Bipartite relationships between Coccidae (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) and their host plant families in Cuba

Abstract

The goals of this study were the updating of Coccidae species and their host plant species and host families in Cuba, as well as to determine general aspects of bipartite interactions between coccids species and host families. There were determined 34 coccid species and 300 hsot plant species belonging to 81 host families. Network´s generalization level was high (H´2= 0,27), as well as robustness, both for insects (R=70%) and for host families (R=78%). The index d´ showed that 64.7% of the insects were generalist in their interactions with host families and 94,35 of host families were generalist, according to the generalization-specialization level of their associated insects. The network showed a very well-defined core-periphery structure (CPness= 0.87) and also a modular structure with seven modules, among which were determined nodes with topological functions as connectors, peripherical or ultraperipherical. Because of a combination of high links numbers, generalist character, network position as core nodes and topological function as connectors, it can be mention the coccids species Saissetia coffea, Coccus hesperidum, Ceroplastes floridensis, Coccus viridis and Saissetia oleae, and the host families Myrtaceae, Lauraceae, Sapotaceae, Rubiaceae and Moraceae. These species and host families are esential in the mantaining and cohesion of network interactions. It is concluded that host families with the mentioned characteristics migth facilitate the propagation of coccid species, important pests of a wide varietes of plants.