Trichospilus diatraeae Cherian & Margabandhu, 1942 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a new parasitoidof Melanolophia consimilaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

First report on the parasitoid Trichospilus diatraeae of the genus in Eulophidae found in the field parasitizing pupae of the eucalyptus defoliating looper Melanolophia consimilaria. This opens new perspectives for the use of this parasitoid in biological control programs against caterpillars of forestry importance.

Diferentes densidades de Trichospilus diatreae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) e seu desenvolvimiento sobre pupas de Thyrinteina arnobia (Lepdoptera: Geometridae)

The control of defoliating caterpillars in eucalyptus forests via the application of chemical and biological insecticides is a complex issue, mainly due to the large size of plantations and the height of trees. Because of this complexity, alternate control methods have been proposed, such as biological control. Several factors should be taken into consideration for biological control programs to be successful, including density of natural enemies released. In this experiment we used 48-hour-old Thyrinteina arnobia pupae exposed to parasitism by 48-hour-old Trichospilus diatraeae females at the following parasitoid/host ratios, respectively: 1:1, 7:1, 14:1, 21:1, 28:1, and 35:1, with 15 replicates per treatment. Density was an important factor for T. diatraeae development, since parasitism rates of 33.3% were found at a density of 1 female per pupa, while no significant differences were found among parasitism rates for densities of 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 females/pupa, with parasitism rates above 70 %. As to emergence, densities of 1:1 and 35:1 did not differ statistically, with low emergence rates. The 7:1 density had an intermediate performance, while densities of 14:1, 21:1, and 28:1 were the most effective, with emergence rates above 90%. With regard to the number of emerged parasitoids there was a positive intraspecific interference up to the 28:1 density. There was an increase in development period from egg-adult as the density of females per pupa increased.

Velocidade do fluxo de ar em barra de pulverização no controle químico de Anticarsia gemmatalis, Hübner e percevejos na cultura da soja

A lagarta Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner) e os percevejos fitófagos são pragas importantes na cultura da soja no Brasil. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o controle desses insetos após o tratamento com inseticidas, sob diferentes velocidades do fluxo de ar junto à barra de pulverização nessa cultura. O experimento foi desenvolvido em Botucatu, na cultura da soja [Glycine max (L.) Merrill], var. Conquista (safra 2007/08), no delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso (quatro velocidades do fluxo de ar: 0, 9, 11 e 29 km h-1), mais testemunha, totalizando cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. No estádio de desenvolvimento vegetativo (V10) realizou uma aplicação do inseticida deltametrina na dosagem de 6,5 g do i.a. ha-1 para o controle de lagartas e no estádio de desenvolvimento reprodutivo (R6) aplicou o inseticida tiametoxam associado com lambda-cialotrina na dosagem de 25,38 + 19,08 g do i.a. ha-1 para o controle de percevejos. A aplicação foi feita com um pulverizador Advanced Vortex 2000, com pontas de pulverização jato cônico JA2, conferindo um volume de calda de 200 L ha-1. As avaliações antes e após a aplicação foram realizadas pelo método de batidas no pano. Avaliaram-se os danos causados por percevejos, considerando-se a porcentagem de danos às sementes, ao poder germinativo e à produtividade. No geral, o número médio de lagartas e percevejos foram significativamente menores nas parcelas tratadas em relação ao obtido na testemunha. Não houve diferença de produtividade entre os tratamentos. A porcentagem de emergência e sementes picadas por percevejos foram significativamente menores nos tratamentos que receberam o controle em comparação à testemunha.

Evaluation of Trichospilus diatraeae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) as parasitoid of the eucalyptus defoliator Euselasia eucerus (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae).

Lepidopteran pests have occurred in eucalyptus plantations in Brazil since 1948, reaching high population levels, reducing tree growth and causing considerable losses in wood production. The control of defoliating caterpillars in eucalyptus forests is complex, mainly due to the large extent of forest plantations and tree height, necessitating the aerial application of chemical or biological insecticides. Due to this complexity, alternative control methods have been proposed, for instance biological control through the use of parasitoids. Trichospilus diatraeae Cherian & Margabandhu, 1942 is a gregarious pupal parasitoid that preferentially attacks species of the order Lepidoptera. This is the first report of T. diatraeae parasitizing pupae of the eucalyptus defoliator Euselasia eucerus Hewitson in Brazil. This parasitoid offers new perspectives for the biological control programmes of this species in eucalyptus plantations in Brazil.

New record of Trichospilus diatraeae Margabandhu & Cherian, 1942 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) parasitizing Sarsina violascens (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1856) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) in Brazil

This is the first report of Trichospilus diatracae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) found in the field, parasitizing pupae of the eucalyptus defoliating Sarsina violascens (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1856) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) in Brazil. This offers a new perspectives for the use of this parasitoid in biological control programs against caterpillars of forestry importance.

