Sônia Maria Forti Broglio

The impact of coffee and pasture agriculture on predatory and omnivorous leaf-litter ants

Abstract Ants are known to function as reliable biological indicators for habitat impact assessment. They play a wide range of ecological roles depending on their feeding and nesting habits. By clustering ants in guilds, it is possible both to assess how agriculture and forest fragmentation can disturb ant communities and to predict the ecological impacts due to losses of a specific guild. This study aimed at determining the impact of non-shaded coffee and pasture agriculture on predatory and omnivorous guilds of leaf-litter ants of Atlantic Forest fragments in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Both coffee and pasture agriculture influenced leaf-litter ant community, although coffee was more disruptive than pasture. Coffee agriculture not only disturbed the diversity of predatory ants, but also negatively affected the number of predatory and omnivorous ants when compared to forest fragments. In contrast, pasture agriculture only disrupted the abundance of predatory ants. Fragment edges skirting crops were negatively affected in terms of leaf-litter ant abundance, but not diversity. Cluster analysis showed that forest fragments were similar irrespective of the cultivation, but the borders were similar to the crop. The study assessed agriculture impact by surveying ant guilds, and revealed that the predatory guild is more susceptible than omnivorous ants.

Stingless bees damage broccoli inflorescences when collecting fibers for nest building

The stingless bee Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is an important pollinator for various crops, but constitutes an occasional pest of other plant species since it causes injury to leaves, stems, flowers and fruits while collecting nest materials. The aim of the present study was to determine the damage caused by T. spinipes to a broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica, Brassicaceae) growing on an organic farm. A significant number of plants (72.5 %) presented damaged inflorescences, while 39% of all of the inflorescences suffered some degree of injury. The activities of T. spinipes caused scarifications on the stems of the inflorescences, and these typically evolved to epidermal cicatrices up to 10 mm wide. In some cases, the lesions were sufficiently deep to cause partial destruction of the vascular tissues, and this lead to thinner (< 5 mm diameter) floral stems that may collapse. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the attack of broccoli plants by T. spinipes. The results obtained should serve to highlight the possibility that stingless bees could be responsible for direct and/or indirect damage to vegetable crops, and to stimulate the development of control strategies for these incidental pests.

First report and morphological redescription of Teleonemia morio (Stål) (Hemiptera, Tingidae) in Annona squamosa L. (Annonaceae) in Brazil

First report and morphological redescription of Teleonemia morio (Stal) (Hemiptera, Tingidae) in Annona squamosa L. (Annonaceae) in Brazil. This is the first report of a severe attack of Teleonemia morio (Stal, 1855) (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Tingidae) on Annona squamosa L. (custard apple), causing up to 80% of losses of infested trees. In order to facilitate the identification of this insect pest, the adult female of T. morio is redescribed based on specimens collected in Palmeira dos Indios, Alagoas, Brazil.

Biological characteristics of Telenomus alecto and Trichogramma galloi reared on eggs of the sugarcane borer Diatraea flavipennella

Diatraea flavipennella (Box) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) is one of the most destructive pests in sugarcane plantations in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Developmental characteristics and parasitism potential of the egg parasitoids Telenomus alecto Crawford (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) and Trichogramma galloi Zucchi (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) were compared with the aim of selecting a suitable species for biological control of D. flavipennella. Both T. alecto and T. galloi developed well and were readily adapted to D. flavipennella eggs as host. Although, T. galloi presented higher viability, with more adults emerging per host egg and higher sex ratio, the developmental period (egg-adult) was shorter in T. alecto and female longevity was extended. In addition, T. alecto exhibited significant higher levels of parasitism during the first three days after emergence than T. galloi. Thus, both parasitoids studied here offer considerable potential for the control of D. flavipennella in sugarcane.

Controle de Cerconota anonella (Sepp.) (Lep.: Oecophoridae) e de Bephratelloides pomorum (Fab.) (Hym.: Eurytomidae) em frutos de pinha (Annona squamosa L.)

Sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.), is a tropical fruit tree of the Annonaceae family, whose market has expanded each year and intensely grown in the north-eastern Brazil, where small producers have its fruits as main source of income. However, problems caused by two key pests of sugar apple, Cerconota anonella (Sepp. .1830) (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) and Bephratelloides pomorum (Fab. .1808) (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), have limited the production and marketing of the fruit. In order to minimize these losses, a field experiment was carried out in Maceio, Alagoas State, Brazil, to evaluate different ways to control these pests. The experiment was set in randomized complete block design, with eight treatments and four replicates. Each replicate corresponded to four fruits, totaling sixteen fruits per treatment. The treatments were: unprotected fruits (control); open white waterproof paper bag; microperforated plastic bags; white NWF open bag (non-woven fabric); red NWF open bag; wire cage lined with fabric voil; insecticide Profenofos (12 g/L-1) + Cypermethrin (1,2 g/L-1) and kaolin (10 g / 100 mL-1). The following variables were evaluated in fruits: number of holes caused by the pests, weight, length and diameter, percentage of fruits harvested and the cost of the treatment per unit. The best result was obtained with red NWF open bag, obtaining 87,50% of marketable fruit free from insect damages. The microperforated plastic bags had the lowest cost, but its fragility, prevents reuse in following crops. Therefore, the NWF red open bag is indicated as the most economical and efficient.

