Elen L. Aguiar-Menezes

Diversity of fly species (Diptera: Tephritoidea) from Passiflora spp. and their hymenopterous parasitoids in two municipalities of the southeastern Brazil

This paper evaluated the infestation of two passion fruit species by tephritids and lonchaeids in two municipalities of southeastern Brazil. Floral buds of sweet passion fruit (Passiflora alata) and yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) were collected in Seropedica (RJ) and Vila Valerio (ES), respectively. Fruits of P. alata were also collected in Seropedica. Three species of Lonchaeidae were obtained from floral buds of P. alata (Neosilba zadolicha McAlpine & Steyskal, Neosilba sp. and Dasiops longulus Norrbom & McAlpine), and species of four genera of Tephritoidea were obtained from fruits: Anastrepha pseudoparallela Loew (Tephritidae), Dasiops frieseni Norrbom & McAlpine (Lonchaeidae), Euxesta sp. and Notogramma cimiciforme Loew (Otitidae). Specimens of Ganaspis sp. (Figitidae: Eucoilinae) were recovered from some sweet passion fruits infested by tephritids or lonchaeids. Only specimens of Dasiops inedulis Steyskal (Lonchaeidae) were obtained from floral buds of yellow passion fruit. Parasitoids belonging to the genus Opius Wesmael (Braconidae: Opiinae) were also collected in association with this fly species.

Infestação natural de moscas frugívoras (Diptera: Tephritoidea) em café arábica, sob cultivo orgânico arborizado e a pleno sol, em Valença, RJ

Frugivorous flies have been acquiring great economic importance in coffee crop because they cause premature dropping of coffee beans and significantly decrease the quality of the beverage. The coffee plant is also a natural reservoir of Tephritidae species that infest fruits of economic importance. This study evaluated the influence of the shaded and unshaded coffee systems, under organic management, on the natural infestation of fruits of Coffea arabica L. var. Icatu Amarelo by frugivorous flies. An experiment in completely randomized design was carried out in Valenca, RJ, Brazil, with two treatments (shaded coffee with Musa sp. and Erithrina verna Vell. and unshaded coffee monoculture) and four replicates. A 1kg-sample of maturing fruits per plot was harvested in Mach 2004 to evaluate infestation and identify the flies. The mean infestation index was significantly higher in the shaded coffee system. Four species of Tephritidae (Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) and Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi), and six of Lonchaeidae (Neosilba pendula (Bezzi), Neosilba pseudopendula (Korytkowski and Ojeda), Neosilba certa (Walker), Neosilba glaberrima (Wiedemann), Neosilba n.sp.9 and Neosilba n.sp.10) were recovered from coffee fruits. Nine parasitoid species were obtained, six belonging to Braconidae (Asobara anastrephae (Muesebeck), Doryctobracon areolatus (Szepligeti), Doryctobracon brasiliensis (Szepligeti), Utetes anastrephae (Viereck), Opius bellus Gahan and Opius sp.), and three to Figitidae (Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brethes), Dicerataspis flavipes (Kieffer) and Odontosema anastrephae Borgmeier). The total percent parasitism was 8.8% and 12.4% in the shaded and unshaded coffee systems, respectively.Frugivorous flies have been acquiring great economic importance in coffee crop because they cause premature dropping of coffee beans and significantly decrease the quality of the beverage. The coffee plant is also a natural reservoir of Tephritidae species that infest fruits of economic importance. This study evaluated the influence of the shaded and unshaded coffee systems, under organic management, on the natural infestation of fruits of Coffea arabica L. var. Icatu Amarelo by frugivorous flies. An experiment in completely randomized design was carried out in Valença, RJ, Brazil, with two treatments (shaded coffee with Musa sp. and Erithrina verna Vell. and unshaded coffee monoculture) and four replicates. A 1kg-sample of maturing fruits per plot was harvested in Mach 2004 to evaluate infestation and identify the flies. The mean infestation index was significantly higher in the shaded coffee system. Four species of Tephritidae (Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) and Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi), and six of Lonchaeidae (Neosilba pendula (Bezzi), Neosilba pseudopendula (Korytkowski and Ojeda), Neosilba certa (Walker), Neosilba glaberrima (Wiedemann), Neosilba n.sp.9 and Neosilba n.sp.10) were recovered from coffee fruits. Nine parasitoid species were obtained, six belonging to Braconidae (Asobara anastrephae (Muesebeck), Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti), Doryctobracon brasiliensis (Szépligeti), Utetes anastrephae (Viereck), Opius bellus Gahan and Opius sp.), and three to Figitidae (Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brèthes), Dicerataspis flavipes (Kieffer) and Odontosema anastrephae Borgmeier). The total percent parasitism was 8.8% and 12.4% in the shaded and unshaded coffee systems, respectively.

