Luiza Rodrigues Redaelli

Oviposition behaviour of Gryon gallardoi (Hym.; Scelionidae) on eggs of Spartocera dentiventris (Hem.; Coreidae)

The oviposition behaviour of Gryon gallardoi (Hymenoptera; Scelionidae) on Spartocera dentiventris (Hemiptera; Coreidae) host eggs was investigated in the laboratory. Masses of 12 non-parasitized freshly laid (less than 24 h old) eggs were exposed to 2-5 days old mated females with previous oviposition experience (n = 10). Behaviour was observed for 2 h under the stereomicroscope. The eggs were Then kept individually at 25 degrees +/- 1 degree C/12 h photophase till hatching. The mean number of parasitized eggs was 7.8 +/- 0.81 (mean +/- SE). Five distinct kinds of behaviour were observed: drumming with antennae on the eggs, ovipositor insertion, egg marking, walking and resting. On average, ovipositor insertion was not followed by marking 4.3 +/- 0.76 times per female. In nearly all of these events, parasitism was unsuccessful. Walking and resting were observed less frequently than the other behaviours (1.6 +/- 0.56 and 2.1 +/- 0.48 times/female, respectively). Superparasitism occurred on average 3.6 +/- 0.88 times per egg mass, with 2.7 +/- 0.57 eggs being superparasitized. Among these, on average 87.4 +/- 5.37% led to successful development of an adult parasitoid. The average time spent on the each kind of oviposition behaviour was 1.5 +/- 0.57 min for drumming, 3.9 +/- 0.56 min for ovipositor insertion and 0.4 +/- 0.06 min for marking. There was no significant variation on the duration of each behaviour as the parasitoid progressed in parasitizing an egg mass. Ovipositor insertion almost always (87.58%) occurred in the longitudinal extremities of the egg. In average 31.1 +/- 7.21% of the individual emerging per egg mass were males, the larger proportion of males originating from the 2nd oviposition. The results show a range of oviposition behaviours common to the Scelionidae family. Egg marking behaviour was a good indicator of the effective oviposition by females. Superparasitism is only partially avoided, but its occurrence does not imply a failure of parasitoid emergence. The sex ratio is skewed towards females, and most males come from the first ovipositions.

Ocorrência de Parasitismo em Ovos de Spartocera dentiventris (Berg) (Hemiptera: Coreidae) em Cultura de Fumo

The paucity of information about egg parasitoids of Spartocera dentiventris (Berg) motivated the present work. This study aimed to determine the parasitoid species involved as well as to quantify the mortality caused by these natural enemies in field conditions. The investigation was carried out in a tobacco crop (cultivar Virginia, var. K-326) in Porto Alegre, RS. From December/97 to February/98, 20 egg masses of known age were left exposed to all causes of mortality for a period of 13 days. Two species of parasitoids were found on eggs of S. dentiventris: Gryon gallardoi (Brethes) (Hym.: Scelionidae) and Neorileya ashmeadi Crawford (Hym.: Eurytomidae). From a total of 321 observed eggs, only 34.3% (110 eggs) originated nymphs of S. dentiventris. Parasitism was the main mortality factor, killing 148 eggs (46.1%) from the total observed.

Dispersal of the egg parasitoid Gryon gallardoi (Brethes) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) in tobacco crops.

A mass marking-recapture experiment was carried out to study the dispersal of Gryon gallardoi (Brethes) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) in tobacco crops. Parasitoids emerged in the laboratory were marked with dye powder. Six separate field trials were conducted in Jan/Feb 2002 involving the simultaneous release of marked parasitoids. Dispersal was determined by the recapture of individuals in sets of sticky and Moericke traps arranged in three concentric circles arranged at 1.4 m intervals from the central point of release. Traps were checked 4, 8, 24, 28, 32 and 48 h after parasitoid release and weather data were recorded at 2-h intervals from 9 to 17 h at the site. Of the 699 marked parasitoids released, 91 were recaptured (13.02%). Fewer females were recaptured in the late afternoon, suggesting they are less active than males after dusk. G. gallardoi recaptures were not associated with average wind direction in any trials. After eight hours of release, recaptures occurred mostly in the traps farthest from the release point, suggesting that the experimental area was small in relation to the dispersal capacity of the parasitoid. Fitting a 4-h-after-release density-distance curve to a geometric model and considering a daily activity of 12 h, the female dispersal capacity was estimated to be at least 7.6 m/day. The values reported here must be considered as indicative of the potential for active dispersal under the particular experimental conditions of these trials. It is possible that G. gallardoi may disperse downwind much farther than the distance recorded in this study.

