Harley Nonato de Oliveira

Development of the Predatory Stinkbug Brontocoris tabidus Signoret Heteroptera: Pentatomidae on Different Proportions of an Artificial Diet and Pupae of Tenebrio molitor L. Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae

The development of the Neotropical predatory pentatomid Brontocoris tabidus on an artificial diet based on beef meat and liver was evaluated. The predator showed significantly longer nymphal development and lower adult weights on this diet than when reared on pupae of the mealworm Tenebrio molitor. The survival of nymphs fed exclusively on the artificial diet was somewhat lower compared with feeding on T. molitor pupae. When B. tabidus was bred on this artificial diet during part of its nymphal period i.e. during the second; second and third; and second, third and fourth instars , and was subsequently returned to T. molitor pupae, the predator nymphs completed the nymphal stage with a developmental rate similar to that of nymphs fed on live prey throughout. The adults attained after switching from the artificial diet to live prey from the third and fourth instar onwards had similar weights to those in the control. Considering the relatively good results obtained with B. tabidus and other members of the pe...

Nymphal development and adult reproduction of the stinkbug predator Podisus nigrispinus (Het., Pentatomidae) under fluctuating temperatures

Abstract: Developmental rates, egg and nymph survival and adult reproduction of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Het., Pentatomidae) were investigated under six fluctuating temperatures and night–day regimes with a photoperiod of 14 h light: 10 h dark compared with a check temperature of 27 ± 1.5°C. Lower development threshold temperatures for egg, nymphal stage and from egg to adult were estimated at 13.70, 11.96 and 12.68°C with a requirement, respectively, of 54.34, 284.25 and 327.13 degree‐days. The highest egg‐adult development rate was achieved at 25–35°C. At 10–20°C only 7.0% of nymphs reached adult stage, whereas at 27, 15–25 and 17–27°C, 93.0, 87.3 and 91.1% adult emergence was achieved, respectively. The females that emerged at 10–20°C laid no eggs, while those ar 25–35, 15–25, 17–27 and 27°C produced a total of 92.1, 453.2, 415.0 and 325.0 eggs, respectively. Results for threshold temperature and thermal requirement were approximately those reported at constant temperatures by other researchers, while the reproductive parameters of P. nigrispinus were better at intermediate temperatures ranging from 15–25 to 20–30°C.

Parasitism rate and viability of Trichogramma maxacalii (Hym.: Trichogrammatidae) parasitoid of the Eucalptus defoliator Euselasia apison (Lep.: Riodinidae), on eggs of Anagasta kuehniella (Lep.: Pyralidae)

Parasitism rates and viability of individuals of two populations of Trichogramma maxacalii (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) were evaluated in two Eucalyptus plantations in the Counts of Ribeirao Preto, State of Sao Paulo and Nova Era, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. These parasitoids were reared on eggs of the host Anagasta kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) with or without honey and were exposed to eggs of the host after 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 h after emergence. Each recently emerged parasitoid female was placed in a 4.0 cm 0.7 cm glass tube with a blue 3.5 cm 0.5 cm cartoon with 40 glued non-viable eggs of A. kuehniella and parasitism was permitted during 24 h. Viability of T. maxacalii (above 96.0%) was not affected by the presence of food, by the origin of the parasitoid population, or by the period in which it was kept without eggs of the host. However, parasitism rate was higher than 75.0% and lower than 65.0%, for parasitoids with or without honey, respectively. Individuals of the population from Sao Paulo showed higher parasitism rates when they received eggs of the host at longer periods after its emergence. Parasitism was higher for the population from Minas Gerais when eggs of the host were provided soon after emergence. Parasitism behaviour in these two populations shows that they can be combined to obtain a better efficiency of T. maxacalii in programs of mass release against Euselasia apisaon (Dalman) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) in Eucalyptus plantations. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Influência da idade dos ovos de Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) no parasitismo de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley

Among the agents of biological control, the parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma represent one of the most important groups, as they are able to control many pests in agriculture. The objective of this work was to determine the best age of the Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) eggs so that the Trichogramma pretiosum Riley could have the best efficiency against this pest. One, two, three and four-days-old eggs were offered for the parasitism during 24 hours, at 25 ± 1oC, relative humidity 70 ± 10% and photofase of 14 hours. One-day-old eggs showed the highest rates of parasitism, viability, and number of descendants for each female. The highest efficiency with T. pretiosum will be reached in the field conditions, when observed a great density of H. zea eggs until two days of embryonic development.