Primeiro registro de Lipaphis pseudobrassicae Davis (Hemiptera: Aphididae) e sua associação com insetos predadores, parasitóides e formigas em couve (Cruciferae) no Brasil

This study describes the fauna of predator insects, parasitoids and ants associated with aphids on kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala D.C.) in organic system. The aphid was identified as Lipaphis pseudobrassicae Davis, and this is the first record of the species attacking kale in Brazil. Primary parasitism by Diaeretiella sp. and Aphidius sp. and hyperparasitism by Aphydencyrtus sp., Alloxysta sp., Pachyneuron sp. and Syrphophagus sp. were observed. Twenty species of Coccinellidae were collected, and eight of them were observed in adult and larval stages attacking the aphid: Hyperaspis (Hyperaspis) festiva Mulsant, which was the most abundant (72.5% of all predator insects obtained), Cycloneda sanguinea (L.), Eriopis connexa Germar, Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer, Hippodamia convergens Guérin, Heterodiomus sp., Scymnus (Pullus) sp.1 and Scymnus (Pullus) sp.2. Aphidophagous Syrphidae larvae collected on leaves ofkale infested by L. pseudobrassicae belong to the species Allograpta exotica (Wiedemann) and Ocyptamus gastrostactus (Wiedemann). Larvae and pupae of Syrphidae were parasitized by Pachyneuron sp., Syrphophagus sp. and Diplazon laetatorius Fabricius. Larvae of Chrysopodes sp. were observed feeding on L. pseudobrassicae. Species of ants associated with the colony of this aphid were Ectatomma quadridens Fabricius and Pheidole sp.

Análise faunística de moscas-das-futas (Diptera: Tephritidae) da região noroeste do estado do Rio de Janeiro

This paper aimed to characterize the fruit fly populations in four municipalities of the Northwest region of Rio de Janeiro State (Bom Jesus do Itabapoana, Italva, Itaperuna and Natividade), performing a faunistic analysis of the specimens of fruit fly collected with plastic McPhail traps in commercial orchards of guava (Psidium guajava L.) and orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck), and backyard gardens during a two year period. The total of 29,909 females of Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) and 27,621 females belong to 16 species of Anastrepha Schiner was collected. The highest value of the Shannon index was reported in Bom Jesus do Itabapoana (H = 0.96), as well as highest species richness (S = 14). Fruit fly populations had low diversity indexes (a = 1.1 - 1.5). The predominant species (more frequent, more abundant, constant and dominant) were C. capitata in Natividade and Bom Jesus do Itabapoana, and A. fraterculus (Wied.) in Italva and Itaperuna. Regarding fruit fly species composition, the population in Natividade and Bom Jesus do Itabapoana were more similar between each other, composing a distinct group of the fruit fly populations from Italva and Itaperuna, which composed another group.

