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The baridinos have gained importance in agriculture; however, many of them are yet to be described, as is the case for those affecting orchids. It is for this reason that the aim of this research was to identify the insect causing the wilting of petals on orchids belonging to the Catasetum integerrimum species at a site at La Estanzuela, municipality of Emilian Zapata, and El Espinal, municipality of Naolinco, in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Orchids of the species C. integerrimum in specimens with flowers affected were monitored, as insects cause damage to these at the time of flowering. Thus, according to the morphological characteristics of larvae and adults and of the male and female genitals observed in vegetative material, as well as larvae and adults present on the flowers, it was confirmed that the species of curculionid that attacks the orchid is Stethobaroides nudiventris Champion, 1907. This is the first report of this curculionid as the agent causing wilting on C. integerrimum petals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Spatial and temporal genetic structures were examined across sites on islands and mainland (continuous forest) populations of an epiphytic orchid, Catasetum viridiflavum , using 17 polymorphic allozyme loci. I tested whether patches on islands or at mainland sites comprised small local populations or a large population. Low among population differentiation was observed across the landscape suggesting that the species-specific pollinator and tiny wind-dispersed seeds maintain interconnections among distant patches. Temporal genetic structure among stage classes, and among breeding individuals are important components of the maintenance of genetic variation in this orchid. The natural history of this species including small breeding populations, probable high frequency of mating among relatives, and the high rates of seed movement among sites contribute to the high F IS . These data show that physically isolated patches in this epiphytic orchid comprise a single larger genetic population, which is independent of the physical distances among sites. Although quite different in ecological and life history characteristics, the genetic structure of this orchid demonstrates a pattern similar to temperate and tropical trees in fragmented landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]