Introduction
Insects make up a large part of the overall diversity in agricultural landscapes and encompass a broad range of functional groups (). They do not only represent agricultural pest species, insects also serve as biological control agents, provide pollination services, and form an important food resource for many vertebrates in agricultural landscapes ( ).
An increasing number of studies show that the intensification of land uses and homogenization in agricultural landscapes, with the aim of increasing food supply, decreases biodiversity. At the local field scale, increased uses of crop monocultures, greater inputs of fertilizers and pesticides, and decreased within-field heterogeneity may affect species diversity and composition and the provision of ecosystem services to agricultural productivity ().
In the Alto Valle de Río Negro and Neuquén provinces, in the north of the Argentinian Patagonia, the main economic-productive development is linked to fruit production of pears and apples. The second most important activity, in terms of arable land area and impact on the rural economy, is horticultural production (). In this region, both the fruit and vegetable production models can be described as systems highly dependent on chemical inputs for pest management and fertilization (,). Besides, the progress of the real estate market and subsequent urbanization on former production areas is affecting the region's biodiversity due to habitat fragmentation.
These productive activities take place within a dynamic and heterogeneous landscape. Horticulture farms are surrounded by fruit productive orchards, abandoned orchards, patches and corridors of spontaneous vegetation and poplar "shelterbelts” (e.g, ). This landscape heterogeneity provides resources such as nectar and pollen from a diversity of flowering plants, a variety of preys or hosts, and overwintering and nesting habitat for pollinators and predatory insects, which may regúlate the incidence of pests and promote the presence of beneficial insects in crops.
Agroecological management has been proposed as an alternative to conventional agricultural management due to its alleged ability to rehabilitate degraded ecosystem services ().
The knowledge of the entomological fauna present in productive systems is important for the agroecological approach, since beneficial insects are a key resource for pest management in horticultural systems, allowing a decrease in the use of agrochemicals, and providing other services such as pollination. The maintenance and management of agrobiodiversity is one of the most promising strategies in the search for sustainable agroecosystems. There is a growing consensus that a greater agrobiodiversity in its different dimensions (spatial, temporal, and structural) provides essential ecological services in agroecosystems ( ). The growing demand for productive systems with less dependence on chemical inputs promotes the search for management strategies to strengthen ecological processes weakened by a decrease in diversity.
In order to design productive systems with an agroecological approach, it is essential to have scientific information on the biodiversity present in a given area and the ecological function and/or feeding habits of the insects. For example, the order Hymenoptera includes families with a broad heterogeneity of functions: predators (e.g, Vespidae), pollinators (e.g, Apidae), and parasitoids (e.g, Braconidae).
The scientific knowledge of the insect fauna of the Alto Valle de Río Negro and Neuquén is scarce and strongly associated with pome fruit production for export markets, as illustrated by the following contributions: Hymenoptera (; ;), Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha (; ), Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha (; ;); Lepidoptera (;); Neuroptera (), Diptera (Santadino et al., 2015) and Coleoptera (Curculionidae) ().
The aim of this study is to carry out an inventory of the biodiversity of some families of Hemiptera, Coleoptera (Curculionidae) and Hymenoptera present in rural and peri-urban horticultural farms, taking into account tomato and pepper crops and the surrounding non- cultivated areas (as spontaneous vegetation, abandoned fruit orchards, and poplar shelterbelts).
Study area
Alto Valle de Río Negro and Neuquén is situated in the north of the Argentinian Patagonia, along parallel 39° S and meridians 68° to 66° W (). It develops along the lower basin of Limay and Neuquén rivers and the upper basin of Río Negro river, as seen in Figure 1. Natural and semi-natural habitats, urban centers, peripheries and rural areas are alternated along almost 130 km. The Alto Valle is a long strip about 6 to 20 km wide. The arable land with the highest quality is located near the river terraces of Limay, Negro and Neuquén rivers.
The climate is temperate and semiarid, with an average annual temperature between 13.6 °C and 14.5 °C and thermal amplitude between 16.1 °C and 17.7 °C. The rainfall varies between 130 and 170 mm per year, depending on the locality, with a slightly progressive increase from west to east.
It is an area of strong winds higher than 4 m/s on average, with predominant direction southwest-west. The typical vegetation is composed of shrubs of the genera Larrea ("jarillas") (L. divaricata Cav., L. cuneifolia Cav. and exceptionally L. nítida Cav.) and some Prosopis L. such as P alpataco Phil. ("alpataco"), or Schinus (S. johnstonii F.A. Barkley ("molle"). Permanent and ephemeral grasses grow under these shrubs, although in some areas this vegetation has changed due to the implementation of gravity irrigation system. The usual summer water deficit is mainly supplied by a channel network derived from the Limay, Neuquén and Negro rivers.
In the Alto Valle region, horticultural activities are mostly performed by small and medium farmers. The most important crops are tomatoes, peppers, carrots, pumpkins, lettuce, and other vegetables. The farm activities show strong seasonality depending on the climate (e.g, summer water stress, frost, strong winds, hail) (,).
Localities studied. The coexistence of peri-urban and rural farms is frequent in the Alto Valle, for that reason we selected one peri-urban farm located on the eastern side of Plottier city (38°57’02.5” S; 68°12’29.5” W), Neuquén province and a rural one located in Campo Grande (38°41’11.5” S; 68°11’25.6” W), Río Negro province. The first one is about 6 hectares in size and belongs to a larger pear orchard (25 hectares in size), abandoned 10 years ago. Currently, this orchard is surrounded by real estate projects with different levels of development (Fig. 1a). The rural farm is about 3 hectares, located in a fruit production area of the Alto Valle. About 20 years ago this area was a pome orchard surrounded by other fruit and vegetable farms. The plot for cultivation is adjacent to the abandoned pear orchard (Fig. 1b).
Sampling methods
Collecting insects
For collecting insects in the horticultural systems (peri-urban and rural), we used different sampling techniques, carried out every 30 days, from January to April 2017 (January 6th, February 3rd, March 3rd and 31 th), during the period of tomatoes and pepper harvest. The sampling methods were as follows:
Sweeping net: Sequential sampling by net blows was carried out to capture the insects that inhabit the aerial part of the vegetation, walking through the field and passing the net over the vegetation. The movement with the net was performed with an angle of approximately 90°. Twenty net strokes were made at each sampling site. The captured insects were placed in transparent jars with 70% ethanol.
