Vanda Helena Paes Bueno

Augmentative biological control of arthropods in Latin America

Augmentative forms of biological control, wherenatural enemies are periodically introduced,are applied over large areas in variouscropping systems in Latin America. About 25%of the world area under augmentative control issituated in this region. Well-known examplesare the use of species of the egg parasitoidTrichogramma for management ofLepidoptera in various crops. In Mexico, forexample, about 1.5 million hectares are treatedwith Trichogramma spp. Application ofTrichogramma also occurs on large areasin Colombia and Cuba, but use is limited inother Latin American countries for economicreasons, the generally low level of educationof farmers, and, more importantly, because ofthe intensive use of pesticides that preventsuse of natural enemies. Of the other eggparasitoids, the main species used incommercial releases are Trissolcusbasalis (Wollaston) against the heteropteranNezara viridula (L.) in soybean inBrazil, and Telenomus remus Nixon againstSpodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) incorn in Venezuela. Natural enemies attackinglarval and pupal stages are not used to a largeextent in augmentative biological control infield crops, with the exception of the use ofCotesia parasitoids against sugarcaneborers in Brazil and several other LatinAmerican countries. In addition to the use ofparasitoids and predators, Latin America isapplying microbial control agents on a largescale, such as viruses for control ofcaterpillars in soybean, fungi for control ofpests in coffee, cotton and sugar cane, andnematodes for control of soil pests. A recentdevelopment in biological control in LatinAmerica is the use of natural enemies andantagonists for disease and pest control inprotected cultivation, for example, inColombia, Brazil and Peru. Up to date, reliablefigures on current use of inundative andseasonal inoculative biological controlappeared hard to obtain, but it is clear thatLatin America currently is a main player in thefield of augmentative releases.

Aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) and their associations related to biological control in Brazil

Aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) and their associations related to biological control in Brazil. This study evaluated the parasitoid-aphid-plant associations in Brazil with the objective of developing a useful research database for further studies of aphid parasitoid ecology and aphid management. The original material was obtained from collections made in Parana, Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais, and Sao Paulo states. The published information on the Aphidiinae in Brazil is revised. The general features of the target parasitoid fauna of Central and South America is summarized and promising biological control programs of some aphid species in Brazil is discussed.

Type of prey influences biology and consumption rate of Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera, Anthocoridae)

Generalist predators are capable of consuming different types of prey, and as each prey may have distinct nutritional values, each may have a distinct impact on the biology of the predator. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine how the consumption of different prey influences certain biological characteristics and the predatory capacity of Orius insidiosus (Say). The investigation was performed in climatic chamber at 25 ±1 oC, RH 70 ± 10% and fotophase 12. Eggs of Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller), adults of Caliothrips phaseoli (Hood) and nymphs of Aphis gossypii Glover were used as prey and were provided daily ad libitum for all the mobile stages of the predator. The results showed that biological parameters of O. insidiosus are affected differently depending on the type of prey ingested. The development time of the nymphal stage was 13.1, 11.23 and 10.25 days for O. insidiosus feeding on eggs of A. kuehniella, nymphs of A. gossypii and adults of C. phaseoli, respectively. Longevity was five times larger for adults fed on eggs of A. kuehniella (56.25 days) compared to that of adults that preyed on nymphs of A. gossypii (11.44 days), and four times larger when the prey were adults of C. phaseoli (13.58 days). The consumption of eggs of A. kuehniella by predator females resulted in a shorter pre-oviposition period (3.2 days) and a longer oviposition period (44.4 days) when compared to the consumption of other types of prey. In addition, fecundity was increased with the consumption of eggs of A. kuehniella (195.25 eggs laid / female) when compared to feeding on the other prey, C. phaseoli (70.00 eggs laid / female) or A. gossypii (22.50 eggs laid / female). However, the consumption of aphids was larger (148.28 nymphs/ nymphal stage) than that of thrips (74.10 thrips / nymphal stage) or eggs of A. kuehniella (37.03 eggs /nymphal stage) for all of the nymphal stages of the predator. The results indicate that the eggs of A. kuehniella are the type of prey best suited for rearing this predator insect under laboratory conditions. Also fecundity was better with this prey even though the predator consumed during its nymphal stage a lesser quantity of eggs compared to the other prey.

