Simone Mundstock Jahnke

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.

Internal reproductive organs of Cosmoclopius nigroannulatus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).

The internal reproductive organs of Cosmoclopius nigroannulatus males and females are described, illustrated and measured. No significant difference was registered among immature and reproductive structures of males and their aspect was also similar. However, in females noteworthy differences both in size and aspect were found.

Aprendizagem e memória de Telenomus podisi (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae)

The egg parasitoid Telenomus podisi Ashmead, 1893 is an important natural control agent of stink bugs. Its success as a parasitoid depends on its host-locating ability, which may be influenced by learning and memory. This study used lemongrass [Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf. (Poales, Poaceae)] extract to assess the capacity for learning and memory retention time of T. podisi at different developmental stages of the immature phase. Eggs of Euschistus heros (Fabricius, 1798) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) parasitized by T. podisi and at different parasitoid juvenile developmental stages were isolated in glass tubes containing filter paper with lemongrass extract or acetone solvent (control). After emergence, T. podisi females were tested in a Y-tube olfactometer containing both scents. Inexperienced females were subjected to the same scents as experienced. To assess memory, females that emerged from eggs that were in contact with lemongrass extract throughout the immature developmental stage were given a choice between lemongrass extract and acetone when they were 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours old. Females that had contact with the lemongrass during the juvenile phase preferred lemongrass, while inexperienced females or those exposed to acetone chose the solvent. The presence of lemongrass all through the immature developmental stage altered the chemotaxic orientation of T. podisi and prompted learning in these organisms that lasted for up to 72 hours.

Superparasitism of Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) by Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

ABSTRACT Diachasmimorpha longicaudata is the most widely used braconid in biological control programs of fruit flies around the world. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of different parasitoid-host ratios on D. longicaudata parasitism of Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepah fraterculus. Larvae of these fruit fly species were exposed to 5 different parasitoid-host ratios (4:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4). Subsequently, the numbers of oviposition scars and of parasitoid larvae per host were evaluated in the pupal stage. In both tephritid species, a larger number of scars and parasitoid larvae were observed at the 4:1 and 2:1 ratios. Results suggest that females of D. longicaudata can superparasitize both hosts. The differences between the tested parasitoid-host ratios suggest that there is an optimum parasitoid-host ratio for multiplying this natural enemy. These results are important for improving mass rearing programs of D. longicaudata.

Primeiro registro da ocorrência de Cirrospilus floridensis Evans (Hymenoptera) como parasitóide de Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera) no Brasil

This study reports the first record of Cirrospilus floridensis Evans in Brazil. This Eulophidae was obtained from pupae of Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (citrus-leafminer) present in infested leaves of the Montenegrina variety (Citrus deliciosa) and the hybrid tangor Murcott (C. sinensis x C. reticulata) collected from July of 2001 to June of 2003 in Montenegro, RS, Brazil. Adults, males and females of C. floridensis were registered.

Distribuição espacial de posturas de Cosmoclopius nigroannulatus Stål (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) em Nicotiana tabacum L. (Solanaceae)

The search for oviposition sites with good conditions for offspring development is common in many insect species. Predators usually lay eggs in various places in a culture to allow a more complete colonization and to reduce intraspecific competition. This knowledge is important to determine the role of predators in the control of phytophagous populations. The present work aimed at characterizing Cosmoclopius nigroannulatus Stal egg masses in tobacco field, and at identifying their spatial distribution pattern. A field with 270 tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum, Virginia type, var. k326), was surveyed from August 1999 to April 2000. The experimental field was located in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Each egg mass found had its position recorded in relation to the culture (coordinates), the plant vertical stratum (inferior, middle and apical) and plant structure (steam and leaf). After nymphal emergence, the corions were collected and brought to the laboratory to record the egg number/mass. A total of 176 egg masses were found in 34 sampling occasions. The egg masses dispersion pattern followed a random distribution in almost all occasions, considering both the Dispersion Index I (97%) and the Taylor Power Law Index (b = 0.9633). Most of the eggs (68.4%) were found on the plant apical third. The adaxial leaf side was also preferred for oviposition. The mean number of eggs/mass was 13.1 ± 4.98, ranging from two to 22. The egg masses distribution pattern in the experimental plot suggests an adequate usage of the available resources.