Pitfall trap: These traps were used to capture epigeous walking insects. They consisted of 220 ml white plastic containers (diameter: 10 cm; depth, 12 cm), buried and placed at ground level, with 100 ml of a solution of 70% ethanol, 20% water and 10% liquid petroleum jelly. The material obtained by each sampling method was separated for subsequent determination by the authors: Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea and Membracidae by A.M. Marino de Remes Lenicov; Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae by S.L. Paradell and B.S. Defea; Heteroptera by P. M. Dellapé and E. Minghetti; Coleoptera: Curculionidae by M.G. del Río and A.A. Lanteri, and Hymenoptera by L.J. Álvarez. The specimens were identified through the use of keys, specialized bibliography and by comparison of primary types and reference specimens from the Museo de La Plata. The material examined was deposited in the entomological collection of the Museo de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina (MLP).
Sampling design
The agricultural landscape was defined as a heterogeneous land area made up of a group of ecosystems, repeated across length and width in similar ways (). The landscape represents a mosaic of farms, semi-natural habitats, human infrastructure and, occasionally, natural habitats (). For this reason, the selected sites included not only tomatoes and pepper crops, but also feral plant communities located on the margins of these crops: abandoned pear orchards, spontaneous vegetation and poplar shelterbelts. Sampling stations were established within each sampling site. The number of stations was based on the site's surface. Each station consisted of the locations where each pitfall trap was placed.
Vegetation sampling
For vegetation sampling we applied quadrat method (). At each sampling station a 1 m x 1 m quadrat was randomly placed and all plants within the quadrat were recorded and identified at species level (), when possible.
Characterization of sites
Peri-urban farm. Tomato and pepper crop. Accompanied by low coverage of herbaceous species (Table I).
Rural farm. Tomato and pepper crop. These crops are accompanied by a low coverage of herbaceous species (Table I).
Abandoned pear orchard. It contains pear, rosehip and wild vine plants within a plantation frame of 6 m x 4 m. Accompanied by an herbaceous stratum where grasses predominate (Table II).
Spontaneous vegetation. It shows the greatest complexity in vegetation structure, with herbaceous, shrub and tree layers (Table II).
Poplar shelterbelt. It is characterized by dominant arboreal species and a medium coverage of herbaceous layer (Table II).
Abandoned pear orchard. It is characterized by a herbaceous layer (Table II).
Spontaneous vegetation. It is characterized by a predominant shrub and herbaceous layers (Table II).
Poplar shelterbelt. The arboreal layer of Populus L. "Poplar" is accompanied by a herbaceous shrub layer of medium to low coverage (Table II).
Inventary of insects
ORDER HEMIPTERA
Suborder Auchenorrhyncha
Superfamily Fulgoroidea
Family Delphacidae
Subfamily Asiracinae
Tribe Idiosystanini
Idiosystatus Berg
Geographic distribution. Native to : Río Negro and Santa Cruz (Patagonia) (Bourgoin, 2019). Río Negro is a new province record.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. Schoenoplectus californicus (C.A. Mey.) Sojthe Metropolitan Region of Chile (Campodonico, 2017). The traps were placed under the tomato plants on the ridges, in addition, feral vegetation cover was very low, so we consider that tomato is a new crop association.
Economic importance. Unknown.
Material studied: Río Negro. Campo Grande. Tomato (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (1 male). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table III).
Subfamily Delphacinae
Tribe Delphacini
Metadelphax propinqua (Fieber)
Geographic distribution. Pantropic Lenicov & Tesón, 1989; Remes Lenicov & Paradell, 2012).
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. Mostly cultivated and wild Poaceae, including "barley", hum", and "sugarcane" (Remes Lenicov & Virla, 1999). New crop associations with tomato and pepper. It also occurs in abandoned pear orchard.
Economic importance. It is a vector of viruses that affects various crops: Cynodon Chlorotic Streak Nucleorhabdovirus (CCSV), Maize Rough Dwarf Virus (MRDV), and Barleyiate Mosaic
Cytorhabdovirus (BYSMV) (Harpaz, 1972). In Argentina it is the vector of the Mal de R iat" (Remes Lenicov et al. 1985; Velazquez et al., 2017).
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Pepper (pitfall), 3-III-2017, (1 male, 1 nymph). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Tomato (pitfall), 03-NI-2017, (2 males, 4 females, 1 nymph). Pepper (pitfall), 03-II-2017, (1 male, 1 female); 31-III-20172 (2 females). Abandoned pear orchard (sweeping net), 31-III-2017, (1 male). Bernardis- Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table III and IV).
Delphacodes kuscheli Fennah
Geographic distribution. Native to Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. Widespread in Argentina (32° to 39° S). Its northern expansion occurred with rlLenicov & Tesón, 1978; Remes Lenicov & Paradell, 2012).
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. "Maize", outbreak populations of "oat", breeds of "wheat", "barley" and sever em reservoirs of MRCV (Remes Lenicov & Virla, 1999).
Economic importance. It is a ma s vector of MRCV (Remes Lenicov & Paradell, 2012).
Material studied. Río Negro. Campo Grande. Tomato (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (1 female); 03-N-2017, (1 female). Pepper (pitfall), 03-II-2017, (1 male). Bernardis-Gittins- López Armengol, cols. (Table III).
Neodelphax fuscoterminata (Berg)
Geographic distribution. Native to Argentina, where it is widely distributed in the humid Pampean region ().
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. It is common and abundant in maize and "rice" agrosystems, and several grasses: "johnson grass", "bermuda grass", Bromus sp., Setaria sp., "dandelion" and "ribwort" plantain ( ). Associated with "apple" in the main cultivated area of Río Negro province (). Tomato and pepper are new crop associations. It also occurs on poplar shelterbelt.
Economic importance. It is probably another vector of MRCV in central Argentina ().
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Poplar shelterbelt (pitfall), 03-III-2017, (1 female). Pepper (sweeping net), 03-III-2017, (1 nymph). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Tomato (pitfall), 03-II-2017, (1 male). Pepper (sweeping net), 31-III-2017, (1 nymph). Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 03-II-2017, (1 female); (sweeping net),
03-II-2017, (2 females); (sweeping net), 03-III-2017, (1 female). Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 06-I-2017 (1 nymph). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table III and IV).
Family Acanalonidae
Acanalonia chloris (Berg)
Geographic distribution. Native to Uruguay and Argentina: Misiones, Corrientes, Córdoba, Mendoza and Buenos Aires (). Neuquén is a new province record.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant association. It is associated with spontaneous vegetation.
