Pests and diseases of the representative species in the hedgerows of the Los Pantanos de Villa wetland, Lima, Peru

Abstract

This study was conducted on the hedgerows and native vegetation cover of the Los Pantanos de Villa
wetland, in Lima, Peru. The aim of the study was to identify the pests, diseases and their incidence
that may have been affecting the flora that serves as a hedgerow in the Los Pantanos de Villa wetland,
and to establish whether or not it acts as a channel of contagion affecting the fo

This study was conducted on the hedgerows and native vegetation cover of the Los Pantanos de Villa wetland, in Lima, Peru. The aim of the study was to identify the pests, diseases and their incidence that may have been affecting the flora that serves as a hedgerow in the Los Pantanos de Villa wetland, and to establish whether or not it acts as a channel of contagion affecting the following native flora: Typha domingensis (southern cattail, known in Peru as "totora”); Schoenoplectus americanus (chairmaker’s bulrush); and Paspalum vaginatum (silt grass). To this end, two different methodologies were employed. In the hedgerow, an inspection was conducted in order to identify insects, signs and symptoms, selecting a total of 95 individuals as samples. The second phase of the methodology consisted of creating 18-meter interior transects. It was found that the hedgerow contained a total of eight pests: Aleurodicus juleikae, Saissetia sp., Coccus sp., Clastoptera sp., Myzus persicae, Pseudococcus longispinus, Insignorthezia insignis and Icerya purchasi. In addition, two diseases were found to be present: powdery mildew and sooty mold. Compared to Myoporum acuminatum and Washingtonia robusta, the plant species Schinus terebinthifolius was the most affected. The presence of pests was not detected in the native flora, and it was therefore concluded that the hedgerow does not act as a channel of contagion affecting interior plant cover.