Parasitismo em cochonilha pardinha Selanaspidus articulatus (Hemiptera-Homoptera, Diaspididae) por Aphytis sp. (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae).

1992

Parasitismo em cochonilha pardinha Selenaspidus sp. (Homoptera, Diaspididae) por Aphytis sp. (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae).

Os pomares de citrus das principais regiões do Estado de São Paulo vem sendo prejudicados pela cochonilha pardinha Selenaspidus sp. que suga a seiva das folhas e provoca a queda dos frutos. O uso indiscriminado de defensivos químicos vem contribuindo para a destruição dos inimigos naturais e consequente proliferação da praga. Com o objetivo de estudar a frequência ou a porcentagem de parasitismo dessa cochonilha, foram feitas coletas de folhas de laranjeira para valência de um pomar de 500 alqueires localizado em Brotas - SP, em 4 épocas diferentes dos anos de 1989/90. As folhas infestadas foram examinadas ao microscópio estetoscópio para contagem das carapaças com perfurações de saída dos parasitóides. Foram colocadas algumas folhas em placas de Petri para observacao da emergência dos parasitóides. As maiores porcentagens de parasitismo foram observadas nos meses de abril/90 (21,9%) e outubro/89 (21,4%) e a menor, (2,11%) em julho/89. Os parasitóides emergidos foram identificados preliminarmente por ROBBS como sendo Aphytis sp.

Parasitismo em cochonilha Selenaspidus articulatus (Morgan, 1889) (hemiptera/Homoptera, Diaspididae) em citros nas regiões de Jaguariúna e Limeira, SP.

O diaspidideo S. articulatus e uma praga polifaga que vem infestando citros em várias regiões do Brasil e de outros países que praticam a citricultura. Sugando a seiva e inoculando toxinas na planta hospedeira, vem causando sérios prejuízos a citricultura nacional. Este trabalho teve como objetivo a avaliação do parasitismo da cochonilha por microhimenopteros na região de Jaguariúna-SP e Limeira-SP. Alem do parasitismo por microhimenopteros, encontrou-se o fungo Aschersonia aleyrodis infestando fêmeas de S. articulatus. Observou-se que em época de menor incidência da cochonilha, ocorria maior incidência do parasitismo. Foi observado também menor incidência dessa praga em pomares não capinados e não pulverizados.

Toxicity of cassava manipueira (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and erva-de-rato (Palicourea marcgravii St. Hill) to adults of Toxoptera citricida Kirkaldy (Homoptera: Aphididae).

Toxicidade de manipueira de mandioca e erva-de-rato a adultos de Toxoptera citricida Kirkaldy.

Anti-metabolic effects of Galanthus nivalis agglutinin and wheat germ agglutinin on nymphal stages of the common brown leafhopper using a novel artificial diet system

The common brown leafhopper, Orosius orientalis (Matsumura) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), previously described as Orosius argentatus (Evans), is an important vector of several viruses and phytoplasmas worldwide. In Australia, phytoplasmas vectored by O. orientalis cause a range of economically important diseases, including legume little leaf (Hutton & Grylls, 1956), tomato big bud (Osmelak, 1986), lucerne witches broom (Helson, 1951), potato purple top wilt (Harding & Teakle, 1985), and Australian lucerne yellows (Pilkington et al., 2004). Orosius orientalis also transmits Tobacco yellow dwarf virus (TYDV; genus Mastrevirus, family Geminiviridae) to beans, causing bean summer death disease (Ballantyne, 1968), and to tobacco, causing tobacco yellow dwarf disease (Hill, 1937, 1941). TYDV has only been recorded in Australia to date. Both diseases result in significant production and quality losses (Ballantyne, 1968; Thomas, 1979; Moran & Rodoni, 1999). Although direct damage caused by leafhopper feeding has been observed, it is relatively minor compared to the losses resulting from disease (P Tr E bicki, unpubl.).