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Spontaneous vegetation (sweeping net), 03-11-2017, (2 males, 3 females); spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 31-III-2017, (1 male). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table IV).
Superfamily Membracoidea
Family Membracidae
Subfamily Smilinae
Tribe Ceresini
Ceresa brunnicornis (Germar)
Geographic distribution. Native to South America between 15° and 39° S. It occurs in Northern and Central Argentina, and in Brazil (Remes Lenicov, 1973).
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. Acacia sp., "vine", "wheat", "alfalfa" and "potato" (Remes Lenicov, 1973). It is associated with abandoned pear orchards and spontaneous vegetation.
Economic importance. Mechanical damage caused by feeding on Acacia spp. and "vine" canes , ; Remes Lenicov, 1973).
Material studied. Río Negro. Campo Grande. Abandoned pear orchard (sweeping net), 03-III-2017, (3 females); spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 03-111-2017, (1 female). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table IV).
Family Cicadellidae
Subfamily Cicadellinae
Syncharina punctatissima (Signoret)
Geographic distribution. It occurs in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Uruguay. In Argentina, it is widespread: Salta, Jujuy, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Córdoba, Catamarca, Tucumán, and San Juan (). Neuquén is a new province record.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. "Pangola grass", "maize", "whet", "oat", "barley", Trifolium sp., "alfalfa", "rice", "rye", "sorghum", "winter vetch" Remes Lenicov et al., 1985, 2,, and "radish root” (Defea, 2018). I associated with spontaneous vegetation.
Phytosanitary importance. Unknown.
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Spontaneous vegetation (sweeping net), 3-II-2017, (1 female). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table IV).
Tapajosa rubromarginata (Signoret)
Geographic distribution. Native to Argentina (Young, 1968), Brazil (Azevedo-Filho & Carvalho, 2004, araguayn widespread in ucumán, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Mendoza, San Luis, San Juan, Santiago del Estero, Formosa, Chaco, Misiones, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Neuquén and Río Negro (Dellapé et
al., 2011; Paradell et al., 2012).
ous.
Plant associations. "Onion", Eryngium sp., Baccharis sp., "garden dahlia", Conyza sp., "lapacho", "whitemouth day flower", Ipomea sp., "soybean", "alfalfa", "burclover", "cowpea", "mint", Chorisier sp., "arrowleave", "black mulberry", Plantago sp., "oat", Paspalum sp., "sugarcane", Setarea sp., "bermuda grass", "johnson grass", "sorghum", "maize", "wheat", "rescue grass", Populus sp., Cardiospermum sp., "black nightshade", "common lantana", "chinese ibiscus", "sweet orange" and "vine" (Costilla et al., 1972; Paradell, 1995; Remes LenicovC, l.7; s doned pear or
Phytosanitary importance. Species positive for Xylella fastidiosaWells et al. (Xanthomonadales:
Xanthomonadaceae) in Argentina (Dellapé et al., 2016).
Material studied. Río Negr. Abandoned pear orchard (sweeping net), 31-III-2017, (1 male). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table IV).
Subfamily Deltocephalinae
Amplicephalus dubius Linnavuori
Geographic distribution. Native to Argentina: Salta, San Juan, Mendoza, Córdoba, Santa Fe and Buenos Aires (). Neuquén and Río Negro are new provinces records.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. "Maize", "wheat", "rice", "barley", "oat", Cynodon sp., Digitada sp. and "cebadilla" (). New crop association with tomato. It also occurs in abandoned pear orchards and spontaneous vegetation.
Phytosanitary importance. Unknown.
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Spontaneous vegetation (sweeping net), 3-II-2017, (1 male). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Tomato (pitfall), 3-II-2017, (2 females). Abandoned pear orchard (sweeping net), 3-II-2017, (1 nymph). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Tables III and IV).
Amplicephalus marginellanus Linnavuori
Geographic distribution. Native to Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina: Jujuy, Chaco, Misiones, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, Tucumán, San Luis, Córdoba and Buenos Aires (). Río Negro is a new province record.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. Spontaneous vegetation with "pangola grass" and "bahiagrass" ( ); "maize", "wheat", "gramon", "cebadilla" and "oat" (). New crop association with tomato. It is also in abandoned pear orchard.
Phytosanitary importance. Unknown.
Material studied. Río Negro. Campo Grande. Tomato (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (1 female). Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (1 female). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Tables III and IV).
Circulifer tenellus (Baker)
Geographic distribution. Almost cosmopolitan (Nearctic, Palearctic, Oriental and Neotropical regions). In America it is present in Canada, USA, Central American and Caribbean countries, Brazil, Peru, Suriname, Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina ( ). Río Negro is a new province record.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. "Potato" and "carrot" ( ;). New crop association with pepper. It also occurs in abandoned pear orchard, spontaneous vegetation and poplar shelterbelt.
Phytosanitary importance. It is a vector of phytoplasma in Mexico, especially on horticultural plants such as "radish root" and "pepper". It is also vector of Beet curly top virus (BCTV) that produces the Carrot purple leaf (; ).
Material studied. Río Negro. Campo Grande. Pepper (pitfall), 3-III-2017, (4 males, 9 nymphs). Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 3-II-2017, (1 female). Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (4 males, 7 females); 3-II-2017, (2 males, 2 females, 14 nymphs); 3-III-2017, (3 nymphs); 31-III-2017, (1 male, 2 females, 5 nymphs). Spontaneous vegetation (sweeping net), 3-III-2017, (1 female, 1 nymphs); 31-III-2017, (1 male, 2 females, 5 nymphs). Poplar shelterbelt (pitfall), 3-III-2017, (2 males). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Tables III and IV).
Exitianus obscurinervis (Stál)
Geographic distribution. Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina, where it is widespread in several provinces: Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca, Formosa, Chaco, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Misiones, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Mendoza, Buenos Aires and Río Negro (). Neuquén is a new province record.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. Cereals, mainly "maize", "wheat" and "rice", "cotton", "castor been", "oat", "rescue grass", "bermuda grass", "hairly crabgrass", "pangola grass", "barnyard grass", "bahia grass", "sugarcane", "big blue stem" and "creeping vegetation", "barley", "bean", "sorghum" and "citrus" (). Tomato and pepper and new crop associations. It is also in abandoned pear orchards and spontaneous vegetation.
Phytosanitary importance. This species transmits the bacteria Spiroplasma kunkelii (Entomoplasmatales: Spiroplasmataceae) under experimental conditions, suggesting that may be a vector of the disease called "Corn Stunt Spiroplasma” in Argentina ( ).
