José Ednilson Miranda

Isobutyl amides -potent compounds for controlling Diatraea saccharalis

BACKGROUND A dichloromethane-methanol extract of the seeds of Piper tuberculatum Jacq. (Piperaceae) and two isobutyl amides, 4,5-dihydropiperlonguminine (1) and pellitorine (2), which were isolated by chromatographic methods, were assayed for their lethality against the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis F. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). RESULTS Bioassays were carried out with fourth-instar caterpillars through topical application of test solutions to the dorsal surface of the prothorax, and dose-response correlations were determined. Significant insect mortalities were observed 24, 48 and 72 h after treatment at concentrations of >or= 100 microg insect(-1). The LD(50) and LD(90) values for compound 1 were 92.83 and 176.50 microg insect(-1), and for compound 2 they were 91.19 and 184.56 microg insect(-1). CONCLUSION According to the LD(50) and LD(90) for compounds 1 and 2, it can be inferred that the values reflect an acute lethal response to both compounds, based on interaction(s) of the toxicants with a primary target or series of targets. Thus, the amides were demonstrated to have potential value in the control of the sugarcane borer.

Fitness cost of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in velvetbean caterpillar Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)

Selection pressure to obtain resistant genotypes can result in fitness cost. In this study, we report the effects of the selection pressure of a commercial formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis on biological aspects of a Dipel-resistant strain of velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner. Comparisons of Dipel-resistant and susceptible individuals revealed significant differences in pupal weight and larval development time. Both strains (Dipel-resistant and susceptible) were susceptible to Cry1Ac toxin expressed in foliar cotton tissues. Resistant and susceptible strains showed low survival rates of 22.5% and 51.2%, respectively, when fed with Greene diet containing Bt-cotton. Larvae bioassayed after three laboratory generations presented lower survival and less instar numbers than individuals maintained in the laboratory for more than 144 generations. Pupal weight was 9.4% lower and larval development time was 1.9 days longer in the resistant population than in the susceptible strain. Other parameters, such as duration of pupal stage, adult longevity, number of eggs per female, oviposition period, and egg fertility, remained unaffected.

Identificação e avaliação em campo do feromônio sexual de uma população brasileira de Spodoptera cosmioides

The objective of this work was to identify the sex pheromone of Spodoptera cosmioides and to evaluate whether there is pheromone cross‑attraction in Spodoptera sp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Spodoptera cosmioides gland extracts were analyzed by GC‑FID and GC‑MS. Wind tunnel and electrophysiology experiments were conducted to evaluate the role of gland compounds. In the field, different pheromone traps were tested: S. frugiperda commercial lure; (9Z)‑9‑tetradecenyl acetate (Z9‑14:OAc) and (9Z,12E)‑9,12‑tetradecadienyl acetate (Z9,E12‑14:OAc) trap; two females of S. cosmioides trap; and hexane control trap. Four acetates were identified in the S. cosmioides female gland extracts as Z9‑14:OAc, Z9,E12‑14:OAc, (11Z)‑11‑hexadecenyl acetate (Z11‑16:OAc) and hexadecyl acetate (16:OAc), but only the first two acetates induced electrophysiological responses from S. cosmioides male antennae. In wind tunnel experiments, S. cosmioides and S. frugiperda males responded more strongly to conspecific blends; however, there was some cross‑attraction, as 47% males of S. frugiperda and 25% males of S. cosmioides responded to heterospecific blends. In field experiments, S. frugiperda and S. cosmioides showed the same response pattern as observed in the wind tunnel bioassays. In summary, the sex pheromone components of S. cosmioides are Z9‑14:OAc and Z9,E12‑14OAc; they are important for conferring species specificity, and there is pheromone-mediated cross attraction between S. frugiperda and S. cosmioides .

Desenvolvimento e produção de seda do Bombyx mori L. exposto a análogos do hormônio juvenil

Insect growth is regulated by a hormonal complex that includes the juvenile hormone, which assures to the insect the retention of its larval characteristics, preventing maturation. Applications of juvenile hormone analogues on Bombyx mori have induced increases in silk production; however, high doses may promote deleterious effects on the biology of the insect. The present study evaluated the spraying of different juvenile hormone analogues on the silkworms and their effects on the larval development and silk production. Larvae were exposed to piryproxyfen, methoprene and fenoxycarb at titers of 20, 2 and 0.02 ppb a.i., respectively, sprayed on the insects and food at 48 hours after the fourth ecdysis. The administration of juvenile hormone analogues promoted increases in the larval period, silk glands, cocoon and pupae weight. The tested products had a negative effect on the cocooning rate. Methoprene promoted a larger increment in the silk production and smaller fall in the cocooning rate, and its use can be recommended in sericulture.

Efeito de vitaminas e esterol como aditivos foliares no desenvolvimento de Bombyx mori L. e influência do modo de aplicação

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effects of different methods of foliar application of the additives nandrolone decanoate (anabolic steroid) 0,5%; ascorbic acid (vitamin C) 0,5%; retinol palmitate (vitamin A) 0,5%; and retinol acetate (vitamin A) 1,0% on some biological parameters of the silkworm. The experiment of application method (foliar spray prior to delivery, after delivery and soaking before feeding) used: nandrolone decanoate 0.5%, ascorbic acid 0.5%, and retinol palmitate 0.5%. The test of insect development evaluated: duration and larval viability, weight of cocoon, cocooning rate, liquid silk content, adult longevity, number of eggs per female and rising up time. For the application of foliar additives, the following were determined: weight gain, length, diameter and abdomen diameter of fifth instar larvae, and length, diameter and weight of silk gland. The results showed that although ascorbic acid provided the best value for the development of the caterpillars body, it did not correspond to significant increase in production; retinol palmitate did not affect the larvae body development; retinol acetate and retinol palmitate prolong the larval period, without, however, significantly altering the production parameters. The immersion method of leaves before being delivered to the caterpillars is the most feasible for the foliar application of additives.