Euripedes B. 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.

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.

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.

First record of Coptera haywardi Loiácono (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) as a parasitoid of fruit-infesting Tephritidae (Diptera) in Brazil

This study reports the first occurrence of Coptera haywardi Loiacono as a pupal parasitoid of fruit-infesting Tephritidae in Brazil. We reared this diapriid from fruits of Eugenia uniflora (Surinam cherry) infested by Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) and/or Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi. We also identified two other species of pupal parasitoids: Pachrycrepoideus vindemmiae Rondani and Spalangia endius Walker (Pteromalidae). Four species of larval-pupal parasitoids were also recorded: Doryctobracon areolatus (Szepligeti), Utetes (Bracanastrepha) anastrephae (Viereck), Opius bellus Gahan (Braconidae) and Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brethes) (Figitidae).

Behavioral responses of the arboreal termite Nasutitermes corniger (Isoptera: Termitidae) to wood extracts

The termite Nasutitermes corniger is attracted to weathered wood, but it is not known whether this attraction is of chemical or physical nature. This work examines whether wood extracts can change the attraction of N. corniger to a food substrate. In a first experiment, filter paper impregnated with a eucalyptus extract, Eucalyptus grandis, and another one with a solvent were placed in the foraging arena of N. corniger nests under laboratory conditions. The extracts used were from weathered or unweathered wood. During the second experiment, two tests were performed using eucalyptus wood. First, a piece of unweathered wood was impregnated with an extract of weathered wood (treatment) or solvent (control). In the second test, a piece of weathered wood was impregnated with an extract of unweathered wood (treatment) and another one with solvent (control). At the end of the tests, the number of termite recruitment on each substrate was quantified. Filter paper recruited more termites when treated with unweathered wood extracts or with extracts of weathered wood than when impregnated with the solvent. Unweathered wood treated with extracts of weathered wood recruited more termites than the control. However, weathered wood impregnated with extracts of unweathered wood recruited similar numbers of termites as the same wood impregnated with the solvent. It was verified that chemicals from weathered or unweathered wood increased the foraging activity of N. corniger in neutral substrates, but only chemicals from weathered wood altered the attraction of N. corniger to eucalyptus wood.

Suscetibilidade de cinco essencias florestais a Coptotermes gestroi

Termites are well known for their ability to damage wood and various types of wood-derived products. This study was performed in the municipality of Seropedica, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, with the objective of evaluating the susceptibility of the wood of five different forest species to the activity of the Asian subterranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi. Wood stakes from the following forest species were used as specimens: pine (Pinus sp., Pinaceae), Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa, Lecythidaceae), cabbage angelin (Andira inermis, Leguminosae-Papilionoideae), macaranduba (Manilkara huberi, Sapotaceae) and pink ipe (Tabebuia avellanedae, Bignoniaceae). The stakes, with dimensions of 2 cm x 2 cm x 16 cm, were subjected to the activity of C. gestroi from September 2, 2006 to June 2, 2007. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with four replications in an 11 x 5 x 3 factorial arrangement. Twelve stakes of each of the five forest species were installed at each of eleven sites, totaling 660 stakes. Three evaluations were performed, at 90, 180 and 270 days after stake installation. The results indicated that the pine, Brazil nut and cabbage angelin stakes were more susceptible to C. gestroi attack, while the pink ipe and macaranduba stakes suffered no significant damage from this termite. There was a significant negative correlation between the wood consumption rate and the wood density of the species studied. The woods most susceptible to C. gestroi attack presented moderate to low densities and therefore less resistance, as in the case of pine and cabbage angelin.

Effect of Time of Permanence of Host Fruits in the Field on Natural Parasitism of Anastrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The present work evaluated the influence of time of permanence of the fruit in the field after its abscission on natural parasitism of Anastrepha spp. In February 2000, three trees of Spanish prune (Spondias purpurea L.) and three guava tree (Psidium guajava L.) were selected in the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sampling consisted of 250 infested fruits collected per tree. Fifty of them were taken immediately to the laboratory in order to obtain Tephritidae pupae (0-day exposure). The remaining fruits were divided in four batches and placed in plastic trays on a layer of sand, underneath the tree canopy. Every other day, the fruits of one tray were transported to the laboratory (2, 4, 6 and 8 days exposure). A total of 1,123 flies of the genus Anastrepha [A. obliqua (Macquart) and A. fraterculus (Wiedemann)] and 1,880 Hymenopteran parasitoids (Braconidae, Figitidae and Pteromalidae) were recovered from Spanish prune. From guava, 4,714 adults of Anastrepha spp. (A. obliqua, A. fraterculus and A. sororcula Zucchi) and 383 Hymenopteran parasitoids (Braconidae, Figitidae and Pteromalidae) were obtained. The highest percent parasitism by Braconidae (67.2% in Spanish prune and 6.4% in guava) was recorded on fruits of 0-day, suggesting that they would prefer the larvae in the fruits while on the tree. For Figitidae the higher percent parasitism (2.8% in Spanish prune and 4.7% in guava) occurred on fruits present for six days in the field and for Pteromalidae in fruits present for eight days (2.4% in Spanish prune and 1.9% in guava).

Parasitóides associados às moscas-das-frutas (Diptera: Tephritoidea) em café orgânico com e sem arborização em Valença, RJ, Brasil

Objetivou-se, com esse trabalho, determinar as especies de parasitoides associados as moscas-das-frutas infestando seis cultivares de cafe arabica (Coffea arabica L.), em sistema de cultivo com e sem arborizacao, sob manejo orgânico. Uma amostra de 1 kg de frutos maduros por cultivar foi colhida em maio de 2005. Os frutos foram depositados em bandejas plasticas, contendo uma camada de areia, a qual serviu como substrato para a fase de pupa. Os puparios foram quantificados e mantidos em copos plasticos transparentes com areia ate a emergencia dos insetos. Sete especies de parasitoides da ordem Hymenoptera foram identificadas, das quais cinco da familia Braconidae: Asobara anastrephae (Muesebeck), Doryctobracon areolatus (Szepligeti), Utetes anastrephae (Viereck), Opius bellus Gahan e Opius sp., e duas da Figitidae: Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brethes) e Lopheucoila anastrephae Weld. Larvas de Tephritidae e Lonchaeidae infestando frutos dos seis cultivares foram parasitadas por Braconidae e Figitidae, com media de 14,2% e 7,7% nos sistemas sem e com arborizacao, respectivamente.