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Tomato (pitfall), 3-II-2017, (1 female); 3-III-2017 (2 males, 1 nymph); 31-III-2017, (4 nymphs). Pepper (pitfall), 3-III-2017, (1 male, 1 female, 1 nymph). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Tomato (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (1 male); 3-II-2017, (4 males); 3-III-2017, (1 male); 31-III-2017, (5 males, 1 female, 2 nymphs). Pepper (pitfall) 6-I-2017, (1 male); 3-III-2017, (5 males, 1 nymph); 31-III-2017, (6 males, 1 nymph). Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (1 female); 3-II-2017, (4 males, 1 female, 1 nymph); 3-III-2017, (2 males); 31-III-2017, (1 male). Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 31-III-2017, (1 nymph). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Tables III and IV).
Paratanus exitiosus (Beamer)
Geographic distribution. Native to Chile and Argentina: Jujuy, Chaco, San Luis, Córdoba, Buenos Aires, San Juan, Mendoza and Río Negro ( ).
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. "Maize", "rice", "wheat", "sugar beet", "sorghum", "garlic", "alfalfa" and "hairy vetch" (). Tomato is a new crop record. It occurs in abandoned pear orchard and spontaneous vegetation.
Phytosanitary importance. It is a vector of "Virus Sugar Beet Yellow-Wilt” causing the disease "Yellow Wilt” of "sugar beet". This is also a potential vector of fitoplasma 16SrIII X-disease, that causes "Garlic decline” disease ().
Material studied. Río Negro. Campo Grande. Tomato (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (2 males); 31-III-2017, (1 male). Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 3-III-2017, (1 male); 31-III-2017 (2 males). Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (1 female); 3-II-2017 (1 female, 1 nymph); 3-III-2017, (1 male). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Tables III and IV).
Subfamily Idiocerinae
Rhytidodus decimusquartus (Schrank)
Geographic distribution. Australian, Palearctic, Nearctic and Neotropical regions. In Argentina occurs in Mendoza, Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut ( ).
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. Poplar used as wind curtain and porrum ().
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Poplar shelterbelt (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (1 male). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table IV).
Subfamily Ledrinae
Tribe Xerophloeini
Xerophloea viridis (Fabricius)
Geographic distribution. Nearctic and Neotropical regions (Jones & Deitz, 2009). USA, Mexico, Peru Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina: Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca, La Rioja, Misiones, Entre Ríos,
Córdoba, Mendoza, San Juan, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires and Neuquén (). Río Negro is a new province record.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. "Weeds", "wheat", "maize", "barley", "sweet potato", Ipomoea sp., "yams", "tomato", "lettuce", "San Jose weed", "broom jute", "pangola grass", "citrus", "alfalfa", Poaceae (Jones & Deitz, 2009), "garlic", "hairy vetch" (). New records for pepper crop, abandoned pear orchard, spontaneous vegetation and poplar shelterbelt.
Phytosanitary importance. Vector of "Virus Sugar Beet Yellow- Wilt” to sugarcane in Argentina ( ).
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Tomato (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (2 females); 3-II-2017, (1 male); 3-III-2017, (3 males). Pepper (pitfall), 3-II-2017, (1 male, 1 nymph); 3-III-2017, (1 nymph). Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (1 female); 3-III-2017, (1 male, 2 nymphs). Spontaneous vegetation (sweeping net), 31-III-2017 (1 male). Poplar shelterbelt (sweeping net), 6-I-2017, (1 male, 1 nymph); 3-II-2017, (1 male, 1 female). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Tomato (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (1 male); 3-III-2017, (1 female). Pepper (pitfall), 3-II-2017 (1 female); 3-III-2017, (1 female). Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (1 male, 1 female); 3-III-2017, (1 male). Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (2 males, 1 female); 3-II-2017 (3 males); 3-III-2017, (1 male); 31-III-2017 (1 male, 1 nymph). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Tables III and IV).
Subfamily Megophtalminae
Tribe Agallini
Agalliana ensigera Oman
Geographic distribution. Neotropical. Argentina: Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, La Rioja, Catamarca, Santiago del Estero, Chaco, Misiones, Entre Ríos, San Juan, Mendoza, Santa Fe, La Pampa, Buenos Aires and Río Negro (). Neuquén is a new province record.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. "Pumpkin", "potato", "pepper", "tomato", "fababean", "zucchini", "berrie", "cotton", "wheat", "maize", "alfalfa", "soybean", "sugarbeet", "sorghum", "tobacco", "sunflower", "oat", "prairie grass" and "weeds", "garlic", "citrus", "carrot", "hairy vetch" (). New records for abandoned pear orchard and spontaneous vegetation.
Phytosanitary importance. Vector "Argentine Curly Top Virus” on sugar cane and "Brazilian Curly Top Virus” tomato. Possible vector of "Witches-Broom Disease” alfalfa. Potential vector of phytoplasma 16SrIII X-disease "Garlic decline” ().
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Tomato (pitfall), 31-III-2017, (1 male). Pepper (pitfall), 31-III-2017, (1 female). Pepper (sweeping net), 31-III-2017, (1 male, 1 female). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Pepper (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (1 female); 31-III-2017, (1 male). Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (5 males, 3 females); 3-II-2017 (2 males, 1 female); 3-III-2017, (5 males). Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (1 male, 1 nymph). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Tables III and IV).
Bergallia signata (Stal)
Geographic distribution. Argentina: Jujuy, Tucumán, Chaco, Misiones, San Juan, Mendoza, Buenos Aires and Río Negro (). Neuquén is a new province record.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. "Maize", "wheat", "pririe grass", "potato", "beet", "radish root", "turnip", "purslane", "pepper", "tomato", "carrot", "hairy vetch" ( ). It is also in abandoned pear orchards and spontaneous vegetation.
Phytosanitary importance. Unknown Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Tomato (pitfall), 31-III-2017, (1 male). Pepper (sweeping net),
31-III-2017, (1 male, 3 females). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Tomato (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (1 male); 3-II-2017, (1 female). Pepper (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (1 female); 3-II-2017, (1 male); 31-III-2017, (4 males, 1 female). Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall) 6-I-2017, (3 males, 3 females); 3-III-2017, (1 female); 3-III-2017 (4 males). Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 6-I-2017, (1 male, 1 nymph). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Tables III and IV).
Suborder Heteroptera Infraorden Cimicomorpha Superfamily Cimicoidea FamilyAnthocoridae
Orius sp.
Feeding habits. Predator.