PARASITISM OF FRUIT FLIES (TEPHRITIDAE) IN FIELD, AFTER THE RELEASES OF Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (ASHMEAD) (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE) IN RIO GRANDE DO SUL

Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was introduced in 1994, in Northeastern Brazil, to evaluate its use in biological control programs of fruit flies. However, the effects of this specie on parasitism rates on the population of native parasitoids and fruit flies in Southern Brazil conditions are unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of releases of D. longicaudata on the parasitism rates on loquats, peach trees, strawberry guava trees, and persimmons in an experimental area in the city of Eldorado do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil. In the first year of the study, fruits were collected and stored in the laboratory to obtain pupae. The flies or parasitoids that emerged were counted and identified. In the second year, adults of D. longicaudata were reared in the laboratory on Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.) and larvae were released in the field (1.700 insects/ha) at each harvest time and the parasitism was evaluated in the same manner as in the first year. In the third year, the procedure was the same as the first year, without any releases. A significant increase in the rates of parasitism was recorded in the second year except in the persimmon, in which no parasitoid was recovered in any year. In the second year the number of emerged fruit flies was also lower. In the third year, no D. longicaudata were recorded and parasitism rates of parasitism were statistically similar to those found in the first year. The native parasitoids collected were Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brethes), Doryctobracon areolatus (Szepligeti), Doryctobracon brasiliensis (Szepligeti) and Utetes anastrephae (Viereck). These species were found in at least one kind of fruit even in the years after the introduction of the exotic parasitoid, indicating that it was not harmful to these species. We conclude that D. longicaudata can help to reduce the population of fruit flies in Eldorado do Sul region, in Rio Grande do Sul.

Spatial Patterns and Associations of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Its Parasitoid Doryctobracon areolatus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Organic Orchards of Psidium guajava and Acca sellowiana

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the spatial patterns and associations of the South American fruit fly (Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann); Diptera: Tephritidae) and its parasitoids in organic orchards of common guava and pineapple guava. The field study was conducted from Feb to Mar 2010 in 2 organically-managed orchards, one of common guava (Psidium guajava L.) (Myrtaceae) and the other of pineapple guava [Acca sellowiana (O. Berg) Burret] (Myrtaceae), in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil. Fruits were sampled from all trees at 2 sampling occasions, spaced 15 days apart, just before fruits were in the final maturation period. On each tree, 10 fruits were randomly collected from the entire canopy and held in the laboratory until the flies had pupated. Heterogeneity of insect count data was analyzed by fitting theoretical distributions to the data and calculating dispersion indices. The spatial arrangement was evaluated with SADIE. Local spatial associations were measured using a SADIE association index (I t a). In a common guava orchard the emerged individuals were A. fraterculus, and its parasitoid, Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti) (Par) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with a parasitism rate of 8.3%. The same 2 species occurred in a pineapple guava orchard, where the parasitism rate was 25.5%. The variances of the data for both the A. fraterculus and D. areolatus were greater than the corresponding means for most cases, hence the significance of both the dispersion index (I) and the values of k of the negative binomial suggested an aggregated distribution pattern. On the other hand, the clustering indices (v i. and v j ) and I t a suggested a random spatial pattern of A. fraterculus and the parasitoid for most situations (orchards and sampling times). Spatial association indices revealed significant associations for 5 of the 12 pair-wise comparisons, 3 in the common guava orchard and 2 in the pineapple guava orchard.

Número de gerações de um percevejo e seu parasitoide e da severidade da ferrugem asiática em soja, simulados em cenários de clima e manejo no norte do RS

The objective of this study was to simulate the number of generations of a soybean insect pest (Euschistus heros) and its parasitoid (Telenomus podisi) and a fungal disease (soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi) as influenced by sowing date, cultivar and time of occurrence of the pest and the disease. Bioclimatic models that predict development of the organisms and severity of the disease were integrated into a crop simulation model of soybean (DSSAT) that predicted phenological stages of the crop for scenarios of sowing data and cultivar maturity group in a long time series of daily meteorological data to Passo Fundo and Santa Rosa, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The results showed that regardless of the maturity group, the earlier the sowing date and the time of occurrence of E. heros in the field, the greater its number of generations (2 to 3) until physiological maturity. For T. podisi, a higher number of generations (5 to 6) was estimated for the earlier sowing dates and late-maturing cultivars. For soybean rust no significant trends of reduction in the mean disease severity was observed when advocated practices such as early sowing and early-maturing cultivars were used.

Caracterização ovariana e definição do número de gerações de mosca-das-frutas sul-americana durante o ciclo das culturas em dois pomares na região de Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil

The South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a major pest of fruit trees in southern Brazil. This study aimed to characterize the populations of fruit flies captured in traps with food baits, through the characterization of reproductive organs of females compared with females of the laboratory strain. Collections were performed in two orchards; the first, peach trees with conventional management; the second, guava trees without management; during a crop cycle. McPhail traps were used with grape juice at 25% and hydrolyzed protein at 5%. Collected females were dissected; their ovaries were measured in width and length, and the degree of sexual maturation was determined. Females maintained in the laboratory, with age controlled, were also dissected to serve as a comparison to the field specimens. A total of 895 females of A. fraterculus were captured in the orchard of guava and 139 in peach trees. Three physiological stages of the females from the ovarian cell differentiation were determined: immature, in development and mature. Ovaries from mature laboratory females were significantly smaller than those from the field. In the peach orchard, through the peaks of immature flies, three generations were identified during the crop cycle, until the harvest. In guava, the population peak of immature flies occurred at the end of the cycle, indicating that the population was able to colonize other fruit.