Comportamiento agronómico en vitroplantas sanas e infestadas con el virus del dasheen (DMV) en tres cultivares de quequisque (Xanthosomas spp.) en el CNIA-INTA, Managua

Con el objetivo de evaluar el comportamiento agronómico de vitroplantas de tres cultivaresde quequisque (Xanthosoma spp.) libres del virus DMV producidas a través del cultivo de meristemos, se estableció el ensayo en el CNIA-INTA (Centro Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria–Instituto Nicaragüense de Tecnología Agropecuaria) en el departamento de Managua, entre los meses abril-diciembre del año 2004. Se evaluaron variables morfológicas: altura de la planta (cm), área foliar (cm²), diámetro del pseudotallo (cm) y número de hojas; de rendimiento: número de cormelos por planta, peso de cormelo (g), rendimiento (kg ha), diámetro de cormelo (cm) y largo de cormelo (cm) y la presencia del virus e insectos asociados al cultivo en los cultivares Masaya (MY), Nueva Guinea (NG) y Blanco (Bco). Se utilizó un diseño de arreglos en Parcelas Divididas conformado por tres bloques, en la parcela grande se ubicaron los cultivares y en las pequeñas la condición sanitaria (sana e infectada). Se realizó ANDEVA y la separación de medias de rangos múltiples de Tukey ( ∞ =0.05). Los cultivares y la condición sanitaria presentaron diferencias estadísticas entre ellas en las variables morfológicas, habiendo obtenido el cultivar NG los mayores promedios: altura de la planta con (64.23 cm ), área foliar con (1129 cm²), diámetro del pseudotallo con (4.68 cm) y número de hojas con (3.90 cm). El rendimiento presentó efecto significativo en las condiciones fitosanitarias, pero no en los cultivares e interacción. Se encontró tendencia al incremento del porcentaje de reinfección de plantas con presencia del DMV a través del tiempo, el cultivar Bco a los 192 dds reportó un máximo valor del (90 %), seguido de los cultivares MY (65 %) y NG (60 %). Las principales plagas asociadas a los cultivares de quequisque fueron del orden Diptera, Homoptera, Coleoptero, Heminoptero y Lepidoptero, considerándose al áfido Aphis gossypii del orden Homoptera como el posible vector del virus DMV.

Efecto de la temperatura sobre el pulgón del repollo (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) (Homóptera : Aphidoidea)

p.99-103

Insectos y un hongo relacionados con el Caraguata (Eryngium Paniculatum)

p.71-76

Presencia y fluctuación poblacional de artrópodos perjudiciales al cultivo de tomate

p.105-109

Climatic signals in the life histories of insects:the distribution and abundance of heather psyllids (Strophingia spp.) in the UK

1. The population density and age structure of two species of heather psyllid Strophingia ericae and Strophingia cinereae, feeding on Calluna vulgaris and Erica cinerea, respectively, were sampled using standardized methods at locations throughout Britain. Locations were chosen to represent the full latitudinal and altitudinal range of the host plants.

2. The paper explains how spatial variation in thermal environment, insect life-history characteristics and physiology, and plant distribution, interact to provide the mechanisms that determine the range and abundance of Strophingia spp.

3. Strophingia ericae and S. cinereae, despite the similarity in the spatial distribution patterns of their host plants within Britain, display strongly contrasting geographical ranges and corresponding life-history strategies. Strophingia ericae is found on its host plant throughout Britain but S. cinereae is restricted to low elevation sites south of the Mersey-Humber line and occupies only part of the latitudinal and altitudinal range of its host plant. There is no evidence to suggest that S. ericae has reached its potential altitudinal or latitudinal limit in the UK, even though its host plant appears to reach its altitudinal limit.

4. There was little difference in the ability of the two Strophingia spp. to survive shortterm exposure to temperatures as low as - 15 degrees C and low winter temperatures probably do not limit distribution in S. cinereae.