Comments: Various species of Orius Wolff are important predators of Thysanoptera, mites, and eggs of Lepidoptera, both in greenhouse and field crops situations ().
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Abandoned pear orchard (sweeping net), 03-II-2017, (2 males).
Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol cols. (Table IV).
Superfamily Naboidea Family Nabidae Subfamily Prostemmatinae Tribe Prostemmatini
Pagasa (Lampropagasa) fuscipennis Reuter & Poppius
Geographic distribution. Argentina: Buenos Aires, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, La Pampa, Misiones, Río Negro, Salta, San Luis, Santa Fe and Santiago del Estero. This species is also known from Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay (Cornelis & Coscarón, 2013; Melo et al., 2020).
Feeding habits: Predator. Species in the genus are known predators of other Heteroptera, particularly
). Economic importance. Although the members of Material studied. Río Negro. Campo Grande: Nabidae are generalist predatory species, and some abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 03-II-2017, (2 males). species are frequently present in agroecosystems, the Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table IV). role of nabids in regulation of pest populations of importance to urban agriculture remains largely
Superfamily Miroidea
Family Miridae
Subfamily Bryocorinae
Tribe Dicyphini
Tupiocoris cucurbitaceus (Spinola)
Geographic distribution. Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Jujuy, Mendoza, Salta and Tucumán (; ;,; Melo et al., 2020). Río Negro is a new province record.
The North American records of this species are misidentifications as was shown by, so its distribution has been restricted to the Neotropical Region (). These records include Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Uruguay (; ;; ; Melo et al., 2020).
Feeding habits. Although T. cucurbitaceus is a zoophytophagous insect, it has a limited phytophagy, which is restricted to its nymphal instars ( ). Until now, no crop damage has been observed due to this mirid species, however, these observations need verification ().
Plant associations. "Tobacco", "bean", "potato", Cucurbita sp., "geranium" (Carpintero & Carvalho, 1"eupatoire", Adesmia sp.
(Carpintero "tomato" (Fiúza
Economic importance. This species has been used as a biological control agent of Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepidoptera; Gelichiidae) in South America ( ). In Argentina the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) has raised and tested this mirid species as a predator of Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood and Bemisia tabasi (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and Mysus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemipetara: Aphididae) in "tomato" crops (). A recent study indicated that T. cucurbitaceus can successfully prey on different tomato pests, such as B. tabaci, T. vaporariorum, Sitotroga cerealella Olivier (Lepidoptera; Gelichiidae), T. absoluta, M. persicae and Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) ().
Material studied. Río Negro. Campo Grande. Tomato (sweeping net), 31-III-2017, (1 female). Bernardis- Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table III).
Superfamily Reduvioidea
Family Reduvidae
Subfamily Harpactorinae
Tribe Harpactorini
Atrachelus ( Atrachelus) cinereus (Fabricius)
Geographic distribution. Argentina: Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán (,;
, 2020). Río Negro and Neuquén are new provinces records. This species has been also recorded for Chile, Cuba, Guatemala and Uruguay ().
Feeding habits. Predator.
Economic importance. No economic damages registered.
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (1 nymph). Poplar shelterbelt (sweeping net), 03-III-2017, (1 nymph). Pepper (sweeping net), 31-III-2017 (2 males). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Spontaneous vegetation (sweeping net), 06-I-2017 (1 nymph). Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 31-III-2017, (3 nymphs). Poplar shelterbelt (sweeping net), 31-III-2017, (1 male, 1 female). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol cols. (Tables III and IV).
Infraorden Pentatomomorpha Superfamily Pentatomoidea Family Pentatomidae Tribe Carpocorini Dichelops furcatus (Fabricius)
Geographic distribution. Argentina: Buenos Aires, Chaco, Córdoba, Jujuy, Mendoza, Misiones, Salta, San Juan, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán (). This species is widely distributed in the Neotropical region (, ). Río Negro is a new province record.
Feeding habits. Polyphagous.
Plant associations. This species feeds on 27 host plants including cultivated and wild species, such as "soybean", "sunflower", "maize", "oat", "wheat" ( ,).
Economic importance. This species can cause an important damage in "soybean" and "maize" (; ).
Material studied. Río Negro. Campo Grande. Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 03-III-2017, (3 nymphs). Abandoned pear orchard (sweeping net), 03-III-2017, (2 nymphs). Tomato (sweeping net), 31-III-2017, (1 male). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table III and IV).
Superfamily Coreoidea Family Rhopalidae Subfamily Rhopalinae Tribe Harmostini
Harmostes (Harmostes) prolixus Stal
Geographic distribution. Argentina: Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Salta, San Luis, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán (;). Río Negro and Neuquén are new province records. This species is also known from Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay (,; , 2015;., 2020).
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
No plants association recorded.
Economic importance. No economic damages registered.
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Spontaneous vegetation (sweeping net), 03-II-2017, (1 female). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Abandoned pear orchard (sweeping net), 03-III-2017, (1 female). Bernardis- Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table IV).
Harmostes (Neoharmostes) procerus Berg
Geographic distribution. Argentina: known from all provinces (, 2015;., ). It has been also recorded for Brazil, Peru, and Uruguay (, 2015).
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. Seepwillow, “romerillo”, "pichana" (, 2015).
Economic importance. No economic damages registered.
Material studied. Río Negro. Campo Grande. Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 03-II-2017, (1 male). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table IV).
Superfamily Lygaeoidea
Family Geocoridae
Subfamily Geocorinae
Geocoris sp.
Feeding habits. Predator.
Comments: All species in this genus are predators, and can be abundant in agroecosystems. Some species in the genus are considered to be of value in biological control of crop pests.
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Tomato
(sweeping net), 06-I-2017, (1 nymph). Pepper (pitfall), 03-III-2017, (1 male). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 3-II-2017, (1 male, 1 female). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table III and IV).
Family Lygaeidae
Subfamily Orsillinae
Tribe Nysiini
Nysius simulans Stal
Geographic distribution. Argentina: Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquén, Río Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán (, 2014; ., 2016;., 2020).
This species has been also recorded for Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay (, 2020).
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. According to. (2016) the following list of plants are associated with the attack by N. simulans in Argentina: Gramineae: "maize", Linaceae: "flax", Poaceae: "wheat", Malvaceae: "cotton",
Asteraceae: "lettuce", Solanaceae: "tobacco" and
"potato", Rosaceae: "plum", Vitaceae: "vine", Fabaceae: "soybean" (, 2004). Also, other plants, Asteraceae: Gamochaeta sp., Brassicaceae: "capsella", "field mustard", "rapeseed" and "giant mustard" ( , 2006); more recently, it has been found in "sunflower", and exotic plants as "wild rocket" and "barnaby thistle" all Asteraceae (., 2015).