Desempenho de Trichogramma galloi (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) sobre ovos de Diatraea spp. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of Trichogramma galloi (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on eggs of Diatraea flavipennella and D. saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), as well as the biological characteristics of the parasitoid in both hosts, and to elaborate the fertility life table. For this, tests with and without choice and bioassays to evaluate the biological characteristics of the parasitoid in both hosts were performed. The fertility life table was developed through daily parasitism of T. galloi females on the hosts. The percentage results of parasitism in free-choice tests showed a better acceptance by T. galloi concerning eggs of D. flavipennella. Regarding the biological parameters of the parasitoid in both species, there was no significant difference. Fertility life table results show that D. flavipennella and D. saccharalis allow population increase for T. galloi. The parasitoid T. galloi has satisfactory performance in both hosts, and is a potential control agent for these species.

First record of Neosilba (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) on Jatropha curcas L. in Brazil

Neosilba spp. is firstly reported in physic nut fruits (Jatropha curcas), in Rio Largo, State of Alagoas, Brazil. A total of 438 specimens were found on 1,000 fruits between May and July 2010. Five species were recorded in the State of Alagoas: Neosilba zadolicha McAlpine & Steyskal 1982, Neosilba glaberrima (Wiedemann, 1830), Neosilba certa (Walker, 1850), Neosilba pendula (Bezzi) and Neosilba bella Strikis & Prado 2008. This is the first record of J. curcas as host plant of Neosilba in Brazil.

REGISTRO DE Xanthopastis timais EM AMARÍLIS E EFEITO DO EXTRATO DE GRAVIOLA NA MORTALIDADE LARVAL

The aim of this study was to report the occurrence of Xanthopastis timais (Cramer, 1780) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in amaryllis (Hippeastrum hybridum Hort., Amaryllidaceae), as well as estimating lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC99) of soursop seed extract, Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae), against its larvae. The experiment was carried out at the Laboratory of Entomology of the Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, in Rio Largo-AL, Brazil. First, we collected caterpillars from amaryllis plants that were reared until pupal and adult stages (parental generation). Next, part of the adults was used for species identification, and the rest were bred to produce next generation (F1), being after that applied in a laboratory bioassay. The lab trial was performed in a completely randomized design, with six treatments and five replications containing three second-instar caterpillars. These larvae were fed pieces of amaryllis leaf (4 x 4 cm), which were previously soaked in treatments for 30 seconds and, air-dried on absorbent papers for one hour. Each treatment consisted of one concentration of ethanol extract of soursop seeds (0.0, 1.0, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125 and 0.0625% w/ v) with distilled water and DMSO at 1% (v/ v), for solutions. We noted that the lethal concentrations LC50 and LC99 were 0.29% (w/ v) and 2.27% (w/ v), respectively. In view of our results, we can state that larval stage of X. timais were influenced by extract application in terms of survival, mortality, larvae weight and larval stage length. Besides of that, it was the first time this species was recorded in Alagoas state.

COMPETIÇÃO INTERESPECÍFICA ENTRE PARASITOIDES NATIVOS E EXÓTICO DE MOSCAS-DAS-FRUTAS EM POMARES DIVERSIFICADOS EM MACEIÓ-AL

The objective of this work was to assess the effects of the release and establishment of the exotic parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead, 1905) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and its interspecific competitive relationship with native fruit fly parasitoids in organic and conventional orchards in Maceio, State of Alagoas, Brazil. The exotic parasitoids were reared in the Radio-Entomology Laboratory of the Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, and released (112,350 individuals between five and eight days old) in orchards from June 8 to July12, 2013.Fruit samples were collected randomly every week during one year to assess the D. longicaudata recaptured from plants and fallen fruits on the ground, which were taken to the Entomology Laboratory of the CECA-UFAL, classified and individually placed in plastic containers, containing a layer of 1 cm of sand for pupation of the host larvae. The pupae, obtained after 10 days, were placed in Petri dishes with a layer of sand until the emergence of adults, which were then kept in plastic microtubes, containing ethanol 70%. The release of exotic parasitoids did not displace native species. The same species were found before and after the release in both cultures: Doryctobracon areolatus, Asobara anastrephae, Utetes anastrephae and Opius bellus (Braconidae), Aganaspis pelleranoi (Figitidae) and individuals of the Pteromalidae family. One year after the last release, 44 individuals of the exotic parasitoid were found, showing its establishment in the studied areas.

Moscas frugívoras e seus parasitoides associados a frutos de pitanga

The aim of this study was to know and assess natural infestation of frugivorous flies (Diptera: Tephritidae and Lonchaeidae) and their parasitoids in Surinam cherry fruits. The survey was conducted in an organic orchard, located in the municipality of Maceio, Alagoas. From October 2010 to January 2011, mature green, half-ripe and ripe Surinam cherry were collected. Infestation index was higher for mature green and half-ripe fruits. Five species of frugivorous flies were identified: Anastrepha fraterculus , Anastrepha obliqua , Anastrepha sororcul , Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), and Neosilba pendula (Diptera: Lonchaeidae). It were identified the parasitoids: Doryctobracon areolatus , Opius bellus, Utetes anastrephae and Asobara anastrephae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), being D. areolatus with highest percentage of parasitism in all maturation stages. N . pendula was recorded in Brasil associated to Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae). O . bellus , U . anastrephae and A . anastrephae were also recorded for the first time in the State of Alagoas. Mature green and half-ripe Surinam cherries are the most fruit fly infested, and the parasitism rate is higher in half-ripe and ripe fruits.