showed association of population density with nymphs' chromatism. Nymphs with pink chromatism were associated with population density of 2000 or more nymphs ha^-1; nymphs with green chromatism were associated with density of 100 nymphs ha^-1. Population density of 1500 nymphs ha^-1 did not show a definite association; at this density yellow, pink or green nymphs may coexist in the same population. The linear discriminant functions analysis provided two morphometric characters that separate 100% 6^th instar nymphs of the Central American Locust according to their chromatism, these characters are: body length (LCU) and pronotum width (AP). Populations of the Central American Locust are in constant phase transition and may be differentiated on both, chromatism and morphometry.

Keywords : Central American Locust; Phases; Population density.

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