Spatial distribution of Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari in coffee agroecosystems of the Peruvian central rain forest

Abstract

Patterns of spatial distribution of insect pests such as Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari can vary according to environmental or physiological conditions; the variations of the vegetation that take place when managing the shade in the coffee agroecosystems, modify the floristic diversity, an im-portant factor when understanding the distribution of insects and their natural regulators. The ob-jective of the study was the evaluation of the spatial distribution of Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari under different states of floristic diversity in coffee agroecosystems of the central jungle of Peru: El Oconal, Alto Kimiriki and Río Venado, starting from the hypothesis that the various interactions between organisms are found in the areas of greatest floristic diversity. From the study of floristic diversity in these places through diversity indexes; the incidence of H. hampei was compared in eight permanent plots that included 10 coffee plants, installed in each of the sectors for a period of six months. With the obtained data, a Kernel density spatial analysis was performed with the ArcGIS® software. The spatial distribution of the insect was conditioned to the sectors of greater vegetation and shade. The floristic diversity did not have a direct effect on the spatial distribution of H. Hampei in the study sites.