Aspergillus flavus asociado a Epitragus sp. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) en maíz bajo riego en Turén, estado Portuguesa, Venezuela

Resumen

To evaluate fungi and mycotoxins incidence in maize grains during the dry season of 2001, at Turén, Portuguesa state, maize hybrids were sampled. Inside the ears a large population of beetle species, diff erent to the common plague species of maize grains, was observed. To know their vector potentiality in A. flavus epidemiology in maize, ca. 400 insects of each one of four samples identified as Epitragus sp. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), were superficially desinfected, placed on malt-salt-agar medium, and incubated to 22 ± 3 ºC during 7 days. Ninety seven percent of the insects were colonized by A. flavus which suggests their positive participation as a fungus vector. Although Epitragus sp. is not a maize plague, other insects as Carpophilus hemipterus and C. lugubris neither pests, are considered important epidemical factors and responsible of a high rate of A. flavus infection of ears. The association between A. flavus and Epitragus sp. is not referred in the reviewed literature.