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Effects of Parasitism on the Population Growth of Toumeyella martinezae (Coccidae) in the Presence of Its Mutualistic Ant Liometopum apiculatum (Formicidae) in an Arid Region of Central Mexico

Alicia Callejas-Chavero,C. F. Vargas-Mendoza,Humberto González-Villa,Arturo Flores-Martínez

Published 2025 in Insects

ABSTRACT

Simple Summary Pests in agroecosystems reduce crop productivity. Parasitoid wasps are effective biological control agents for agricultural pests; however, their role in natural ecosystems remains uncertain. In the arid regions of central Mexico, the soft scale insect Toumeyella martinezae infests the cactus Myrtillocactus geometrizans, the fruits of which are highly valued locally. This scale insect maintains a mutualistic relationship with ants and is targeted by a parasitoid wasp. We evaluated the effect of the ant presence on the parasitoid’s effectiveness in controlling the scale insect. Using exclusion experiments, we measured parasitism rates and scale population growth under varying combinations of ant and parasitoid presence. Parasitoids reduced scale population growth, but not sufficiently for effective pest control. Ant presence was more important in sustaining scale populations with positive growth rates. Effective management of this pest should therefore focus on reducing the ants’ protective role, with parasitoids used as a complementary strategy.

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