5. Population density of S. ericae was not related to altitude but showed a weak correlation with latitude. The spread of larval instars present at a site, measured as an index of instar homogeneity, was significantly correlated with a range of temperature related variables, of which May mean temperature and length of growing season above 3 degrees C (calculated using the Lennon and Turner climatic model) were the most significant. Factor analysis did not improve the level of correlation significantly above those obtained for single climatic variables. The data confirmed that S. ericae has a I year life cycle at the lowest elevations and a 2 year life cycle at the higher elevations. However, there was no evidence, as previously suggested, for an abrupt change from a one to a 2 year life cycle in S. ericae with increasing altitudes or latitudes.

6. By contrast with S. ericae, S. cinereae had an obligatory 1 year life cycle, its population decreased with altitude and the index of instar homogeneity showed little correlation with single temperature variables. Moreover, it occupied only part of the range of its host plant and its spatial distribution in the UK could be predicted with 96% accuracy using selected variables in discriminant analysis.

7. The life histories of the congeneric heather psyllids reflect adaptations that allow them to exploit host plants with different distributions in climatic and thereby geographical space. Strophingia ericae has the flexible life history that enables it to exploit C. vulgaris throughout its European boreal temperate range. Strophingia cinereae has a less flexible life history and is adapted for living on an oceanic temperate host. While the geographic ranges of the two Strophingia spp. overlap within the UK, the psyllids appear to respond differently to variation in their thermal environment.

Entomofauna associated with the olive tree in southern Portugal

Since 2004 several studies have been carried out in order to identify the main insect species that usually inhabiting the olive ecosystem. The field trials have taken place in two olive groves, one situated in Olhão and the other one in Loulé, both in Algarve and also under Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The sampling techniques used differ according to their purpose (sticky traps, pheromone traps, pitfall traps and samples of aerial parts of the trees such as inflorescences, leaves, fruits and branches). Results showed that the main insect pests of olive tree in southern Portugal were the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae Gmelin (Diptera: Tephritidae) and the olive moth Prays oleae Bernard (Lepidoptera: Hyponeumetidae). Other insect pests were also found in our olive groves namely the olive psyllid Euphyllura olivina Costa (Homoptera: Psyllidae), the olive dark beetle Phloeotribus scarabaeoides Bernard (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), the mediterranean black scale Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Homoptera: Coccidae) and the olive thrip Liothripes oleae Costa (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae). Concerning the auxiliary insects that were found in our olives groves they belong to the following orders and families: Diptera (Syrphidae), Coleoptera (Carabidae, Coccinelidae and Staphylinidae), Hemiptera (Anthocoridae and Miridae), Neuroptera (Chrysopidae) and Hymenoptera (Braconidae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Formicidae and Trichogrammatidae).

The effect of acetylsalicylic acid and oxalic acid on Myzus persicae and Aphidius colemani

Plants can respond to damage by pests with both induced direct defences and indirect defences by the attraction of their natural enemies. Foliar application of several plant-derived chemicals, such as salicylic acid and oxalic acid, can induce these defence mechanisms. The effect of acetylsalicylic acid and oxalic acid on the aphid Myzus persicae Sulzer (Homoptera: Aphididae) and its parasitoid Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) was investigated. Experiments were carried out with direct application of acetylsalicylic and oxalic acids on these insects, as well as choice and no-choice tests using foliar application of both chemicals on Brussels sprouts plants, Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera L. (Brassicaceae). Parasitoids were given a choice between treated and untreated plants for oviposition, and the effects of the chemicals on aphid and parasitoid development were determined. Although direct application of both chemicals increased aphid mortality, their foliar application did not induce resistance against aphids. The foliar application of such compounds, even in low concentration as shown in the choice tests, has the potential to induce indirect plant defences against aphids by encouraging aphid parasitisation. Although the direct application of both chemicals reduced parasitoid emergence from their hosts, the foliar application of acetylsalicylic acid and low concentrations of oxalic acid did not have a negative effect on parasitoid emergence ability. However, 10 mm oxalic acid reduced the number of emerged parasitoids in no-choice experiments. This study shows that foliar application of acetylsalicylic and oxalic acids has the potential to encourage aphid parasitisation, but care is needed as high concentrations of oxalic acid can have a negative effect on these beneficial organisms.

