Method for the evaluation of insecticidal activity over time in Atta sexdens rubropilosa workers (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The active ingredients used in the formulation of toxic baits for leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) should possess a delayed action defined as an insecticidal activity whereby worker mortality is ≤15% at 24 hours and ≥90% at 21 days. Serious shortcomings have occurred in the search for new active ingredients, such as the initial selection of fenoxycarb, copper oxychloride and diflubenzuron, compounds considered very promising but whose inefficiency was verified only later, indicating methodological problems. In view of this situation, we developed a classification method for insecticidal activity over time using workers of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel. The insecticides used were fipronil, sulfluramid GX071HB and sulfluramid GX439, vehicled in an attractive pasty formulation prepared based on citrus pulp. The results obtained were consistent from a toxicological viewpoint and agreed with the literature in terms of the control of colonies. Sulfluramids were found to possess a delayed action at a broad range of concentrations, in agreement with the fact that these substances are highly effective in the control of all leaf-cutting ant species. The smaller range of concentrations of fipronil with delayed action is probably related to its lower efficacy for species more difficult to control such as Atta capiguara (Forti et al. 2003). We discuss the importance of relating behavioral particularities to the specific feeding habits of leaf-cutting ants, with methodological adequacy of the assessment of insecticides aimed at toxic baits.

Tabela de vida ecológica do minador-dos-citros, Phyllocnistis citrella stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

The construction of ecological life tables is a useful tool to understand the population dynamics of insects in the field. In this work, ecological life tables were developed for Phyllocnistis citrella (Stainton) in an orchard of Citrus sinensis situated in Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, Sao Paulo State, during 2002. The occurrence of generation overlay in the field was avoided by obtaining the eggs from infestation on young citrus plants (Citrus limonia) kept under controlled conditions. The samples were taken every other day and the number of live, dead, predated and parasitized individuals were recorded. The occurrence of arthropod predators was determined through visual search on the plants of the orchard. The key factors of mortality acting on P.citrella populations were: pupae parasitism caused by Ageniaspis citricola (Logvinovskaya), action of uncertain factors on prepupae and predation of 3rd-instar larvae. The most abundant arthropod predators belonged to the families Formicidae, Chrysopidae, Coccinellidae, Reduviidae e Araneae. In two of five generations of P. citrella, approximately 4% of A. citricola pupae were hyperparasitized by Galeopsomyia fausta (LaSalle) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).

A new species of Pterodectes Robin, 1877 (Proctophyllodidae: Pterodectinae) from the pale-breasted thrush, Turdus leucomelas (Passeriformes: Turdidae)

A new species of feather mite, Pterodectes fissuratus sp. n., is described from the pale-breasted thrush, Turdus leucomelas Veillot (Passeriformes: Turdidae), in Brazil. This species is easily distinguished by having numerous well-pronounced lacunae and a longitudinal median furrow on prodorsal and hysteronotal shields in both sexes. Copyright © 2005 Magnolia Press.

Effect of air humidity on the egg viability of predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae) common on rubber trees in Brazil

Rubber pest mites, Calacarus heveae and Tenuipalpus heveae, reach economic damage levels at the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry season in Brazil. Therefore, low humidity adaptation might be an important characteristic for predatory mites to successfully control pest organisms. This study determined the effect of the relative humidity (RH) levels of 30-100% on the hatching of larvae of Amblyseius acalyphus, Euseius citrifolius, Iphiseiodes zuluagai, Metaseiulus camelliae, Agistemus floridanus and Zetzellia malvinae at 25 ± 0.5°C. These predatory mites are common on rubber trees in the state of São Paulo and might be used for introduction in the major rubber tree production regions in the state of Mato Grosso. At 70% RH or higher, viability was 70% or higher for all species, indicating that their performance might be higher during the rainy season than during the dry season. Eggs of E. citrifolius and M. camelliae presented higher viability at the lower relative humidity levels than those of other species, indicating that these species might have higher chance to persist in the dry season. It is suggested that M. camelliae should be further evaluated for introduction in the state of Mato Grosso, considering that this mite is not yet present in that area. © Springer 2006.

Thermal evaporation: Representation of rise in boiling point of grapefruit juice

The rise in boiling point of grapefruit juice was experimentally measured at soluble solids concentrations in the range of 9.3-60.6 °Brix and pressures between °6.0 × 103 and 9.0 × 104 Pa. Different approaches to represent experimental data, including the Dhring's rule, the Antoine equation and empirical models proposed in the literature were tested. In the range of 9.3-29.0 °Brix, the rise in boiling point was nearly independent of pressure, varying only with juice concentration. Considerable deviations of this behavior began to occur at concentrations higher than 29.0 °Brix. Experimental data could be best predicted by adjusting an empirical model, which consisted of a single equation that takes into account the dependence of rise in boiling point on pressure and concentration. © SAGE Publications 2007.

