THE ONION APHID, Neotoxoptera formosana TAKAHASHI, 1921 (HEMIPTERA: APHIDIDAE), IN CERRO PUNTA, CHIRIQUI

Onion (Allium cepa L.), is one of the main crops grown in Tierras Altas, Chiriqui; a productive area responsible for the supply of these items in more than 80% in Panama. Although the insect pests known to affect onion cultivation include the cutworm Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel, 1766) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), the leaf miner Liriomyza sp. (Diptera: Agromycidae) and the thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae); also aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae), cause direct and indirect damage by serving as virus vectors. Recently, a high infestation of a dark aphid was found in bulbs stored in Cerro Punta, so the purpose of this work was to identify this species. For this, samples were collected for analysis in the laboratory and specialized literature was consulted. According to the results, the species corresponds to Neotoxoptera formosana Takahashi, 1921 (Hemiptera: Aphididae), commonly known as the onion aphid. This species can affect both field plants and stored bulbs and can also affect other crops of the Alliaceae family, such as garlic (Allium sativum L.), leek (Allium ampeloprasum L.) and chives (Allium schoenoprasum L.). The insect is of Asian origin and was reported in Panama more than 15 years ago. In addition to the identification, some details about its biology and integrated pest management recommendations are provided, which include cultural control, biological control, ethological control and chemical control. In the future, it is expected to continue researching this and other important pests for onion cultivation.