ssessing the importance of vines and trees for Hemíptera (Insecta) in a canopy from Panama

Abstract

The order Hemiptera is a rich and diverse taxon in habits and species, some of which are considered pests of agricultural crops. Added to this, human activity generates impacts that unbalance the ecosystem, such as the drastic reduction of wild vegetation in favor of urban projects. Parque Natural Metropolitano (PNM) is a protected area located in the city of Panama, Panama; which has several species of trees and vines that can serve as shelter for insects. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the importance of vines in comparison with trees for the order Hemiptera. As these are sap-sucking insects, they may have preferences for vines, due to certain characteristics such as increased leaf mass production. A random sampling was carried out in the canopy of PNM (8º59’24” N, 79º33’00” W). According to the results, a total of 584 biting-sucking insects (Hemiptera) were collected, belonging to 20 families and 92 species: 53 species in trees and 61 in vines, with 24 species in common. The insect communities in trees were more similar to each other than to the insect communities in vines. Also, although some families of insects, such as Tingidae, may prefer vines, this may be due to a specific relationship of the insect to the plant species, rather than the habit of the plant. In conclusion, vines are important constituents, together with trees, for the establishment of trophic interactions with Hemiptera in the ecosystem, requiring future continuation of this kind of research.