Enraizamento de plantas cultivadas in vitro

The adventitious rooting process of in vitro cultured plantlets is a technique that has been employed for the vegetative propagation of a significant number of native and exotic species. Many factors are associated with the rooting stage influencing positive and/or negatively the establishment of micropropagation protocols. The objective of this work was a literature review of the main inherent factors concerning in vitro rooting process including the correlation among others the endogenous and exogenous auxins levels, juvenility, genotype, mineral nutrition, culture medium conditions, addition of growth regulators and other substances as phenolic compounds and active coal besides growth environmental conditions of in vitro cultures. Although the complete elucidation of all processes involved with rooting of in vitro cultured plants has not been achieved so far, a comprehensive study of the main factors that interfere on rooting is fundamental for the establishment of new researches that might contribute for the rooting of economically important plants.

Four new species of Xenotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from Brazil

Four new species of Xenotarsonemus Beer (Acari, Tarsonemidae), X. brachytegula, X. pirassunungaensis, X. cerrado and X. spiniphorus, are described based on specimens collected from plants of the Cerrado vegetation in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Copyright © 2007 Magnolia Press.

In vitro evaluation of the effect of natural orange juices on dentin morphology

The patient's diet has been considered an important etiological factor of dentin hypersensitivity. The frequent ingestion of acidic substances can promote the loss of dental structure or remove the smear layer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of smear layer removal and dentinal tubules exposure by different natural orange juices. Extracted human teeth were submitted to manual scaling in order to develop the smear layer. Seventy dentin samples were obtained and distributed into the following groups: Control, lime orange, lime, valência orange, navel orange, mandarin, and tangerine. Each group included 2 methods of application: Topical and topical + friction. After preparation for SEM analysis, photomicrographs were assessed by a blind calibrated examiner using an index system. The Kruskal-Wallis test indicated a significant influence of the orange juices on smear layer removal. Significant difference was observed between navel orange, valência orange, mandarin and the control group (p < 0.05). These orange juices resulted in greater removal of the smear layer and greater opening of dentinal tubules. The comparison between the application methods for each group using the Mann-Whitney test showed that friction increased smear layer removal significantly only for lime orange and lime. The data suggest that certain natural orange juices are more effective in terms of smear layer removal and dentinal tubules exposure than others.

Avaliação dos teores nutricionais em laranjeira 'Valência', sob fertirrigação

This work aimed to compare fertigation to conventional fertilization in a five-year-old 'Valência' orange orchard, irrigated by microsprinklers. The conventional fertilization, using the recommended dosage for the crop, was parceled out in three during the year. In the fertigation treatments a complete dose, 1/2 and 1/3 of the conventional fertilization dose, parceled out in ten in a year, were used. Trunk circumference and leaf volume, leaf chlorophyll content and fruit yield and quality were measured. For the first year, significant differences among the treatments for the evaluated parameters were not observed; however, it was noticed that fertigation treatments caused less nutritional unbalance, obtained by DRIS. The fertigation treatment using half dosage showed the best result regarding to fruit yield and quality.

Análise temporal do uso e ocupação do solo na microbacia hidrográfica do córrego da Fazenda Glória, Município de Taquaritinga, SP

The role of environmental concern is important due to the disorganized land occupation and intense exploitation of natural resources which lead to the degradation and exhaustion of the environment. Remonte sensing techniques allow identifying, recognizing and mapping areas modifiers besides estimating the extension of alterations made by man. Thus, the objective of this study was to map land use and occupation in order to evaluate the development of the Gloria Farm Stream watershed in Taquaritinga, SP, Brazil, from 1983 to 2000. The drainage network and agricultural and natural vegetation areas were identified by stereoscopic analyses of 2000 aerial photographs and by data analyses of the field and cartographic documents. The results verified that sugarcane became predominat in 2000 and it is distributed in relatively large areas with detriment to citrus orchards and other crops. The presence of dams, which is not noted in 1983 data, and the increase of forest and natural vegetal fragment areas in the analyzed period was observed. Recovered areas dur to reforestation with native species were identified along the streams and springs of Jabuticabal Mountain Range.