New records of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) predation by Brazilian Hemipteran predatory bugs

The tomato borer Tuta absoluta, native to western South America, is an extremely devastating pest in tomato crops in most of South America, Europe and Africa North of the Sahel, causes yield losses up to 100% and decreases fruit quality in open field and greenhouse crops if control methods are not applied. In Brazil two other important lepidopteran pests – Neoleucinodes elegantalis and Helicoverpa zea – occur in tomato, as well as thrips, whiteflies and aphids. For control of these pests, frequent applications of pesticides of up to 5 times per week are needed, and these resulted in the appearance of resistant populations to a number of active ingredients and decimation of natural enemies. Biological control may offer a better, safer and more sustainable opportunity for pest management. Mirid predatory bugs are currently used with success in southern Europe to control T. absoluta and other pests. In Brazil, four Hemipteran predatory bugs, not yet known to attack T. absoluta, were found to successfully prey on eggs and larvae of this pest. The first results on their predation capacity, development, survival and reproduction on T. absoluta on tomato plants are presented.

Desenvolvimento e sobrevivência de Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) em diferentes temperaturas e cultivares comerciais de crisântemo

O pulgao Aphis gossypii Glover esta associado a culturas de grande importância economica em cultivos protegidos, especialmente o crisântemo. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se o efeito de diferentes temperaturas e cultivares comerciais de crisântemo (Yellow Snowdon, White Reagan e Dark Spendid Reagan) sobre o desenvolvimento e a viabilidade de ninfas de A. gossypii. O experimento foi conduzido sob temperaturas constantes de 15, 20, 25 e 30°C, UR de 70±10% e fotofase de 10h. Ninfas de A. gossypii foram mantidas individualizadas em discos foliares (2 cm de diâmetro) das cultivares de crisântemo, em placas de Petri, contendo 10 ml de solucao esteril de agar/agua a 1%. O incremento da temperatura de 15°C para 30°C reduziu significativamente a duracao dos instares, sendo o 1o instar o mais afetado. A sobrevivencia das ninfas de 1o e 2o instar foi afetada pelas cultivares de crisântemo Yellow Snowdon, White Reagan e Dark Spendid Reagan as quais apresentaram diferentes densidades de tricomas/mm2 na folha (11,3; 16,6 e 21,6 tricomas, respectivamente). Foi obtida maior sobrevivencia para ninfas mantidas na Yellow Snowdon (88,5 e 96,6% para o 1o e o 2o instares, respectivamente). O periodo ninfal decresceu de 13,5 a 15°C para 5,0 dias a 30°C. A temperatura e as cultivares de crisântemo afetaram o tempo de desenvolvimento e a sobrevivencia dos instares iniciais de A. gossypii, sendo isso um importante parâmetro para a adocao de taticas de manejo desse pulgao em condicoes de ambientes protegidos.

Response of the zoophytophagous predators Macrolophus pygmaeus and Nesidiocoris tenuis to volatiles of uninfested plants and to plants infested by prey or conspecifics

Knowledge about the orientation mechanisms used by two important predaceous mirids (Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambour and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter)) in finding their prey (whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and the tomato borer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick)) is limited. In a Y-tube olfactometer, we tested the behavioral responses of naïve and experienced predators to uninfested plants, herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) from plants infested with T. absoluta and/or B. tabaci, the sex pheromone of T. absoluta, and volatiles produced by plants injured by the predators. Nesidiocoris tenuis responds to volatiles produced by uninfested plants only after experience with the plant, whereas naïve and experienced M. pygmaeus show positive chemotaxis. Both predators are attracted to volatiles from prey-infested plants, and we provide the first evidence that experience affects this response in M. pygmaeus. Infestation of the same plant by both prey species elicited similar responses by the two predators as plants infested by either herbivore singly. Neither predator responded to sex pheromones of T. absoluta. Macrolophus pygmaeus avoided plants injured by conspecifics, while N. tenuis females were attracted by such plants. The implications of these results for augmentative biological control are discussed.

