Diversity and abundance of Phyllophaga and Anomala species in agroecosystems of northern Tamaulipas, Mexico

Relative abundance and diversity of Phyllophaga and Anomala species were determined using blacklight traps and soil sampling in commercial corn and sorghum fields in Rio Bravo and San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Mexico, from 1991 to 1993. The species captured most abundantly in the light traps included P. crinita (Burmeister), A. flavipennis Burmeister and A. foraminosa Bates. Other species captured less frequently included P. vexata (Horn), P. torta (LeConte), P. trichodes (Bates), P. reinhardi Saylor, P. submucida (LeConte), A. cavifrons LeConte, and A. insitiva Robinson. Reproductive flights of P. crinita occurred late in the spring, whereas the Anomala species had two flight periods, first in the spring and then during late-summer to early-fall, suggesting a bivoltine life cycle. Soil samples showed only three species associated with corn and sorghum: P. crinita (86%), A. flavipennis (11%), and A. foraminosa (3%).