Viabilidade econômica e seleção de sistemas de irrigação utilizando simulação e dominância estocástica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Éster de sacarose no controle do Varroa estructor em abelhas africanizadas

This study aimed to determine the effect of sucrose ester on the control of Varroa destructor mite infestation in Africanized honeybees. For the in vitro experiments, the product was tested in bees and mites at five concentrations obtained through dilution in water (T0: 100% distilled water; T1: 0.5%; T2: 1%; T3: 2%; T4: 5%; and T5: 10% sucrose ester).For the field studies, the experimental design was completely randomized, with four treatments and seven replicates, totaling 28 colonies, from which seven were the controls, seven were treated with 0.1% sucrose ester, seven with 0.2% sucrose ester, and seven hives with 0.5% sucrose ester diluted in water. In the in vitro study, the sucrose ester at 0.5% concentration caused mite and bee mortality. In the field tests, the product at 0.2% concentration reduced Varroa destructor infestation in Africanized honeybees and, therefore, may be used as a tool to control this pest. At 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5% concentrations, sucrose ester did not impair the establishment of open and capped brood areas, as well as stored food areas in the hive, suggesting it is not toxic to Africanized honeybees.

Consumo e custo de energia elétrica na cultura de citros irrigado por gotejamento e microaspersão, com três lâminas de água

The objective of this work was to analyze the consumption, electric energy cost, and economic results of irrigated citrus (Citrus sinensis). The treatments consisted of a dripping irrigation system with one and two lateral distribution lines, a micro sprinkler irrigation system and a treatment without irrigation. For each irrigation system, three water depths were used: 100%, 75% and 50% of Etc (citrus evapotranspiration). The electric energy cost for two tariff groups, Group A and Group B, was studied. For Group A, the expenses with energy were determined for the Conventional Binomial Structure tariff, the Hour-seasonal tariff (green and blue) and the special tariff for nocturnal irrigation. The kWh cost for the tariff systems were obtained from the website of CPFL (São Paulo State Power and Light Company, Brazil). The best relation between the electric energy consumption (kWh.ha -1) and productivity (t.ha -1) occurred in the treatment irrigated with 50% of the Etc. The irrigated treatments increased productivity. The biggest productivity was observed in the irrigation treatments with 50% of the Etc when compared to the ones with 100% of the Etc. The blue and green Hour-seasonal tariff system of Group A (nocturnal irrigation) was the best option. A biggest economic turnover occurred in the treatments irrigated with 50% of the Etc.

Flower mites decrease nectar availability in the rain-forest bromeliad Neoregelia johannis

Nectarivorous flower mites can reduce the volume of nectar available to pollinators. The effects of the flower mite Proctolaelaps sp. on nectar availability in flowers of a melittophilous bromeliad Neoregelia johannis (Bromeliaceae) was evaluated in a coastal rain forest in south-eastern Brazil. In a randomized block experiment utilizing 18 flower pairs, one per bromeliad ramet, pollinators (Bombus morio) and mites were excluded, and then nectar volume, sugar concentration and sugar mass were quantified over the anthesis period. Mites significantly reduced nectar volume early in the morning (6h00-8h00), but not later (10h00-12h00). Mites decreased total volume of nectar available up to 22%. Sugar concentration in nectar was higher earlier in the morning, and decreased between 10h00-12h00. The pronounced consumption of nectar by mites during the period of higher sugar concentration reduced the total amount of sugar available to pollinators by 31%. This is the first study showing that flower mites decrease nectar rewards in a melittophilous plant. Because nectar volume by itself incompletely describes nectar production rates and the effects of nectar removal by flower mites on the availability of sugar, our study highlights the inclusion of sugar content in future studies assessing the effects of thieves on nectar production rates. Copyright © 2010 Cambridge University Press.

Caracterização morfológica do fruto, da semente e desenvolvimento pós-seminal do abacateiro

A propagação do abacateiro é comercialmente, realizada por enxertia da variedade desejada sobre porta-enxertos seminais. No entanto, a literatura é discordante sobre a ocorrência de poliembrionia e tipo de fruto, nesta espécie. Em função do exposto, o trabalho objetivou caracterizar o tipo de fruto, aspectos morfológicos da semente e da plântula, além de avaliar o número de embriões existente. O abacateiro possui frutos do tipo baga, as sementes são monoembriônicas e exalbuminosas, a germinação é hipógea e a emergência das plântulas ocorreu 33 dias após a semeadura. A raiz primária é longa e de coloração branca e as raízes secundárias são curtas e filiformes. Os cotilédones são maciços e de coloração rosada. Foi possível observar a presença de múltiplos caulículos na semente de abacate, originados do colo. As sementes apresentam policaulia; o início da estabilização da emergência de plântulas ocorreu na oitava semana, sendo inviável para a propagação da espécie, manter essas sementes no viveiro por mais tempo.