Sônia Thereza Bastos Dequech

Mites associated with soybean crop in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil.

During the last growing seasons, high infestations of phytophagous mites were observed in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, becoming necessary to apply pesticides for their control. The objective of this study was to identify phytophagous and predatory mite species associated with soybean in ten counties of that state, during the 2002/03 and 2003/04 growing seasons, in five soybean cultivars (A 6001 RG, A 7001 RG, A 8000 RG, A 8100 RG, Anta 82), all genetically modified. In samples of soybean leaves four phytophagous mite species (Mononychellus planki (McGregor), Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks), Tetranychus desertorum Banks and Tetranychus gigas Pritchard & Baker) and two predatory mite species (Phytoseiulus fragariae Denmark & Schicha and Typhlodromalus aripo De Leon) were found. T. desertorum was found for the first time associated with soybean in the country. Phytoseiulus fragariae and T. aripo are reported for the first time on soybean. The potential of phytoseid mites as biological control agents in soybean crop was discussed. Among the hypotheses to explain the increasing infestation of soybean fields with phytophagous mites area are the progressively larger cultivated area, the dry spells observed in the last few years in the growing season, changes in soybean cropping system that led to increased use of pesticides and utilization of new soybean cultivars with morphological or biochemicals characteristics that favour the development of these mite populations.

Ação de extratos de plantas na oviposição e na mortalidade da traça-das-crucíferas

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera, Yponomeutidae), is one of the most important insect pest species of the Brassicaceae family plants in Brazil and in the world. The use of insecticidal plants extracts in the control of this insect is a promising alternative. Therefore, this research goal is to evaluate, in laboratory, the plants extracts effect on the oviposition and mortality of P. xylostella. In order to analyze the effect on the oviposition, kale leaf pieces were treated, in cage, as following: aqueous extracts (10% p/v) of leaf of chinaberry (Melia azedarach), of branch of chinaberry, of tobacco powder (Nicotiana tabacum), besides DalNeem (commercial product, based on Azadirachta indica), at 10% v/v. Inside the cage, 50 adults of P. xylostella were put and, 48h later, the egg number per leaf was counted, in seven repetitions. A second assay was consisted of the exposition of three larvae to the same cited extracts, in glass tube with a kale leaf piece previously treated. Three glass tubes were used per treatment, with four repetitions. The number of death larvae was evaluated daily. The aqueous extracts of chinaberry leaf, chinaberry branch and tobacco powder, besides DalNeem, reduce the oviposition of P. xylostella and the use of tobacco powder extract, DalNeem and chinaberry branch extract result in efficient control of P. xylostella larvae after the second, fifth and sixth days after application, respectively.

Interação entre Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Campoletis flavicincta (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) e Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai, em laboratório

Larvae of healthy Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), parasitized by Campoletis flavicincta (Ashmead), infected by Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai, and both parasitized and infected, were obtained in the laboratory and fed with corn leaves. Parasitized and infected larvae showed less leaf consumption (in average 2.3 cm2) than the others, but did not differ from only parasitized larvae. Mean mortality of larvae both parasitized and infected was higher (96.5%) than the only parasitized (78.4%) and only infected ones (44.3%). The feeding period of the infected larvae (in average 29.6 days) did not differ from that of the healthy ones, in spite of having a longer larval period. Offsprings from pairs of parasitoids that had emerged from infected larvae did not have the biological characteristics modified. Therefore, the combined use of the parasitoid and the bacterium results in higher mortality and less foliar consumption and does not result in damage to the parasitoid.

Ocorrência de parasitóides de Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lep., Noctuidae) em lavouras de milho em Cachoeirinha, RS

Rio Grande do Sul State is one of the greatest maize producers of the country, however, little is known in terms of the main natural enemies associated to insect pests in this crop. The objective of this work was to survey parasitoids of fall-armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. Samplings in maize areas of the Instituto Riograndense do Arroz (IRGA) were conducted in Cachoeirinha, RS, during the growth seasons of 1999/2000 and 2000/2001. Insect larvae were collected weekly, during the crop cycle. Larvae were individualized and kept in laboratory until emergence of adults or

Artropodofauna do solo em sistemas direto e convencional de cultivo de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) na região de Santa Maria, RS

Com este trabalho, objetivou-se estudar a artropodofauna do solo em cultivo de sorgo (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) em diferentes estacoes do ano e profundidade do solo, em sistema direto e convencional. O estudo foi realizado de agosto de 1996 a abril de 1997, em area experimental do Departamento de Defesa Fitossanitaria, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Para as coletas dos artropodes utilizou-se extrator de solo, tomando-se amostras em cinco pontos, nas profundidades de 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-15 cm e de 15-20 cm, em cada estacao do ano. A classe Insecta foi a mais expressiva, correspondendo a 87,68% e 100% do numero total de artropodes, respectivamente na semeadura direta e na semeadura convencional. A ordem Coleoptera foi a mais numerosa, com predominio das formas larvais das familias Scarabaeidae, Carabidae e Elateridae, correspondendo a 25,0%, 10,8% e 8,8% do total coletado, respectivamente. A artropodofauna do solo variou atraves do ano e decresceu com o aumento da profundidade do solo.

