Evôneo Berti-Filho

Reproductive capacity of Trichospilus diatraeae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on different host pupae (Lepidoptera)

This paper deals with the reproductive capacity of the endoparasitoid Trichospilus diatraeae Cherian & Margabandhu, 1942 (Hym.: Eulophidae) on lepidopteran host pupae: Diatraea saccharalis F. (Pyralidae), Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner, Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith and Heliothis virescens Fabricius (Noctuidae). The experiments were carried out under control (25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% RH, 14-hour photofase). Parasitism did not differ significantly among host species. However there was significant difference in the progeny emergence, with the highest number for S. frugiperda (130.6 ± 5.8 offsprings/pupa) and lowest for H. virescens (105.3 ± 2.9 offsprings/pupa). However no significant difference between D. saccharalis (122.9 ± 5.5 offsprings/pupa) and A. gemmatalis (118.3 ± 6.5 offsprings/pupa) was observed.

Life history of Spalangia gemina Boucek (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), a fast-breeding microhymenopteran pupal parasitoid of muscoid flies

Abstract. Laboratory studies at 25.5oC and 70–75% r.h. demonstrated that the average daily survival rate for females of the parasitoid Spalangia gemina Boucek (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) was 0.907 over a 20‐day period, with 50% mortality in 17.3 days. Mean immature developmental time of S. gemina was 22 days and the population growth rate was c. 40‐fold per generation. The females successfully parasitized 1‐, 2‐ and 3‐day‐old pupae of Musca domestica L. and parasitism of 98–100% was obtained at parasitoid to host ratios of 1:0.5‐2.5. Parasitism of 81–87% was obtained at parasitoid to host ratios of 1:10. The male to female sex ratio was 1:1.59. S.gemina appears to have advantages over other Spalangia spp., which have immature development times of 28–32 days under comparable conditions, for the biological control of Muscidae.

Control of Cerconota anonella in a soursop orchard

This research is related to the control of Cerconota anonella (Sepp.) (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae), the most important pest of soursop, Annona muricata L. Nine treatments were tested with twenty replications in a completely randomized design. The best results were obtained using microperforated plastic bags and clorphiriphos treated kraft paper bags.

Occurrence of the teak defoliator Hyblaea puera (Cramer, 1777) (Lepidoptera: Hyblaeidae) in teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) in Brazil

The occurrence of the Hyblaea puera (Cramer, 1777) in homogeneous plantations of teak, Tectona grandis L.f., in Brazil, is reported here. Infestations of this pest were observed in the districts of Caceres and Rosario Oeste, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The occurrence of this moth is also registered in other Brazilian areas such as: Chapada dos Guimaraes and Nobres (State of Mato Grosso), Jatai (State of Goias), Dourados (State of Mato Grosso do Sul) and Rio de Janeiro (State of Rio de Janeiro).

Artificial Diet for Rearing the Annona Fruit Borer Cerconota anonella Sepp, 1830 (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae)

Cerconota anonella is the most important pest of the Annonaceae in the Neotropical region for larval damage, which can result in 60 to 100% losses in fruit production. However information on the pest’s biology is scarce. This research compared different artificial diets for rearing C. anonella under laboratory conditions (25.0 ± 1.0 °C; 60 ± 5.0% RH and 14 h photophase). Five diets were compared: A (bean, soybean meal, wheatgerm, casein and yeast), B (maize flour, wheatgerm and yeast), C (wheatgerm and casein), D (wheatgerm and soybean) and E (wheatgerm and soybean). In diet E, the amount of wheatgerm was higher than that in diet D. The results indicated that diet E was the most suitable one for the development of C. anonella.RésuméL’objectif de ce travail est de comparer des milieux artificiels destinés à l’élevage de Cerconota anonella Sepp, 1830 en conditions de laboratoire (25,0 ± 1.0 °C; HR 60,0 ± 5.0% et 14 h de photopériode). Cinq milieux artificiels ont été comparés: A (haricot, farine de soja, germe de blé, caséine et levure), B (farine de maïs, germe de blé et levure), C (germe de blé et caséine), D (germe de blé et soja) et E (germe de blé et soja). La quantité de germe de blé du milieu E est plus élevée que celle du milieu D. Les résultats montrent que le milieu E est le mieux adapté au développement de C. anonella.