Economic importance. Nysius simulans is abundant in most of the country and frequently present on many cultivated plants. This species has been recently a problem to "soybean" (Aragón & Flores, 2006; ., 2009;, 2010), "quinua" (Dughetti et al., 2015;, 2015) and "sunflower" (., 2015;., ).
Comments: Although N. simulans is an almost ubiquitous species in Argentina, it is commonly confounded or mixed with populations of other species in the genus, and with species of the closely relative genus Xyonysius.
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (20 males, 19 females); 03-II-2017, (1 male, 1 female). Spontaneous vegetation (sweeping net), 06-I-2017, (5 males, 3 females); 03-II-2017, (17 males, 10 females); 31-III-2017, (2 males). Pepper (pitfall), 06-I-2017 (1 females);
31-III-2017, (1 female). Tomato (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (1 males), (sweeping net), (1 male, 2 females); 03-II-2017, (2 females); 03-III-2017, (1 male); 31-3-2017 (1 male). Poplar shelterbelt, 06-I-2017, (sweeping net) (2 females). Poplar shelterbelt (pitfall), 03-II-2017, (1 specimen). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (43 males, 44 females); 3-II-2017, (1 male, 2 females); 31-III-2017, (1 female). Spontaneous vegetation (sweeping net), 06-I-2017, (1 male); 3-II-2017, (1 female); 31-III-2017, (2 males, 3 females). Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (6 males, 6 females); 3-II-2017, (1 female). Pepper (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (3males, 4 females); 3-II-2017, (1 males). Tomato (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (4 males, 4 females). Tomato (sweeping net), 06-I-2017, (2 males). Poplar shelterbelt (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (1 female). Abandoned pear orchard (sweeping net), 31-III-2017, (2 females). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Tables III and IV).
ORDER COLEOPTERA
Family Curculionidae
Subfamily Ceutorhynchinae
Hypurus bertrandi (Perris)
Common name. Portulaca leaf mining weevil.
Geographic distribution. Native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and Africa, and introduced in North America and South America (Chile and Argentina). In Chile was reported for the Maule region. Neuquén is a new province record
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. It shows preference for "portulaca". The larvae mine in Portulaca sp. leaves and adults also feed on leaves. Considered a pest in several countries, it is a potential pest in Argentina.
Material studied. Neuquén: Plottier. Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (2 specimens). Tomato (pitfall), 03-II-2017, (3 specimen); 03-III-2017, (11 specimens). Pepper (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (4 specimens); 03-II-2017, (12 specimens); 03-III-2017, (12 specimens); 31-III-2017, (1 specimen). Bernardis-Gittins-López
Armengol cols. (Tables III and IV).
Subfamily Cyclominae
Listroderes costirostris Schoenherr species complex
Common name. Vegetable weevil.
Geographic distribution. Native to South America, where it was recorded in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile (including Easter Island and Juan Fernández Islands). In Argentina it is widespread in several provinces: Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquén, Río Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán. It has been introduced into Australia, France, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, USA and Japan ().
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. It is a primary pest of vegetables, found in many wild and cultivated hosts (more than 80).
It is frequent especially on cruciferous. In Argentina it was reported on "pale dock" (Polygonaceae), Senecio sp. (Asteraceae), Stellaria sp. (Caryophyllaceae) and several legumes (Fabaceae), "field mustard",
"rapeseed", "cabbage", "radish" and Nasturtium sp. (Brassicaceae); "sunflower", "camomile" (Asteraceae); "soybean" (Fabaceae); "tobacco", "potato" (Solanaceae); "celery" and "carrots" (Apiaceae) ().
Larvae destroy the tender young crown leaves of carrots and turnips. Adults often cause extensive damage by feeding on the leaves of small "tomato" and "potato" plants (Solanaceae), by cutting off the stems of plants at ground level. Females reproduce by parthenogenesis.
Material studied. Río Negro. Campo Grande. Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 31-III-2017, (1 female). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol cols. (Table IV).
Subfamily Entiminae
Tribe Naupactini
Aramigus tessellatus (Say)
Geographic distribution. Native to South America (Argentina, southern Brazil and Uruguay). In Argentina it is widespread in several provinces: Buenos Aires, Chaco, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Jujuy, La
Pampa, Misiones, Neuquén, Río Negro, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán. Introduced in Chile, Mexico and USA ().
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. Harmful for roots of cereals as "wheat", "oat" and "barley". It causes damage on "alfalfa" (Fabaceae), "sunflower" (Asteraceae), "potato" (Solanaceae), "weat", "oat" and "barley" (Poaceae) (). In Chile it affects "raspberry", "sweet cherry", "apple" (Rosaceae), and Lupinus sp. (Fabaceae) (Elgueta, 1993).
Lifecycle. Males are unknown or scarce and the species reproduces by parthenogenesis in most of its range. It is common in pastures, shrubs and crops of the Pampean biogeographic province.
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Spontaneous vegetation (sweeping net), 06-I-2017, (2 females); 02-III-2017, (1 female). Bernardis-Gittins-López
Armengol cols. (Table IV).
Naupactus cervinus Boheman
Common names. Fuller’s rose weevil, Fuller’s rose beetle.
Geographic distribution. Native to Argentina, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Introduced in Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and several Pacific Islands, as well as other countries of Central America, North America, Europe, and South Africa. In Argentina it is widespread in several provinces: Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Corrientes, Chubut, Entre Ríos, Jujuy, Mendoza, Misiones, Salta, Santa Fe and Tucumán ().
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. It is a major pest of Citrus spp. (Rutaceae), other fruit plants and ornamental plants. Examples of fruit plants are Musa sp. (Musaceae), "avocado” (Lauraceae), "walnut" (Juglandaceae), "strawberry", "apple", "plum" (Rosaceae). Among ornamentals there are Rosa sp. (Rosaceae), Begoniasp. (Begoniaceae), Gardenia sp. (Rubiaceae), Hibiscus sp. (Malvaceae), Hydrangea sp. (Hydrangeaceae), Lilium sp. (Liliaceae) and others. Other crops are "potato" (Solanaceae), "alfalfa", Phaseolus sp. (Fabaceae), and Cucurbita sp. (Cucurbitaceae) ().
