Efecto de los insecticidas en el equilibrio natural de poblaciones de <i>Rothschildia aroma</i> Schaus (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) en El Salvador

Abstract

A three year period of observations, collecting, and recording data on cocoons of Rothschildia aroma Schaus showed that parasitism is still high enough (63.1%) in areas free of insecticide applications to account for a good natural balance, with moth survival being only 11.4%. In contrast, in areas where intense and continuous applications have been going on for the last ten years, the percentages have been practically reversed, parasitism reaching only 18.1% and moth survival 68.4%. Emphasis is placed on this previously cryptic case of natural biological control, and others that may have been or are being disrupted in El Salvador and other countries oE Central America.