Parasitoidism Oftwo Butterflies in Two Coffee Production Systems

Abstract

Parasitoidism is an important interaction in agricultural landscapes due to its potential application in the biological control of insect pests, and its effectiveness can be modified by factors such as structure and diversity of plants. This study evaluated the parasitism of two butterflies, Mechanitis menapis (Nymphalidae: Danainae: Ithomiini) y Eurema arbela (Pieridae: Coliadinae) in coffee production systems with contrasting structure. To do this, we selected two coffee farms: One in monoculture and another under agroforestry system. We established four artificial resource patches for butterflies within plots of coffee. In addition, were labeled other host plants present in the natural vegetation and they were called natural patches. Immature stages in artificial and natural patches were quantified in four sampling events. The collected individuals were reared in the laboratory. We evaluated the effect of patch type and production system on butterflies and parasitism, and parasitoid-host density dependence. We found more adults of both Lepidoptera in the agroforestry system. M. menapis presented more immature stages in the monoculture, explained by the lower activity of predators and parasitoids in this system. E. arbela was equally abundant in both systems, but it had higher mortality in the monoculture. The parasitoids of both species were positively affected by the abundance of larvae and coffee agroforestry system. This system favored the abundance of both wild butterflies and their parasitoids. In Colombian coffee landscapes, where deforestation has been high, the coffee|agroforestry system may be important for functional biodiversity conservation.