Lifecycle. Adults of N. cervinus feed on foliage and larvae feed on roots. Under severe infestations, these weevils can consume the entire leaf, leaving only the midrib. Plants with severe root damage are more vulnerable to other biotic and abiotic factors (e.g, fungal infections with Phytopthora spp.) and may die during periods of drought. Larval damage can be serious on vegetable crops but relatively minor in citrus. Reproduction occurs without fertilization, a phenomenon known as parthenogenesis, except in small native areas
of Argentina and Brazil.
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 31-III-2017, (1 female). Bernardis- Gittins-López Armengol cols. (Table IV).
Naupactus leucoloma Boheman
Common names. White-fringed weevil, white-fringed beetle.
Geographic distribution. Native to South America: Argentina, southern Brazil and Uruguay. Introduced in Chile (including Easter Island and Juan Fernández Islands), Peru, Mexico, USA, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In Argentina it is widespread in several provinces: Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Río Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán (). Neuquén is a new province record.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. It shows a broad host range, of about 385 plant species worldwide, including ornamentals, fruit trees, horticultural and industrial crops and forage. The major crop species are: Brassica sp. (Brassicaceae), "carrots" (Apiaceae), "strawberry", Rubus sp. and Prunus sp. (Rosaceae), "peanut", "soybean", "alfalfa", "beans", "pea", "cowpea" and Trifolium spp. (Fabaceae), "onion" (Amarydillaceae), "potato" and "pepper" (Solanaceae), "maize" (Poaceae), "sweet potato" (Convolvulaceae). Fabaceae are major hosts in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay ( ). Pastures can be seriously damaged in Australia and New Zealand.
Lifecycle. Adults feed at the bases of leaf margins, leaving characteristic "notching”. This feeding behavior injures plants seriously only if adults are very numerous. Larvae gnaw at tap roots, the basal parts of stems and the small lateral roots. When feeding is severe, plants turn yellow, wilt and die. Plants on which only a small amount of the cambium layer is eaten usually survive, but produce little or no crop. In lucerne, the larvae usually chew into the taproot, make a furrow along it and these results in the death of young plants. In "potatoes" damage is more spectacular, as larvae tunnel inside the tubers. The nitrogen fixation rate of Trifolium repens L. is reduced by 92% by N. leucoloma in New Zealand.
Except in some small areas of Argentina, populations of N. leucoloma include only parthenogenetic females.
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Poplar shelterbelt (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (1 female). Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 03-III-2017, (1 female). Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall); 03-III-2017, (1 female). Bernardis- Gittins-López Armengol cols. (Table IV).
Naupactus xanthographus (Germar)
Common names. Grapefruit weevil, peach-tree weevil, fruit weevil, grape snout beetle.
Geographic distribution. Native to South America (Argentina, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). Introduced in Chile, being prevalent in the central zone. The current distribution in Argentina includes several provinces: Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Neuquén and Tucumán (). Río Negro is a new province record.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous. The adults feed on shoots and leaves, being particularly injurious to young plants. The larvae live in soil during the whole year, eating the plant's roots.
Plant associations. The major crop species include "vine" (Vitaceae), other fruit plants, mainly "pear", "apple", Rubus sp., Prunus sp., (Rosaceae), Ribes sp. (Grossulariaceae), "cherries" and "berries" , ); "kiwifruit" (Actinidiaceae), "tangerine" (Rutaceae), "avocado" (Lauraceae) and "walnut" (Juglandaceae). It also causes damage in "alfalfa", Trifolium spp. and "bean" (Fabaceae), "maize" (Poaceae), horticultural plants such as "potato", "tomato" (Solanaceae), "asparagus" (Liliaceae) and "beet" (Chenopodiaceae); and garden plants as Ligustrum sp. (Oleaceae) and Rosa sp. (Rosaceae) ().
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 03-III-2017, (1 male). Poplar shelterbelt (sweeping net), 06-I-2017, (1 female); (pitfall),
03-III-2017, (1 female). Tomato (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (1 male); 03-II-2017, (1 female). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Tomate (pitfall), 03-II-2017, (1 male).
Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 03-II-2017, (1 male). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol cols. (Tables III and IV).
Tribe Otiorhynchini
Otiorhynchus ovatus (L.)
Common names. Strawberry Root Weevil
Geographic distribution. It is native to Europe and has been introduced in Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina: Chubut, Neuquén, Río Negro and Santa Cruz. It is considered invasive due to its parthenogenetic reproduction and associations with many plant species.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. It was found associated with "strawberry", Fragaria sp. (Rosaceae) and "blueberry" (Ericaceae) (). In other countries, it causes damage to various ornamental, fruit and forest species.
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (7 female). Bernardis-Gittins- López Armengol cols. (Table IV).
DISCUSSION
Otiorhynchus rugosostriatus (Goeze)
Common names. Rough Strawberry Root Weevil, "Otiorrinco de la frutilla”.
Geographic distribution. It is native to Europe and
North Africa (Palaearctic región), and introduced in New Zealand, Australia, Tasmania, Canada, USA, Chile and Argentina. In Argentina, it was first cited in Río Negro province associated with red fruits (). Neuquén is a new province record. It is considered invasive due to its parthenogenetic reproduction and associations with many plant species.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. Mainly, fruits, ornamentals and "berries". In Argentina, it was found associated with "strawberry" and in Chile, it causes damage to "blueberries", "raspberries", "strawberries" Fragaria sp., "apples", "redcurrant" and "vine" ().
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (1 female). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Poplar shelterbelt (pitfall), 31-III-2017, (1 female). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol cols. (Table IV).
Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Fabricius)
Common names. Black Vine Weevil, Greenhouse weevil.
Geographic distribution. It is native to Europe (Palaearctic region) and introduced in several places around the world, North America (broadly distributed), Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia and Russia. In South America it is present in Chile and Argentina: Chubut, Neuquén and Río Negro provinces. In Argentina it was registered for the first time in 2000 (). It is considered invasive due to its parthenogenetic reproduction and associations with many plant species.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. Numerous host plants of economic importance have been cited in Europe and North America, mainly ornamental, forest, horticultural and fine fruit plants. In Argentina, it causes damage to "strawberry" and "raspberry" (; ). In Chile, it causes damage in fruit trees (Elgueta, 1993) such as "strawberry", "raspberry", "vine" and "blackberry" (Rosaceae).
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (3 females); 03-II-2017, (1 female); 31-III-2017, (1 female). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol cols. (Table IV).
Tribe Sitonini
Sitona discoideus Gyllenhal
Common names. Alfalfa root weevil.