NATIVE HYMENOPTERAN PARASITOIDS ASSOCIATED WITH ANASTREPHA SPP. (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) IN SEROPEDICA CITY, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

Parasitoids associated with five species of Anastrepha were recovered from host fruits that belong to 12 species of plants growing in Seropedica city, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We recovered six native hymenopteran parasitoid species: Doryctobracon areolatus (Szepligeti), Utetes (Bracanastrephae) anastrephae (Viereck), Opius bellus Gahan (Braconidae, Opiinae), Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brethes) (Figitidae, Eucoilinae), Trichopria anastrephae Lima (Diapriidae, Diapriinae) and an unidentified species of Pteromalidae. The most abundant parasitoid species was D. areolatus, representing 61.8% of all parasitoids. The parasitoid species recovered were well established in a wide diversity of fruit and Anastrepha fly species, including economically important pests such as A. fraterculus, A. obliqua and A. sororcula. The analysis of the relative abundance of the recovered parasitoids in different fruit species suggests, at least for the three encountered opiine parasitoids, that the host-parasitoid relationship was influenced by certain physical characteristics such as size and weight of the host fruit. Our results support the original proposal of M. Aluja and J. Sivinski (pers. comm.) that some native host plant species for the Anastrepha flies facilitate parasitoid multiplication. They deserve attention as natural enemy reservoirs and may be important to biological control strategies within fruit fly integrated management programs.

Diversidade de moscas-das-frutas, suas plantas hospedeiras e seus parasitóides nas regiões Norte e Noroeste do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Due to the increase in fruit crops acreage in the northern and northwestern regions of Rio de Janeiro State and to the economic and quarantine importance of the fruit flies to this agricultural activity in the world, this study was carried out in five municipalities of these regions: Cambuci, Campos dos Goytacazes, Itaocara, Sao Francisco do Itabapoana, and Sao Joao da Barra, aiming to study the fruit fly species, their host plants and their parasitoids. The specimens were collected using McPhail traps with aqueous solution of hydrolyzed protein to 5% and in fruit samples. In the traps, 4% of the total of fruit flies captured were Ceratitis capitata and 96% were from the genus Anastrepha in a total of 15 species. From these flies captured in the traps, only six species infested fruits among the 12 species of fruits sampled. Fruit trees of the families Anacardiaceae, Malpighiaceae, Myrtaceae, Oxalidaceae, Passifloraceae and Sapotaceae were host plants of fruit flies. Only three species of Anastrepha (A. fraterculus, A. sororcula and A. zenildae) infested guavas of the commercial variety Paluma. The parasitoids of fruit fly larvae found were Doryctobracon areolatus and Aganaspis pelleranoi, parasitizing them in fruits of guava and other fruit trees in these regions.

Natural Host Plants and Native Parasitoids Associated with Anastrepha Pulchra and Other Anastrepha Species (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Central Amazon, Brazil

A natural host (Mouriri collocarpa) and a parasitoid (Doryctobracon areolatus) for Anastrepha pulchra are reported for the first time in Brazil. We report new hosts for Anastrepha atrigona and Anastrepha bahiensis in the Brazilian Amazon. Parasititoids attacking A. atrigona, Anastrepha coronilli, and A. pulchra are reported.

Diversidade de Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) em plantas aromáticas (Apiaceae) como sítios de sobrevivência e reprodução em sistema agroecológico

Studies show that Apiaceae may provide concentrated vital resources for predator insects, stimulating their abundance, diversity and persistence in agricultural systems, thereby increasing their efficiency as biological control agents. Among the predatory insects, Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) on many different species both as larvae and adults, complementing their diet with pollen and/or nectar. This study aimed to determine the diversity and relative abundance of Coccinellidae species visiting plants of Anethum graveolens (dill), Coriandrum sativum (coriander) and Foeniculum vulgare (sweet fennel) (all Apiaceae), particularly in their blooming seasons, and to evaluate the potential of these aromatic species for providing the resources for survivorship and reproduction of coccinelids. Coccinellids were collected by removal of samplings from September to October, 2007. Besides one unidentified species of Chilocorinae, five species of Coccinellinae were collected: Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer, Coleomegilla quadrifasciata (Schonherr), Cycloneda sanguinea (L.), Eriopis connexa (Germar) and Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville. Dill provided a significant increase in the abundance of coccinellids as compared to coriander and sweet fennel. These aromatic species were used by coccinellids as survival and reproduction sites, providing food resources (pollen and/or prey), shelter for larvae, pupae and adults, and mating and oviposition sites as well.

