Forest insects present in Mexico
The book 'Forest Insects of Mexico' provides detailed information on forestry pests present in Mexico. For each species, a short description of the morphology, host plants, distribution in Mexico, biology, damage, importance and management is given. In addition, many colour pictures illustrate the species described and the damage they cause. The EPPO Secretariat has extracted new data (indicated in bold) on the geographical distribution concerning forestry pests of plant quarantine importance to the EPPO region. The importance of these pests to Mexico is also briefly indicated.
Dendroctonus adjunctus (EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Distrito Federal, Durango, Guerrero, Jalisco, Estado de México, Michoacán, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Sonora, Tlaxcala, Veracruz.
Major pest of pine forests at altitudes above 2,800 m.
Dendroctonus brevicomis (EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, Zacatecas. This confirms earlier reports appearing in PQR.
Generally, it is not considered as an important forest pest.
Dendroctonus frontalis (EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Chiapas, Durango, Estado de México, Guerrero, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca.
One of the most important forest pest in conifer forests of Mexico at altitudes of 2,000 m, especially in areas where trees are of slow growth and poor shape.
Dendroctonus ponderosae (EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Baja California.
In Baja California, it is important in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir, where it infests small groups of trees, and these trees have a high social value as they are scarce.
Dendroctonus pseudotsugae (EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Chihuahua, Durango.
Limited importance because of limited distribution of the host in Mexico, but considered as a serious threat because it can kill mature Pseudotsuga trees.
Gnathotrichus sulcatus (EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Distrito Federal, Durango, Estado de México, Hidalgo, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz.
In temperate forests, it is one of the most important wet wood borer species. Damage cause a quality reduction of sawn wood.
Hyphantria cunea (EPPO A2 quarantine pest): Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas.
It is an important pest in fruit tree culture and in urban forestry.
Ips calligraphus (EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Chiapas, Estado de México, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Sinaloa, Veracruz. Considered as one of the most important Ips species because of its wide distribution in Mexico and the damage it may cause.
Ips confusus (EPPO A1 quarantine pest) ; I. hoppingi: Baja California, Chihuahua, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí. As these two species are indistinguishable morphologically, the authors have described them together.
During drought periods, they can kill numerous trees but under normal conditions they are secondary.
Ips grandicollis (EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Chiapas, Chihuahua, Colima, Durango, Estado de México, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Puebla, Sinaloa, Veracruz. The authors report that I. grandicollis is also present in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. All these country records (including Mexico) are new according to the EPPO Secretariat.
Only branches of fallen trees are infested, it does not attack living trees.
Ips lecontei (EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Chiapas, Chihuahua, Colima, Durango, Jalisco, Oaxaca, Sonora. This confirms earlier reports appearing in PQR.
It can cause damage after prolonged droughts, and young trees may be killed.
Ips pini (EPPO A1 quarantine pest): Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora. This confirms earlier reports appearing in PQR.
It is considered as one of the most important Ips species.
Sources
Cibrián Tovar, D.; Médenz Montiel, J.T.; Campos Bolaños, R.; Yates III, H.O.; Flores Lara, J. (1995) Forest insects of Mexico. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, México, 453 pp.