Parâmetros reprodutivos de Corecoris dentiventris Berg (Hemiptera: Coreidae) em cultura de fumo (Nicotiana tabacum)

Information about Corecoris dentiventris Berg, is mostly restricted to adult morphology, host plants and injuries. The objective of the present investigation was to study some reproductive parameters of this species. The experiment was carried out in a tobacco culture (Virginia type, var. K 326), in the experimental area of the Departamento de Fitossanidade of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, in Porto Alegre, RS. The reproductive parameters were estimated from ten couples isolated in plants, protected by cages, and observed until their death. The following average values were found: eggs/female = 355.9; pre-oviposition period = 11.8 days; oviposition period = 48.61 days; adult longevity = 62.6 and 66.1 days, respectively, for males and females. The reproductive potencial was estimated as 2.0 X 104 descendents per female in tobacco crop.

Comparative Biology of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Reared on Anastrepha fraterculus and Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

ABSTRACT The braconid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) is the most widely used parasitoid in biological control programs of tephritids in the Americas. Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) is a major fruit fly pest of exotic and native fruits in southern Brazil. However, life history parameters such as longevity, sex ratio, preoviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition periods, fecundity and fertility of D. longicaudata using A. fraterculus as host, have not been determined. These parameters were compared to those derived from the better known host, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), the Mediterranean fruit fly. In the laboratory, A. fraterculus was at least as suitable a host for D. longicaudata as C. capitata. Female parasitoids derived from A. fraterculus were larger and had a higher net reproductive rate (R0). The mean numbers of superparasitism records were higher in A. fraterculus larvae (1.6 ± 0.22) than in C. capitata (0.4 ± 0.07). Other variables did not differ between hosts. Given suitable environments D. longicaudata may become established in A. fraterculus populations or successfully mass-reared on this host species and released.

Morphometry and distribution of sensilla on the antennae of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Antennal sensilla of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.) were examined using scanning electron microscopy. In the flagellum, there are trichoid, basiconic, clavate type I and II, and styloconic sensilla and microtrichia. Only microtrichiae and chaetica sensilla were observed in the scape and pedicel. The number of sensilla in the flagellum was similar between sexes. At the apex there was a higher density of trichoid and an absence of clavate sensilla, while basiconic sensilla were more abundant in the proximal region.

Moscas frugívoras associadas a mirtáceas e laranjeira "Céu" na região do Vale do Rio Caí, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

This study aimed at recognizing frugivorous flies species in Myrtaceae: Eugenia uniflora L., Campomanesia xanthocarpa Berg. Psidium cattleianum Sabine, Psidium guajava L. and Acca sellowiana (Berg.) Burret., as well as in Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (Rutaceae), at Vale do Cai region, Rio Grande do Sul. Fruits were collected at the maturation stage of each fruit species between October 2004 and July 2005, and at the laboratory they were placed in pots with sand and were kept at 12h photoperiod, 80 ± 10% RH and 25 ± 1oC. Pupae were individualized and their characteristics were recorded. In Tephritidae only Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.) was recorded and in Lonchaeidae, Neosilba n. sp. 3, Neosilba zadolicha McAlpine & Steyskal and Neosilba certa (Walker). These last two species were recorded for the first time in Rio Grande do Sul. Only on P. cattleianum all species were recorded. Results show that A. fraterculus is the most frequent fruit-fly species found attacking the studied fruit plants in Vale do Cai region.

