Neotropical Entomology ISSN: 1519-566X journal homepage: www.scielo.br/ne ECOLOGY, BEHAVIOR AND BIONOMICS Distribution and Habitat in Mexico of Dactylopius Costa (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) and their Cac Hosts (Cactaceae: Opun oideae) CK C-M1, A T1, A C2, LE C3 1Depto de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Facultad de Química, Univ Nacional Autónoma de México, México D. F., México 2Centro de Inves gaciones en Ecosistemas, Univ Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Michoacán, México 3INSUE - Ins tuto Superior de Entomología “Dr. Abraham Willink” Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Ins tuto Miguel Lillo, Univ Nacional de Tucumán. San Miguel de Tucumán, Argen na Keywords Abstract Biodiversity, cactus, cochineal insect The distribution pattern of species of the genus Dactylopius Costa Correspondence in Mexico was analyzed in relation to the distribution of their host A T, Depto de Alimentos y plants (subfamily Opuntioideae) to evaluate the speciicity of the Biotecnología, Facultad de Química, Univ insect-host association. The distribution of Dactylopius currently Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad recognized is narrower than that of its hosts and probably is not Universitaria, 04510 México D. F., México; representative. Therefore, a broader distribution of the Dactylopius
[email protected] species in correspondence with those of their hosts was hypothesized. Edited by Angelo Pallini – UFV Insects and their hosts were collected and georeferenced in 14 states of Mexico from 2005 to 2007. The distribution areas, maps, and Received 09 October 2009 and accepted 21 habitat characteristics of Dactylopius, Opuntia sensu stricto, Nopalea June 2010 and Cylindropuntia were determined on the basis of ield collections and examination of museum collections.