Exigências térmicas e estimativa do número de gerações da broca-do-fruto Annona (Cerconota anonella)

Cerconota anonella is the most important pest of the Annonaceae in the Neotropical region. Larval damage can result in 60 to 100% losses in fruit production. The objectives of this research were to study the biology of the Annona fruit borer C. anonella in different temperatures, to determine their thermal requirements and estimate the number of generations to the cities producers of Sao Paulo state. To determine the duration, viability and thermal requirements insects were reared in sugar apple, at different temperatures (18, 21, 25, 28, 30 and 32°C), relative humidity and 90.0±5.0 photoperiod of 14 hours. The duration of the stages development and the biological cycle (egg-adult) were affected by temperature and were higher in lower temperatures; the viability was higher in the temperature range from 21 to 30°C. The lowest temperature threshold development (Tb) and thermal constant (K) for the egg, caterpillar, pupal and life cycle were 10.20°C and 83.33 GD; 11.72°C and 249.71 GD, 8,69°C and 161.33 GD; 11.05°C e 478.14 GD, respectively. Based on normal climatic l, the number of annual generations of C. anonella ranged from 9 to 10 and from 7 to 8 if it was considered the only fruiting time . These results demonstrate the high potential of this pest in the field.

Mantispa minuta Fabricius (Neuroptera : Mantispidae) on egg sacs of the orb-weaver spider Parawixia bistriata (Araneidae) in forests of Eucalyptus grandis in Brazil

This is the first report of the interaction between the two entomophagous agents Mantispa minuta Fabricius (Mantispidae) and Parawixia bistriata Rengger, an orb-weaver spider (Araneidae). From egg sacs kept in the laboratory we observed the emergence of adult neuropterans followed by the emergence of a high number of spiderlings. This association illustrates the interactions among the invertebrate predators coexisting in Eucalyptus plantations managed without chemical treatment, in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

Parasitoids of Cerconota anonella (Sepp., 1830) (Lep.: Oecophoridae) in soursop (Annona muricata L.).

The quantification of natural enemies actually living within a given crop is very important, because it helps in pest control decisions. Therefore a survey of natural enemies of Cerconota anonella (Sepp.) was carried out in a soursop crop between March,1997 and April,1998 at Maceio, AL (lat.9°S, long. 35°W), Brazil. The parasitism was defined by the ratio: the number biological forms of natural enemies and the biological forms of pests and parasitoids. The insects observed, in order of incidence, were: Apanteles sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Rhysipolis sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) e Xiphosomella sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) . The lowest percentage of parasitism was found in October 1997 (6.6%) and the highest one in January 1998 (80.27%), with an annual average of 38.1%.

The first Australian record of a species of Echetlus originally described from Brazil (Phasmatodea: Verophasmatodea: “Anareolatae”)

Two species of the Australian genus Echetlus Stål, 1875 have been reported from Brazil, one of them being destructive to Eucalyptus plantations. Both species were supposed to have been introduced from Australia. Now the first specimen from Australia of one of these, E. evoneobertii Zompro & Adis, 2001, has been traced in a German museum.

Aspects of the biology and behavior of Nesolynx sp. (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae)

Foram estudados alguns aspectos da biologia e do comportamento de Nesolynx sp (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), parasito de pupas de Psorocampa denticulata (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae), uma das lagartas desfolhadoras do eucalipto no Brasil. Os adultos deixaram a pupa hospedeira atraves de um orificio circular aberto em sua regiao dorsal, ocorrendo o acasalamento imediatamente apos a emergencia. A longevidade dos adultos foi de dois dias para os machos e de quatro dias para as femeas. Com relacao a especie hospedeira constatou-se uma maior progenie originada em pupas de Diatraea saccharalis que em Galleria mellonella. A elevacao da temperatura de 21 + 1 °C para 26 + 1 °C acarretou um aumento significativo no numero de adultos emergidos, independentemente da especie hospedeira. A emergencia de adultos cresceu proporcionalmente ao tempo de exposicao ao hospedeiro ate 3,50 dias, diminuindo consideravelmente apos este periodo. Como o parasitoide apresentou reproducao partenogenetica o numero de machos emergidos foi significativamente maior que o de femeas. A razao sexual foi de 0,96 para os insetos originarios de femeas virgens ou acasaladas e o ciclo de vida foi de 18,34 dias nestas duas condicoes de acasalamento.