Spatial distribution of parasitism on Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, 1856 (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) in citrus orchards

Many species of microhymenopterous parasitoids have been registered on Phyllocnistis citrella, the citrus leafminer. The present study aimed to identify the spatial distribution pattern of the native and introduced parasitoids of P. citrella in two citrus orchards in Montenegro, RS. The new shoots from 24 randomly selected trees in each orchard were inspected at the bottom (0-1.5 m) and top (1.5-2.5 m) stratum and had their position relative to the quadrants (North, South, East and West) registered at every 15 days from July/2002 to June/2003. The leaves with pupae were collected and kept isolated until the emergence of parasitoids or of the leaf miner; so, the sampling was biased towards parasitoids that emerge in the host pupal phase. The horizontal spatial distribution was evaluated testing the fitness of data to the Poisson and negative binomial distributions. In Montenegrina, there was no significant difference in the number of parasitoids and in the mean number of pupae found in the top and bottom strata (chi2 = 0.66; df = 1; P > 0.05) (chi2 = 0.27; df =1; P > 0.05), respectively. In relation to the quadrants, the highest average numbers of the leafminer pupae and of parasitoids were registered at the East quadrant (chi2 = 11.81; df = 3; P < 0.05), (chi2 = 10.36; df = 3; P < 0.05). In the Murcott orchard, a higher number of parasitoids was found at the top stratum (63.5%) (chi2 = 7.24; df =1 P < 0.05), the same occurring with the average number of P. citrella pupae (62.9%) (chi2 = 6.66; df = 1; P < 0.05). The highest number of parasitoids and of miners was registered at the North quadrant (chi2 = 19. 29; df = 3; P < 0.05), (chi2 = 4.39; df = 3; P < 0.05). In both orchards, there was no difference between the numbers of shoots either relative to the strata as well as to the quadrants. As the number of shoots did not varied much relative to the quadrants, it is possible that the higher number of miners and parasitoids in the East and West quadrants would be influenced by the higher solar exposure of these quadrants. The data of the horizontal spatial distribution of the parasitism fit to the negative binomial distribution in all sampling occasions, indicating an aggregated pattern.

Biology of Corecoris dentiventris Berg, 1884 (Hemiptera, Coreidae) in tobacco culture (Nicotiana tabacum)

Corecoris dentiventris Berg, 1884 (HEM., Coreidae) represents a pest in the tobacco culture in Southern Brazil. Nymphs and adults cause the wilting and twisting of the tobacco leaves due to their sucking habit. There are very few works about this species and these are restricted to concise description of the adult morphology, records of host plants and enumeration of injuries. The present investigation aims to study the life cycle of this bug. The experiment was carried out in a tobacco culture (Virginia type, var. K 326) implanted in the experimental area of the Departamento de Fitossanidade of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, in Porto Alegre, RS. The life cycle was studied in field conditions, in nylon cages, from egg clusters oviposited by females of the colonizing generation. The preferred oviposition site was the main vein in the abaxial side of the leaf. The average incubation period was 13.7 +/- 0.04 days and the egg viability, 99.63%. The average periods of the different instars of the bug, in days, were: 5.4 +/- 0.08, 9.7 +/- 0.19, 4.5 +/- 0.08, 5.3 +/- 0.08, 9.0 +/- 0.13 respectively for the first, second, third, fourth and fifth instars. The first instar presented the highest mortality (13.86%). The accumulated mortality of the nymphal phase was 35.29%. The sex ratio was 0.97 males: 1 female.

Morphology and distribution of antennal sensilla of Gryon gallardoi (Brèthes) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) females

With the aid of scanning electron microscopy, the external morphology and distribution of the antennal sensilla were described for females of Gryon gallardoi (Bréthes), an egg-parasitoid of coreids. The geniculated and clavated antennae are composed of 12 antennomeres. Along the flagelum we registered dorsal glands and seven types of sensilla: papillary, chaetica of two sizes--long and short types, styloconic grooved-peg, sickle-shaped and trichodea with numerical and spatial variation among the flagellomeres. Functional aspects of the sensilla are discussed in the context of G. gallardoi antennal drumming behavior. Thus, the determination and the description pattern of antennal sensilla in G. gallardoi, in the present study, is an advance regarding the elucidation of the mechanisms involved in the host selection behavior of this species.