Biological characteristics of Trichogramma maxacalii (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on eggs of Anagasta kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Individuals of two populations of Trichogramma maxacalii (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) were collected from eggs of Euselasia apisaon (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), a lepidopteran defoliator of Eucalyptus, in plantations in the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, Brazil. This study investigated the sex ratio, number of parasitoids per egg, and longevity of individuals of these two populations of T. maxacalii, when this parasitoid was reared receiving eggs of the factitious host Anagasta kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in different periods after emergence, and with or without honey. Sex ratio of T. maxacalii varied from 0.44 to 0.60, and was affected by the interaction between populations, availability of food (honey), and length of time in which the parasitoid stayed without host eggs after their emergence. The population of T. maxacalii collected in São Paulo produced a larger number of individuals per egg of the host A. kuehniella and lived longer when fed.

Nymphal development and feeding preference of Podisus maculiventris (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) on eggs of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) parasitised or not by Trichogramma brassicae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Predation by Podisus maculiventris nymphs, a predatory pentatomid, was evaluated with eggs of the flour moth Ephestia kuehniella (Pyralidae), parasitised or not by Trichogramma brassicae (pupae stage). Eggs of this pyralid were glued on rectangular cardboard and presented to nymphs of P. maculiventris as food. The pentatomid successfully reached adult stage when feeding on unparasitised eggs, indicating that flour moth eggs can be used as a factitious food for rearing this predator. Pentatomid nymphs that received only parasitised eggs died before reaching fourth instar. In choice tests, P. maculiventris showed a preference for preying on unparasitised eggs of E. kuehniella rather than those containing pupae of T. brassicae. These results show that it is possible to combine the use of P. maculiventris with releases of T. brassicae in control programs of lepidopteran pests.

Controle de Atta laevigata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) com a isca Landrin-F, em área anteriormente coberta com Eucalyptus

Although many insecticides have been tested as baits against leaf cutting ants, the market was dominated by those with dodecachlor. This compound was banned and the new baits for these pests have either sulfluramid or chlorpirifos. The objective of this work was to test the Landrin-F (chlorpirifos 0.45%) bait against the leaf cutting ant Atta laevigata (F. Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) compared to Mirex-S (sulfluramid 0.3%) bait. Treatments used were: application of 30 to 120 grams of the Landrin-F bait for each ant hole; application of 8g/m2 of ant nest of Landrin-F bait; application of 8g/m2 of ant nest of Mirex-S bait and; control, no bait was applied. After 24 and 48 hours the transport and refusal of the baits were evaluated, and after 7, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 and 210 days ant colonies activity was evaluated. Ant colonies were excavated after 180 days and its activity was evaluated after 210 days. The application of Landrin-F bait based in active ant holes increased the amount of bait in relation to bait quantity applied per square meter of ant colony. Since the efficiency of the Landrin-F bait was similar in both methodologies it is recomended that this bait should be applied at the dosage of 8 g/m2 of ant colony to control A. laevigata.

Controle De Acromyrmex laticeps nigrosetosus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), em eucaliptal no Pará, com Iscas Granuladas com Sulfluramida ou Clorpirifós

This research was developed in an Eucalyptus plantation of Jari Celulose S.A., in Almerin, Para State, Brazil from September 1996 to January 1997. The objectives were to test the efficiency of two ant baits with sulfluramid and another one with chlorpirifos (at 4, 6, 8 and 10 grams per square meter of ant nest) against Acromyrmex laticeps nigrosetosus Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Both baits with sulfluramid, in all dosages tested, showed more than 99.0% of transport with no devolution. All ant colonies treated with these baits were dead during the final evaluation while mortality of nests of this ant treated with chlorpirifos ranged from 55.56 to 66.67% for the different dosages tested. The sulfluramid baits can be recomended to control A. laticeps nigroselosus in the humid tropic of Brazil.