Geographical Distribution of Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Mexico
Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), commonly known as Bagrada bug or painted bug, is a major pest of commercial cruciferous plants. It is an Old World insect native to Africa, Asia, and southern Europe (Taylor et al. 2015, Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 108: 536–551). Bagrada hilaris was first discovered in the United States in 2008 in Los Angeles, CA (Huang et al. 2014, Crop Prot. 59: 7–13). Since then, it has rapidly expanded its range into Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and west Texas (Reed et al. 2013, Int. J. Pest Manag. 4: 1–7). Bagrada hilaris feeds on apical meristems, cotyledons, and leaves of cruciferous hosts, causing economic losses (Palumbo 2014, Veg. West 18: 18–20). Seedling mortality reportedly reached 60% in some fields in California in 2009 (Reed et al. 2013).
Bagrada hilaris was first reported in Mexico at Saltillo, state of Coahuila (Sánchez-Peña 2014, Southwest. Entomol. 39: 375–377). Severe crop damage has already been observed in Sonora state. In Saltillo, it has been observed feeding on broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), London rocket (Sisymbrium irio L.), and wild arugula (Eruca sativa [L.] Miller). The potential impact of this pest in cruciferous crop production is considerable for Mexico, with 40,000 ha in cole crop production in 2014 (Servicio de Información Agroalimentaria y Pesquera [SIAP], 2014. Accessed 20 Sep 2015. www.siap.gob.mx.). Several generations can develop per year; specific natural enemies were absent in Saltillo (R.I.T.A. and S.R.S.P. unpubl. obs.). In 2014, the main states producing broccoli were in central Mexico: Guanajuato (292,345 t), Michoacán (45,878 t), and Puebla (26,002 t). The main states producing radish were Puebla (13,271 t), Sonora (5,964 t), and Baja California (5,598 t) (SIAP 2014). Herein, we report information on the geographical distribution of the Bagrada bug in Mexico as a baseline for future biological and management studies of this pest.
Fields were surveyed and monitored for the pest, and information on its possible occurrence was requested from entomologists in various states of Mexico from May 2014 to September 2015. Sampling targeted Brassicaceae, particularly broccoli and weeds (e.g., London rocket, wild arugula), using sweep nets and visual examination of individual plants.
The survey efforts confirmed the occurrence of Bagrada bug in six states in northern Mexico, encompassing thousands of square kilometers (Table 1). The presence of this insect in Gomez Palacio and Durango indicates that it might reach important cruciferous-producing areas in central and eastern Mexico. Neighboring states are also producers of broccoli, cabbage, and radish. Effective monitoring and management strategies for Bagrada bug (including classical biological control and chemical control) must be developed to prevent damage to cole crops in Mexico.
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