PCR-based detection of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in their natural host Boophilus microplus and cattle

PCR and nested-PCR methods were used to assess the frequency of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infection in Boophilus microplus engorged females and eggs and in cattle reared in an area with endemic babesiosis. Blood and the engorged female ticks were from 27 naturally infested calves and 25 crossbred cows. The frequency of both Babesia species was similar in calves and cows (P > 0.05). Babesia bovis was detected in 23 (85.2%) calves and in 25 (100%) cows and B. bigemina was detected in 25 (92.6%) calves and in 21 (84%) cows. Mixed infections with the both Babesia species were identified in 42 animals, 21 in each age category. Of female ticks engorged on calves, 34.9% were negative and single species infection with B. bigemina (56.2%) was significantly more frequent (P < 0.01) than with B. bovis (4.7%). Most of the females (60.8%) engorged on cows did not show Babesia spp. infection and the frequency of single B. bovis infection (17.6%) was similar (P > 0.05) to the frequency of single B. bigemina infection (15.9%). Mixed Babesia infection was lower (P < 0.01) than single species infection in female ticks engorged either in cows (5.7%) or in calves (4.3%). An egg sample from each female was analysed for the presence of Babesia species. Of the egg samples from female ticks infected with B. bovis, 26 (47.3%) were infected while from those from female ticks infected with B. bigemina 141 (76.6%) were infected (P < 0.01). The results showed that although the frequency of both species of Babesia was similar in calves and cows, the infectivity of B. bigemina was higher to ticks fed on calves while to those ticks fed on cows the infectivity of both Babesia species was similar. © 2004 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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.

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.

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.

Effect of fungicides on the mite fauna of prunus persica L. cultivars in Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil

The objective of this study was to characterize the diversity of phytophagous and predatory mites on peach cultivars either with or without fungicide treatment, in the city of Presidente Prudente, State of São Paulo, Brazil. In order to evaluate the effect of fungicides, leaf samples were colleted at random from treated and untreated plants of the Tropical, Aurora 1 and Aurora 2 cultivars, from June 2004 to February 2006. From the results obtained it can be concluded that: plants with or without treatment showed high populations of predatory mites, indicating that the treatments were innocuous on the mite populations. A diversified composition of the mite community was observed. The Phytoseiidae family had the highest richness in numbers and species of mites. Euseius citrifolius and E. concordis were the most abundant species. Plants with or without treatment had high abundances of predatory mites, with a predominance of E. citrifolius.

Primeiro relato de atividade patogênica de Hirsutella thompsonii (Fischer) sobre o ácaro-da-erinose-da-lichia Aceria litchii (Keifer)

The litchi erineum mite, Aceria litchii (Keifer) is found in all producing regions attacking leaves and flowers of litchi plants. The mite attack young leaves and causes the erinea on leaf surface, which later become brown galls with velvety appearance. Severe attacks can cause leaf drop and destruction of branches end directly production affecting. In 2009 year it was registered a heavy infestation of the pest on litchi plants (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) in the municipality of Casa Branca, São Paulo, Brazil (2127'O; 4702'S; 679 m altitude). In June, many galls caused by mite infestation showed a mycelium of white coloration and many eriophyid dead. The fungus was identified as Hirsutella thompsonii (Fischer). The results suggest that galls may facilitate the fungus development and its permanence on the plants. Thus, the possibility of mite biological control with H. thompsonii should be investigated.

Population Fluctuation and Damage Caused by Phytophagous Mites on Three Rubber Tree Clones

Our aim was to investigate the population fluctuation and the damage caused by the phytophagous mites Calacarus heveae Feres, Tenuipalpus heveae Baker, and Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor) on clones FX 2784, FX 3864, and MDF 180 in rubber tree crops from southeastern Bahia, Brazil. Moreover, we tested for the influence of climatic variables on occurrence patterns of these species throughout weekly samples performed from October to April. The infestation peaks was between mid-January and late February. The clones FX 2784 and FX 3864 had the highest infestations and more severe damage possibly caused by C. heveae, which was the most frequent and abundant species in all clones. We found that sunlight duration and rainfall were the most important factors for C. heveae while T. heveae was affected by rainfall and temperature. Eutetranychus banksi was only affected by sunlight duration. However, the best models had low goodness of fit. We concluded that the clones FX 2784 and FX 3864 had a higher susceptibility to mite attack, and the association between climatic variables and favorable physiological conditions were determinant for the population increase of the species from January to April. © 2012 Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil.

Diversidade e sazonalidade da acarofauna de Hymenaea martiana Hayne (Leguminosae) em gradiante de tamanho de plantas

Pós-graduação em Biologia Animal - IBILCE

Ácaro da mancha-anular do cafeeiro: controle em função da cobertura pela calda com ramais e volumes de aplicação

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Citogenética de 13 espécies de aranhas haploginas pertencentes às famílias Pholcidae, Sicariidae e Scytodidae (Araneomorphae): evolução cromossômica, sistema cromossômico de determinação sexual e citotaxonomia

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desenvolvimento e avaliação de sistemas de aplicação de defensivos para a citricultura

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Viabilidade técnico-econômica da associação poda e controle químico no manejo da leprose dos citros

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aspectos técnicos e econômicos da poda e do controle químico no manejo da leprose dos citros

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Inter-relação: citros, porta-enxerto, doença e ácaro da leprose em plantas submetidas a estresse hídrico e nutricional

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Hemerobiidae (Neuroptera) em Coffea arabica L. (Rubiaceae): diversidade, sazonalidade e associação com presas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)