Plantas cultivadas e invasoras como habitat para predadores do gênero Orius(Wolff) (Heteroptera: anthocoridae)

The aim of this research was to record the Orius species present on some crops and weeds in areas located in the southeast region in Brazil, during 1999 and 2000. The insect collections were made through the tapping method to dislodge the insects from the plant into a plastic bag. The identifications of the specimens was done in the laboratory. Orius insidiosus (Say) was collected on the following crops: corn (Zea mays L.), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.), sorghum (Sorghum spp.), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum spp.), tango (Solidago canadensis L.) and carthamus (Carthamus tinctorius L.). On weeds, O. insidiosus was found on farmers friend (Bidens pilosa L.), amaranth (Amaranthus sp.), parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) and Josephs coat (Alternanthera ficoidea L.). Orius thyestes Herring was found on weed plants farmers friend, amaranth and Josephs coat. Orius perpunctatus (Reuter) and Orius sp. were collected mainly on weed plants (farmers friend, amaranth and Josephs coat) and corn. Many of these plants are natural hosts for these predators, providing refuge, prey and pollen.

Parasitism Rates of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) (Hym.: Aphidiidae) on Schizaphis graminum (Rond.) and Aphis gossypii Glover (Hem.: Aphididae)

The objective of the present study was to estimate the rates of parasitism of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) on Schizaphis graminum (Rond.) and Aphis gossypii Glover under choice and no-choice condition tests. The experiments were carried out in a controlled environmental chamber at 25±1oC temperature, 70±10% RH, and 12h photophase. Second and third instar aphid nymphs were used as hosts and for each colony one less than a day old L. testaceipes female was used. The previously mated and oviposition inexperienced female remained in contact with the hosts for 24 h. In the choice test 10 colonies of S. graminum and 10 colonies of A. gossypii having sections of sorghum leaves as substrate were used. For the no-choice test 10 colonies of S. graminum maintained on sections of sorghum leaves and 10 colonies of A. gossypii maintained on pepper leaves were used. In the choice test the parasitism was 67% and 46% for S. graminum and A. gossypii, respectively whereas in the no-choice test the parasitism was 76% for S. graminum and 56% for A. gossypii. Superparasitism was not observed for S. graminum. The aphid S. graminum was the most suitable for multiplication of the parasitoid L. testaceipes under laboratory conditions.

Preferência de Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) por Myzus persicae (Sulzer) e Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The host preference of Aphidius colemani Viereck for 2nd and 3rd instar nymphs of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Aphis gossypii Glover was analyzed by two methods. Firstly, we measured the percentage of parasitized hosts in non-choice tests in a density of 20 aphids per sweet-pepper leaf. Secondly, the searching behavior in choice and non-choice tests was evaluated by determining the number of encountered hosts and attacked hosts, the total number of larvae encountered and the percentage of hosts with parasitoid larvae inside. The observations were made under a stereomicroscope in a sweet-pepper leaf disc (43 mm) with 16 aphids in a Petri dish (50 mm). In the non-choice test, parasitism was 52 and 75% for M. persicae and A gossypii, respectively. There was no difference in the percentage of emergence (86% in A. gossypii and 81% in M. persicae), as well as in the duration of the first visit and in the number of encounters between the parasitoid and the two species of aphids in choice and non-choice tests. That A. colemani prefers A. gossypii above M. persicae can be concluded from the higher number of attacked A. gossypii by the parasitoid and the higher number of parasitoid larvae found in this aphid in both tests. The correlation between the number of stings of the ovipositor per host and the number of parasitoid larvae found in the host was positive and significant (R = 0.92 and P = 0.0001). Concerning superparasitism, always only one larva of A. colemani was found alive in a host and none of the parasitized hosts presented embryo nymphs inside them.

Biologia de Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) Alimentado com Caliothrips phaseoli (Hood) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

The biology of Orius insidiosus (Say) fed on thrips Caliothrips phaseoli (Hood) was studied in a climatic chamber at 25±1°C, 70±10% RH and 12h photophase. Nymphal developmental time (10.2 days) was the same for males and females. The durations of the nymphal instars were 1.9, 1.7, 1.4, 1.8 and 3.1 days for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th instars respectively. Nymphal survival was 69%, and the highest mortality occurred at the 2nd instar. O. insidiosus consumed 73.7 C. phaseoli throughout its nymphal stage. The amount of prey fed upon by O. insidiosus nymphs increased during the successive instars: 6.1, 9.0, 11.4, 16.7 and 29.3 thrips from the 1st to the 5th instar respectively. Females laid 77.8 eggs. Egg development in O. insidiosus took 5.3 days and only 71.6% of the eggs hatched. Female longevity was significantly higher (21 days) than that of males (12.4 days); consequently, females ate more thrips (159.1) than the males (60.7). The search time of O. insidiosus was the same for all instars. Thus, adults of C. phaseoli were proved suitable to the development and reproduction of the predator O. insidiosus.