Transmisión de la enfermedad marchitez sorpresiva en palma aceitera por Lincus curvatus Campos & Roelly Macropygium reticulare Fabricius (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

The behavior of Lincus curvatus Campos & Roell and Macropygium reticulare (Fabricius) as possible vectors of the disease known as sudden wilt in the oil palm hybrid ( Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis ) was studied in the province of Orellana, Ecuador. The hosting site of both insects and those carrying flagellates were determined. Disease transmission with L. curvatus in 26-month-old crops and with M. reticulare in 4- and 8- year- old crops was also determined. The values within these determinations were compared by a multiple comparison analysis of proportions using the software Compapro Win 2.0. Of 1025 specimens collected, 76.98 % corresponded to L. curvatus and 23.02 % to M. reticulare . Of the specimens of L. curvatus , 80.48 % was found on the inflorescence peduncles and 19.52 % in the crop interlines; 100 % of M. reticulare was found only in the crop interlines. It was confirmed that 83. 40 % of Lincus sp. n. and 59.75 % of M. reticulare populations carried flagellates (Family: Tripanosomatidae). The disease transmission by both species was confirmed. With L. curvatus the symptoms were reproduced on 70.8 % of the plants evaluated, with the first case reported 27 days after  the insects were deposited on the peduncle. With M. reticulare, the symptoms were reproduced in 25.0 % of the 4 year and in 16.67 % of the 8 year palms after 140 and 144 days, respectively, of being deposited the insects on the roots. Key words: Elaeis oleifera, Elaeis guineensis, Vector insect , Lincus, Macropygium, Sudden wilt, Phytomonas.