Efecto de la sombra en plantas de caoba sobre la incidencia de Hypsipyla grandella Zeller y otros insectos, en Tabasco, México

the effect of shade (0, 40 and 80%) on mahogany plants (swietenia macrophylla king.) in regard to the prevalence of the borer hypsipyla grandella zeller (lepidoptera: pyralidae) and other insects, was evaluated in the region of la chontalpa, tabasco, mexico. the greatest occurrence of h. grandella was recorded in plants growing without any shade. the presence of phyllocnistis meliacella becker (lepidoptera: gracillariidae), antaeotricha ribbei zeller (lepidoptera: stenomidae) and clastoptera laenata fowler (hemiptera: cercopidae) was similar in all three percentages of shade. exophthalmus sp. (coleoptera: curculionidae) was the species present on plants with 40 and 80% shade, with a greater occurrence in plants with 80% shade. mahogany trees under 0 and 40% shade tended to be attacked mainly by heliothrips haemorrhoidalis bouché (thysanoptera: thripidae). statistical analyses (tukey, p < 0.05) revealed significant differences for the 0% shade for h. grandella, and for the 40% and 80% shades for exophthalmus sp. and h. haemorrhoidalis. in conclusion, the absence of shade on young mahogany plants creates a condition that strongly favours the presence of h. grandella, as well as an environment that is not beneficial for the presence of exophthalmus sp.