Distribución geográfica del género Manduca (Sphingidae) en Ecuador y sus implicaciones agroecológicas

Cañizares - Huilca, M., Guevara, D., & Piñas, F. (2026). Geographic distribution of Manduca moths (Sphingidae) in Ecuador: Agroecological roles and management implications. ACI Avances En Ciencias E Ingenierías, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.18272/aci.3895

Abstract

The genus Manduca (Sphingidae) comprises moth species that play significant ecological and agricultural roles, acting both as pollinators and as crop pests. This study aimed to analyze their geographical distribution in Ecuador by integrating data from scientific collections, digital repositories, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Using this approach, we identified distribution patterns across the country’s four main regions (the Andes, Coast, Amazon, and Galápagos), as well as associations with agricultural crops and various ecosystems. The highest concentration of Manduca records was found in the Andean region (170 records), followed by the Coastal region (154 records), with Manduca rustica showing particularly notable presence. These findings suggest a potential preference for montane areas and indicate that Manduca species may play a crucial role in the pollination of crops in these zones. Additionally, occurrences of Manduca as agricultural pests were documented in certain areas. The results underscore the importance of adopting agroecological strategies that acknowledge the dual roles of these moths both as valuable pollinators and as agricultural pests as discussed in the concluding section.

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References

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Geographic distribution of Manduca moths (Sphingidae) in Ecuador: Agroecological roles and management implications

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