Characterization of antibiosis to the redbanded stink bug Piezodorus guildinii (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in soybean entries

Stink bugs are among the major pests of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] worldwide. Piezodorus guildinii [Westwood] (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is one of the predominant pest species, causing more severe damage in many regions than other stink bugs. Its attack reduces yield and quality of the beans. Plant resistance is a valuable strategy in integrated pest management that can reduce insect populations below economic injury level. Here, we report the resistance of 17 soybean entries to P. guildinii. PI 229358, PI 274454, L1-1-01, IAC 19, PI 171451, PI 227687, IAC 100, IAC 78-2318, PI 274453, and IAC 74-2832 caused high nymphal mortality (greater than 90 %), indicating the expression of antibiosis. IAC 100, IAC 74-2832, PI 274453, and IAC 24 also increased the length of the nymphal stage of P. guildinii, showing the same mechanism of resistance. Our findings may be useful for breeding programs that focus on the resistance of soybeans to insects.

Resistance of Sugarcane Cultivars to Mahanarva fimbriolata (StAyenl) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Behavior of Montandoniola confusa Streito & Matocq (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) preying upon gall-forming thrips Gynaikothrips ficorum Marchal (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae)

The gall-forming thrips Gynaikothrips ficorum Marchal (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) is recorded in all regions where its host plant, Ficus microcarpa (Marchal) (Moraceae), has been cultivated as an urban and interior landscape plant species, including potted plants and bonsai. Similarly, the thrips predator Montandoniola confusa Streito & Matocq (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) has generally followed the prey distribution. The gall induced by thrips degrades the plant foliage, and the thrips themselves can be annoying for people both outdoors and indoors. The galls, however, create a microcosm with all developmental stages of the thrips and its predator. In this study we present the first records of M. confusa in South America, document the species' widespread concomitant occurrence across Brazil, and report our studies of three aspects of M. confusa predation upon the eggs, larvae/prepupae, and adults of G. ficorum thrips: (i) functional response of the predator adult female as a function of different densities of thrips eggs, larvae/prepupae and adults separately: (ii) predation on eggs by adult M. confusa with adult thrips present in the gall; and (iii) adult M. confusa prey preferences when all thrips stages occurred simultaneously in the gall. For all three thrips life stages tested, the predator exhibited a type II functional response. Despite the availability of different life stages in the gall, M. confusa adults are capable of preying upon all life stages of G. ficorum, predation was preferentially on thrips eggs, with an estimated similar to 10-fold greater predation on eggs compared to larvae/prepupae and adult thrips. Egg predation was unaffected by the presence of defensive adult thrips in the gall under low densities (<30 eggs/gall) but when egg densities were greater than 30 eggs/gall, it was reduced when adult thrips were present. However, the relative number of thrips adults per gall did not statistically change the outcome. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of Egg Rearing Temperature and Storage Time on the Biological Characteristics of the Predatory Stink Bug Podisus nigrispinus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Interactions Between the Entomopathogenic Fungi Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) and the Aphid Parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The interactions between the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) and the aphid parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae McIntoch (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Nymphs of Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were first exposed to parasitoid females for 24 h and then 0, 24, and 48 h afterwards sprayed with a solution of B. bassiana. Likewise, aphids were also sprayed with B. bassiana and then exposed to parasitoids at 0, 24, and 48 h afterwards. Parasitism rate varied from 13 to 66.5%, and were signi_cantly lower in treatments where the two agents were exposed within a 0-24 h time interval compared with the control (without B. bassiana). Parasitoid emergence was negatively affected in treatments with B. bassiana spraying and subsequent exposure to D. rapae. Decreases in longevity of adult females of the D. rapae F1 generation were observed in treatments with B. bassiana spraying. The application of these two biological control agents can be used in combination on the control of M. persicae, wherein this use requires effective time management to avoid antagonistic interactions.

Effect of bacillus thuringiensis on the biological parameters and phytophagy of podisus nigrispinus (hemiptera: pentatomidae)

The effect of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner 1911 var aizawai strain GC-91 (Bta) on the biological parameters and phytophagy of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas 1851) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) were evaluated using the follow treatments: a) provision of deionized water and prey Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae); b) provision of only a solution containing Bta; and c) provision of prey and the solution containing Bta. To evaluate the phytophagy of the predator, leaves of Brassica oleraceae var acephala Linnaeus cv Manteiga da Georgia were provided and replaced every two days, and subsequently stained by immersion in 1% acid fuchsin. Staining enabled the visualization of the feeding sheath, which allowed for the quantification of punctures inflicted by P nigrispinus. The phytophagy, reproductive capacity and biological cycle in P nigrispinus were negatively affected by the presence of Bta; however, its predatory capacity was not altered.

The first assess of the haplotypes from COI gene sequences in species of spittlebugs (Cicadomorpha: Hemiptera) and aquatic true bugs (Gerromorpha and Nepomorpha: Hemiptera) in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Physical mapping of 18S rDNA and heterochromatin in species of family Lygaeidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Spermatogenesis in Triatoma melanocephala (Hemiptera: Triatominae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Entoepidemiology of Chagas disease in northwest Sao Paulo and cytogenetic analysis of its main vector, Triatoma sordida (Hemiptera: Triatominae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Heteropyknotic filament in spermatids of Triatoma melanocephala and T. vitticeps (Hemiptera, Triatominae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Nucleolar persistence during spermatogenesis of the genus Rhodnius (Hemiptera, Triatominae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Origin and distribution of AT-rich repetitive DNA families in Triatoma infestans (Heteroptera)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)