Parasitismo Sazonal e Flutuação Populacional de Opiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Parasitóides de Espécies de Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae), em Seropédica, RJ

The present study was conducted to evaluate annual changes in the abundance of the parasitoids Opiinae and in their percentage of parasitism in Anastrepha larvae under influence of the climatic factors and the availability of host fruits in Seropedica, RJ, Brazil. The Opiinae Doryctobracon areolatus (Szepligeti), Utetes (Bracanastrepha) anastrephae (Viereck) and Opius bellus Gahan were collected in association with five species of Anastrepha: A. fraterculus (Wied.), A. leptozona Hendel, A. obliqua (Macquart), A. serpentina (Wied.) and A. sororcula Zucchi. During both years of sampling (1998 and 1999), D. areolatus was the most abundant species and was present in all monthly collections. U. anastrephae and O. bellus were not present in the fruit samples collected during winter (June to August). These Opiinae responded similarly to seasonal changes in climatic conditions and number of emerged flies. Although the percentages of parasitism of Anastrepha by the three species of Opiinae were not correlated with the climatic factors studied, there was a tendency of the parasitoids to parasitize more actively in the warmer and wetter months of the year (summer). In these months, the highest availability of native fruit hosts was also observed. The correlations between monthly number of adults of each parasitoid species and the average monthly rainfall and mean temperature were significant and positives. There was no correlation with the average monthly relative humidity. The three species of parasitoids were more abundant during the warmer and wetter period of the year (summer, December to February, and autumn, March to May). Decreasing of temperature and rainfall recorded from May determined a reduction in the number of parasitoid and flies emerged during winter. The fluctuations in number of Opiinae between seasons were significantly correlated with the changes in numbers of Anastrepha populations, indicating a direct density-dependent relationship. The Opiinae become more effective at high host densities, indicating that they exhibit a low host-searching capacity.

Consórcio couve-coentro em cultivo orgânico e sua influência nas populações de joaninhas

O consorcio de culturas e comumente praticado na producao de hortalicas devido a diversos beneficios economicos. Em alguns casos, podem reduzir infestacoes de pragas por favorecer a conservacao dos inimigos naturais nos agroecossistemas. Avaliou-se a viabilidade agronomica do consorcio de couve e coentro, sob manejo orgânico, com base em parâmetros fitotecnicos, alem de sua influencia sobre populacoes de joaninhas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), na comparacao com os respectivos cultivos solteiros. O coentro, representando a cultura secundaria, foi utilizado com a finalidade de fornecer recursos para as joaninhas. O estudo foi realizado em area do Sistema Integrado de Producao Agroecologica em Seropedica-RJ. O experimento consistiu dos consorcios: 1) couve consorciada com coentro, cujas quatro linhas de plantas foram colhidas na fase vegetativa (consorcio I), e 2) couve consorciada com coentro, cujas plantas das duas linhas internas (proximas a linha da couve) foram colhidas na fase vegetativa e as duas linhas externas foram cortadas apos floracao (consorcio II). Em ambos consorcios foram avaliados os parâmetros fitotecnicos da couve e do coentro na fase vegetativa (padrao comercial), enquanto que no consorcio II, tambem se avaliou as populacoes de joaninhas, por meio de coletas semanais de adultos, em comparacao com a couve em cultivo solteiro. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com quatro repeticoes. O coentro nao interferiu na produtividade da couve consorciada e sua introducao contribuiu positivamente para a abundância e diversidade de especies de joaninhas. O indice de equivalencia de area para o consorcio I, com referencia aos rendimentos de biomassa aerea fresca, foi superior em 92% em relacao ao cultivo solteiro. Este resultado demonstra a viabilidade do consorcio I, no manejo orgânico adotado, para plantios de outono nas condicoes edafoclimaticas da Baixada Fluminense.