Primeiro relato de Trichogramma rojasi parasitando ovos de Spodoptera frugiperda

The larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), known as fall armyworm, is the main insect pest of corn crop and its control is done with chemicals. An alternative is biological control, in particular, the egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma Westwood, 1833 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). For the effective application of biological control, it is necessary to evaluate the complex of species/strains occurring in eggs of S. frugiperda. With this objective, samples of egg masses of S. frugiperda were taken in the corn crop in the 10th Distrito de Arroio Grande, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State, where it was observed the first occurrence of Trichogramma rojasi Nagaraja & Nagarkatti, 1973 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) parasitizing eggs of S. frugiperda.. The occurrence of T. rojasi in eggs of S. frugiperda opens perspective so that this parasitoid can be studied in order to integrate biological control programs in corn in Rio Grande do Sul State.

Tamanho de amostra para a estimação da média de duração dos períodos larval, pupal e larval mais pupal de "Microtheca" spp. por bootstrap

The objective of this research was to determine the sample size (number of insects) to estimate the average duration for larval, pupal and larval + pupal periods for M. ochroloma and M. semilaevis. Adults of both species were collected at a 0.25ha experimental area of forage turnip (Raphanus sativus L.) and for laboratory rearing (temperature 25±2°C, relative humidity 60±10% and photoperiod 12 hours). Afterwards larval, pupal and larval + pupal periods were measured, in days, of 119 and 81 insects, respectively, M. ochroloma and M. semilaevis. It was calculated measures of central tendency and variability and determined the sample size using bootstrap with replacement of 10000 samples. For estimating the average larval, pupal and larval + pupal periods, with amplitude of bootstrap confidence interval of 95%, equal a day, 42 and 35 insects are sufficient, respectively for both M. ochroloma and M. semilaevis.

First record of larvae of Allograpta exotica Wiedemann (Diptera, Syrphidae) preying on Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera, Aphididae) in watermelon in Brazil

First record of larvae of Allograpta exotica Wiedemann (Diptera, Syrphidae) preying on Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera, Aphididae) in watermelon in Brazil. Brazil is one of the largest world producers of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thumb. Mansf.) and Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877 (Hemiptera, Aphididae) is among the most important pest on this crop. Larvae of Allograpta exotica Wiedemann, 1830 (Diptera, Syrphidae) were found preying on A. gossypii in watermelon crop, in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State, what represents the first report of this tritrophic association in Brazil.

Ocorrência de parasitóides e patógenos em adultos de Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) em estufa plástica, em Santa Maria, RS

Greenhouses represent an alternative for horticultural crops when the climatic conditions are unfavorable. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is one of the most cultivated horticultural crops in these protected environments. Among its main insect pests are the chrysomelid beetles. The objective of the present research was to determine the natural enemies of chrysomelids in cucumber grown in protected environment. The cucumber was seeded on the first week of March, 2003, in plastic greenhouse located in the experimental area of the Federal University of Santa Maria, in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Chrysomelids were collected every two or three days/week during the whole cultivation period, totalizing 28 collection dates. In the first 22 samplings, 50 chrysomelids/date were collected and, in the others, 30/date. The species of chrysomelids identified were: Diabrotica speciosa (Germar), Cerotoma arcuata Olivier and Acalymma bivittula (Kirsch). Celatoria bosqi Blanchard (Diptera: Tachinidae) was the only parasitoid specie identified parasitizing most frequently D. speciosa. Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. infected adults of D. speciosa and A. bivittula, and the first specie was more susceptible. This is the first record of the occurrence of C. bosqi and B. bassiana on chrysomelids in crops cultivated in protected environment.

Atividade inseticida de meliáceas sobre Diabrotica speciosa (Col., Chrysomelidae)

Diabrotica speciosa is a polyphagous insect-pest and its control demands a great deal of insecticides applications. The use of extracts from Meliaceae family plants, with insecticidal activity, appears as a promising control alternative. The present work aimed to evaluate the control action of aqueous extract from Melia azedarach var. azedarach (chinaberry) - unripe fruits, petioles with stalk, leaflets and barks - at 10% (p/v) each one, compared with NIM-I-GO at 10mL L-1 (emulsified commercial oil of neem) and DECIS 25CE at 0.3mL L-1, as a standard treatment, over adult insects of D. speciosa on cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and string beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivated in greenhouse. It was evaluated as well the height of plants, after the beginning of the harvest, and the production. Extracts of unripe fruits, leaflets and petioles with stalk of chinaberry are flattering in the control of D. speciosa in cultures of cucumber, and only unripe fruits in string beans. Therefore, these extracts can be used as alternatives in control of this chrysomelid. The use of these extracts did not result in significant change in stature and the production of the plants, when compared with the control.