Maurício José Fornazier

Scale Insect (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) Pests of Papaya (Carica papaya) in Brazil

ABSTRACT Scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) are widely distributed sap-feeding insects that damage a wide variety of plants, and reduce the productivity and commercial value of many crops, including fruits such as papaya (Carica papaya). These pests cause direct and indirect damage to papaya and other plants, and some species of this group are of quarantine importance and, thus, affect export and import of papaya fruit. To determine which species of scale insects commonly occur on papaya in Brazil, a survey of the scale insects on this crop was conducted over four years in commercial orchards located in the principal production regions of papaya in this country. Six species of scale insects were collected: Aonidiella comperei McKenzie, Coccus hesperidum L., Dysmicoccus grassii (Leonardi), Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, a Pseudococcus species, and Selenaspidus articulatus (Morgan). The armored scale A. comperei often causes severe damage to the crop and was the most common and widely distributed scale insect species found on papaya in Brazil in this study. This is the first report of A. comperei on papaya in the States of Bahia, Ceará, Minas Gerais, and Paraíba, and of Co. hesperidum on papaya in Bahia, Ceará, and Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Information on the geographic distribution of scale insects that have been recorded on papaya worldwide and in Brazil is summarized.

Spread of Two Invasive Flies (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Infesting Commercial Fruits in Southeastern Brazil

Summary Two invasive fruit flies, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura and Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae), recently have become established, and are expanding their range in the Neotropics. This research documents the range expansion of these species in southeastern Brazil, where they were found infesting cultivated blackberries and strawberries in the highlands of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Drosophila suzukii also was found associated with rotting Psidium cattleianum, and for the first time associated with papaya at sea level. Drosophila suzukii and Z. indianus may further affect establishment and production of important soft fruit crops and papaya in this region of Brazil. Management methods for fruit production in this Brazilian region need to be improved to avoid damage and further spread of D. suzukii.

Meroncidius intermedius (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae): A Threat to Brazilian Banana

Summary The family Tettigoniidae is associated with grassland damage in several countries, but there are few reports of tettigoniids causing damage to other crops. Specimens of katydids were found damaging banana fruits in Brazil. A survey of their occurrence was conducted, and the damage to banana fruits was quantified. Specimens were identified as Meroncidius intermedius Brunner Von Wattenwyl (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). This is the first report of damage caused by this species to an economic crop, and to banana. Symptoms and frequency of damage to banana crops, and behavior of M. intermedius, are discussed.

Scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) associated with arabica coffee and geographical distribution in the neotropical region

Coffee is one of the most important Brazilian agricultural commodities exported, and Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo States are the main coffee producers. Scale insects are important coffee pests, and 73 species of Cerococcidae (3), Coccidae (18), Diaspididae (6), Eriococcidae (1), Ortheziidae (3), Pseudococcidae (21), Putoidae (2) and Rhizoecidae (19) have been associated with roots, branches, leaves, flowers and fruits of Arabica coffee in the Neotropics. Eight species were found associated with Arabica coffee in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo States in this study, and Coccidae was the most frequent family. Coccus alpinus, Cc. celatus, Cc. lizeri, Cc. viridis, and Saissetia coffeae (Coccidae) were found in both states; Alecanochiton marquesi, Pseudaonidia trilobitiformis (Diaspididae), and Dysmicoccus texensis (Pseudococcidae) were only found in Minas Gerais. Alecanochiton marquesi and P. trilobitiformis are first reported in Minas Gerais, and Cc. alpinus in Espírito Santo, on Arabica coffee. All scale insect species were associated with coffee leaves and branches, except D. texensis, associated with coffee roots. Fourty seven scale insect species have been found occurring in Brazilian Arabica coffee, and in Espírito Santo (28) and Minas Gerais (23). Widespread and geographical distribution of each species found are discussed.

Thrips Species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Brazilian Papaya (Brassicales: Caricaceae) Orchards as Potential Virus Vectors

Summary Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are pests of many fruit crops because they cause feeding damage or act as virus vectors. Seven thrips species were collected using Moericke yellow traps in papaya (Brassicales: Caricaceae) orchards, and Selenothrips rubrocinctus (Giard), the most frequent one (76.6%), occurred during all months evaluated. This is the first record of Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom) and F. australis Morgan in papaya orchards. Some of these species are minor pests of papaya, but some of them, such as F. schultzei, were reported as virus vectors to other commercial crops. The importance of these findings and needs for future research are discussed.

Range Expansion of the Litchi Erinose Mite Aceria litchii (Acari: Eriophyidae) in Brazil

Summary Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is cultivated in subtropical and tropical regions, and in Brazil, commercial orchards began in the 1970–80s. The litchi erinose mite (LEM), Aceria litchii (Keifer) (Acari: Eriophyidae), is a pest of litchi worldwide. In Brazil, LEM was first reported in this crop in São Paulo State in 2008, and Espírito Santo is the second Brazilian state with infestation of this mite discovered in a 18-year-old orchard of 150 plants of the litchi cultivar ‘Bengal’. Cultural and chemical measures for LEM management are presented, and this is the first range expansion of LEM into Espírito Santo State, Brazil.

NEW FINDINGS OF ANASTREPHA (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) IN THE STATE OF ESPÍRITO SANTO, BRAZIL

has 267 valid species (Zucchi 2007; Canal 2010; Norrbom & Korytkowski 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012; Uramoto & Zucchi 2010; Norrbom & Uchoa 2011) with 112 (42%) recorded for Brazil, representing the greatest diversity of species of this genus in the world (Zucchi 2008).In Brazil, State of Espirito Santo has one of the largest fruit fly diversities in the country (Zucchi 2008). Surveys including fragments of Atlantic rainforest in the north of Espirito Santo increased the records of