Geographic distribution. Native to southern Europe and northern Africa, introduced in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, South Africa, Chile and Argentina: Río Negro. Neuquén is a new province record.
Feeding habits. Phytophagous.
Plant associations. It prefers legumes such as "alfalfa", other Medicago sp. and Trifolium sp. It is a pest of pastures in Australia and New Zealand.
Lifecycle. Larvae feed on roots and root nodules, resulting in stunting and yellowing of the plants due to nitrogen deficiency, adults feed on leaves, usually of the same plant species (.
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (1 female). Bernardis- Gittins-López Armengol cols. (Table IV).
ORDER HYMENOPTERA
Family Apidae
Subfamily Eucerinae
Tribe Emphorini
Diadasia pereyrae (Holmberg)
Geographic distribution. Neotropical. Uruguay and Argentina: Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Córdoba,
Mendoza, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán (, 2007). Río Negro is a new province record.
Biological comments. Pollinator. Diadasia pereyrae nests in the soil and has a solitary life behavior (, 1909). In Mendoza, ,) reported that this species visited 32 plant species belonging to 11 families, including Asteraceae, Malvaceae, Convolvulaceae and Solanaceae.
Material studied. Río Negro. Campo Grande. Poplar shelterbelt (pitfall), 03-III-2017, (2 males). Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 03-III-2017, (1 male). Bernardis- Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table IV).
Subfamily Xylocopinae
Tribe Xylocopini
Xylocopa ( Neoxylocopa ) augusti Lepeletier
Geographic distribution. Neotropical. Southeastern Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina: Buenos Aires, Chaco, Corrientes, Córdoba, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, Mendoza, Misiones, Río Negro, San Luis, Santa Fe and Tucumán (., 2014). Neuquén is a new province record.
Biological comments. Pollinator. This species nests in solid wood and has a parasocial life behavior ( al.,). Xylocopa augusti is a polilectic species, the presence of 18 pollen types from 11 families of brood cells of several artificial nests was recorded ( al.,). This species presents buzzing behavior to collect pollen and was recorded visiting eggplant crops (Álvarez et al., 2014).
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Tomato (sweeping net), 03-II-2017, (1 female). Bernardis-Gittins- López Armengol, cols. (Table III).
Family Halictidae
Subfamiliy Halictinae
Tribe Halictini
Dialictus autranellus (Vachal)
Geographic distribution. Neotropical. Paraguay and Argentina: Buenos Aires (Dalmazzo et al., 2014). Río Negro is a new province record.
Biological comments. Pollinator. Species of Dialictus nest in the soil and present life habits from solitary to eusocial (, 2007; Dalmazzo et al., 2014).
Material studied. Río Negro. Campo Grande. Tomato (pitfall), 03-III-2017, (1 female). Pepper (pitfall),
31-III-2017, (1 female). Bernardis-Gittins-López
Armengol, cols. (Table III).
Tribe Caenohalictini
Pseudagapostemon ( Neagapostemon ) singularis Jorgensen
Geographic distribution. Neotropical. Argentina: Buenos Aires, La Rioja, Mendoza, Río Negro and San Luis (Dalmazzo et al., 2014). Neuquén is a new province record.
Biological comments. Pollinator. Species of Pseudagapostemon nest in the soil (, 2007). reported this species on P alpataco Phil.
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 03-111-2017, (1 female). Pepper (pitfall), 31-111-2017, (2 females). Bernardis-Gittins-López
Armengol, cols. (Tables III and IV).
Pseudagapostemon ( Pseudagapostemon ) pampeanus (Holmberg)
Geographic distribution. Neotropical. Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina: Buenos Aires, La Rioja, Neuquén, Río Negro, Salta and Santa Fe (Dalmazzo et al., 2014).
Biological comments. Pollinator. Species of Pseudagapostemon nest in the soil ().
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Tomato (pitfall), 03-III-2017, (1 female). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Tomato (pitfall), 06-I-2017, (1 female). Pepper (pitfall) (1 female). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Table III).
Family Vespidae
Subfamily Vespinae
Vespula germanica (Fabricius)
Geographic distribution. Native to the Palaearctic, and introduced in Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, South Africa, Ascencion Island, Madeira, Canary Islands and Iceland ( ., 2011). In Argentina it was registered by , and it is distributed from the north of the province of Mendoza to the south of the province of Tierra del Fuego and from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean (, 2013;., 2015).
Biological comments. Eusocial and with generalist predator behavior, it can negatively affect natural ecosystems and economic activities, including beekeeping, horticulture and tourism ( , 2013).
Material studied. Neuquén. Plottier. Spontaneous vegetation (pitfall), 06-0I-2017, (3 males); 03-II-2017, (1 male); 31-III-2017 (1 male). Pepper (pitfall), 03-II-2017, (1 male); 03-III-2017, (1 male). Tomato (sweeping net),
03-III-2017; 31-III-2017 (1 male); (pitfall), 31-III-2017, (1 male). Poplar shelterbelt (sweeping net), 03-II-2017, (1 male); (pitfall), 31-III-2017 (1 male). Río Negro. Campo Grande. Poplar shelterbelt (pitfall), 31-III-2017, (1 male). Abandoned pear orchard (pitfall), 31-III-2017, (1 male). Bernardis-Gittins-López Armengol, cols. (Tables III and IV).
Among the species listed in the present work, 74% are herbivorous, of which 55% are pests, but within this percentage only 35% correspond to horticultural species and the rest to cereals and fruit trees. The remaining 45% of herbivourous species are not pests and can act as alternative prey for predator populations with interest for biological control. Among the non- herbivores (26%) three species are of interest for biological control and five for pollination. It is worth mentioning that only some of the insect families captured in the study are published in the present work. Even so, the species listed herein show the importance of the vegetation areas surrounding the crops. The predatory species were found mainly in the patches of vegetation with greater complexity in their structure since there are herbaceous, shrub and arboreal species (abandoned fruit orchard in the rural area and spontaneous vegetation patch in the peri-urban area), and which also present a greater number of species that represent a source of pollen and / or nectar for insects. Other studies analysing bees, true bugs, and carabids separately in each landscape confirmed that diversity patterns in mosaic agricultural landscapes are strongly determined by the interplay of species’ dispersal abilities and landscape structure (Steffan- , 2002; , 2000). Something similar is observed with species that are pollinators. Floral resource availability is considered a major driving force that directly regulates the abundance and diversity of wild bees’ communities (., 2003; , 2011).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) and Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CIC). This work was supported by INTA and was performed under a specific agreement between INTA- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.