The role of exotic plants in the invasion of Seychelles by the polyphagous insect Aleurodicus disperses: a phylogenetically controlled analysis

The accidental introduction of the spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus dispersus Russell (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) to Seychelles in late 2003 is exploited during early 2005 to study interactions between A. dispersus, native and exotic host plants and their associated arthropod fauna. The numbers of A. dispersus egg spirals and pupae, predator and herbivore taxa were recorded for eight related native/exotic pairs of host plants found on Mahe, the largest island in Seychelles. Our data revealed no significant difference in herbivore density (excluding A. dispersus) between related native and exotic plants, which suggests that the exotic plants do not benefit from 'enemy release'. There were also no differences in predator density, or combined species richness between native and exotic plants. Together these data suggest that 'biotic resistance' to invasion is also unlikely. Despite the apparent lack of differences in community structure significantly fewer A. dispersus egg spirals and pupae were found on the native plants than on the exotic plants. Additional data on A. dispersus density were collected on Cousin Island, a managed nature reserve in which exotic plants are carefully controlled. Significantly higher densities of A. dispersus were observed on Mahe, where exotic plants are abundant, than on Cousin. These data suggest that the rapid invasion of Seychelles by A. dispersus may largely be due to the high proportion of plant species that are both exotic and hosts of A. dispersus; no support was found for either the 'enemy release' or the 'biotic resistance' hypotheses.

Macroevolutionary patterns in the origin of mutualisms involving ants

Ants are a diverse and abundant insect group that form mutualistic associations with a number of different organisms from fungi to insects and plants. Here, we use a phylogenetic approach to identify ecological factors that explain macroevolutionary trends in the mutualism between ants and honeydew-producing Homoptera. We also consider association between ant-Homoptera, ant-fungi and ant-plant mutualisms. Homoptera-tending ants are more likely to be forest dwelling, polygynous, ecologically dominant and arboreal nesting with large colonies of 10(4)-10(5) individuals. Mutualistic ants (including those that garden fungi and inhabit ant-plants) are found in under half of the formicid subfamilies. At the genus level, however, we find a negative association between ant-Homoptera and ant-fungi mutualisms, whereas there is a positive association between ant-Homoptera and ant-plant mutualisms. We suggest that species can only specialize in multiple mutualisms simultaneously when there is no trade-off in requirements from the different partners and no redundancy of rewards.

Effects of UV-blocking films on the dispersal behavior of Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera : Aphelinidae)

The parasitoid Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) has been used successfully for the control of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). The development of UV-blocking plastic films has added a new component to future integrated pest management systems by disrupting insect pest infestation when UV light is excluded. Because both T. vaporariorum and E. formosa are reported to have similar spectral efficiency, there was a need to identify the impact of UV-blocking films on the dispersal behavior of both the pest and the natural enemy. In field studies, using choice-chamber experiments, E. formosa showed some preference to disperse into compartments where less UV light was blocked. However, further studies indicated that the effect was primarily attributable to the different light diffusion properties of the films tested. Thus, unlike its whitefly host, when the UV-absorbing properties of the films were similar, but the light diffusion properties differed, E.formosa adults preferred to disperse into compartments clad with films that had high light diffusion properties. When the plastic films differed most in their UV-absorbing capacity and had no light-diffusion capability, the initial dispersal of E. formosa between treatments was similar, although a small preference toward the environment with UV light was observed over time. When parasitoid dispersal was measured 3 h after release, more parasitoids were found on plants, suggesting that the parasitoids would search plants for whitefly hosts, even in a UV-blocked light environment. The potential for the integration of UV-blocking films with E. formosa in an advanced whitefly management system is discussed.