Seletividade alimentar e influência da idade da folha de Eucalyptus SPP. para Thyrinteina Arnobia (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

Thyrinteina arnobia (Stoll, 1782) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) é considerada uma das mais sérias pragas do eucalipto no Brasil. Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de estudar a preferência alimentar de T. arnobia em seis espécies de eucalipto e a influência da idade foliar sobre a seleção hospedeira, utilizando-se folhas jovens e velhas de Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus robusta e Eucalyptus cloeziana. Lagartas de T. arnobia alimentadas na geração anterior com folhas de E. grandis preferiram folhas jovens de E. grandis e E.cloeziana, enquanto as alimentadas com E. saligna, na geração anterior, preferiram folhas velhas de E. grandis. A espécie preferida por lagartas de T. arnobia foi E. grandis, observando-se, também maior preferência por folhas jovens que por folhas velhas nas espécies utilizadas nos testes.

Trichospilus Diatraeae Cherian & Margabandhu, 1942 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), un nuevo parasitoide de Hypsipyla Grandella (Zeller, 1848) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Primer reporte de Trichospilus diatraeae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) parasitando pupas de lagarta Hypsipyla grandella, principal plaga forestal en América Latina y el Caribe, abriendo nuevas perspectivas para la utilización de este parasitoide en programas de control biológico de lagartas de importancia forestal.

The effect of Beauveria bassiana on Brazilian poplar moth Condylorrhiza vestigialis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The Brazilian poplar moth is the most important pest of poplar plantations in Brazil. This research evaluated the effect of Beauveria bassiana Bals. (Vuill.) on the mortality and development of Condylorrhiza vestigialis Guen. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). The aim was to develop alternative methods for management of this pest. The pathogens were sprayed on poplar leaves and .consequently, the pathogens reached the caterpillars. Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki Berliner was sprayed as the standard treatment. The spray for the control was distilled water. Both pathogens B. bassiana and B. thuringiensis affected insect development with increase mortality at each stage of the insect cycle, reaching a satisfactory control level. Microbial control of Brazilian poplar moth with B. bassiana is promising. Tests with other strains and species of pathogens, mainly under field conditions, were also encouraging. This is the first report about the action of B. bassiana against C. vestigialis.

Inseticidas químicos e microbianos no controle da lagarta-do-cartucho na fase inicial da cultura do milho

The objective this work was to evaluate the effect of microbial and chemical insecticides on the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda in the development initial phase of crop corn. The work was lead in the experimental area of the State University of Mato Grosso do sul, in Cassilandia (MS) city. The treatments had been: 1) control; 2) fipronil; 3) thiametoxan; 4) Beauveria bassiana (0,5 kg of p.c/ha), 5) Beauveria bassiana (1 kg of p.c/ha), 6) teflubenzuron and 7) spinosad, in the doses and recommended way of application. After the tenth second after the emergency of the plants (DAE), had been day applied the treatments in foliar spraying (PF), being evaluated to the 2, 9, 15 and 21 days after the application (DAA), the number of small caterpillars (lesser that 1,5 cm) for parcel in 20 showed plants. The applied results show that teflubenzuron and spinosad in PF to the 12 DAE had been most efficient (71 and 83% respectively). The microbial's insecticides had not differed significantly from the chemical insecticides in the percentage of plants attacked for the pest and the 15 and 21 DAA.

Estratégias de Produção in vitro de Bioinseticida Viral: influências do Isolado, da Cinética e do Modo de operação

Societal concerns about environmental sustainability has lead to the development of ecologically-friendly alternatives to chemical insecticides for crop protection. One such alternative is biological pest control. In particular, baculoviruses are well suited as insect biopesticides due to their narrow host specificity and relative ease of propagation. In Brazil, the baculovirus Anticarsia gemmatalis nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) is the main biological control agent employed for the soybean pest, Anticarsia gemmatalis. This baculovirus biopesticide is currently produced using caterpillars, but increasing market demand for the product has encouraged the development of an in vitro manufacturing process, which can be scaled up to much higher virus productivities. In this study, three wild-type AgMNPV isolates (AgMNPV-2D, AgMNPV-MP2 and AgMNPV-MP5) and a recombinant form (vAgEGT-LacZ) were characterised in terms of occlusion body (OB) production and infection kinetics, to enable future optimisation of the in vitro production process. These viruses were propagated using a Spodoptera frugiperda (IPLB-SF21) insect cell line grown in shaker-flask batch cultures. Among the virus isolates tested, AgMNPV-MP5 was found to be the best producer, yielding (5.3±0.85)x108 OB/mL after 8 days post infection. The characterisation of vAgEGT-LacZ propagation in suspension cell cultures has not been previously reported in the literature; hence it became the main focus for this thesis. In particular, it was carried out a study on the effect of the multiplicity of infection (MOI) on OB production. Five successive batches were performed getting a final production (8.9±1.42)x1014 occlusion bodies, considering that production is related for a bioreactor with final volume of 10m3. A low MOI associated with a fed-batch process for vAgEGT-LacZ production was found to support a 3-fold higher OB yield when compared to the default batch process (1.8x107 and 5.3x107 OB/mL, respectively). This yield is competitive with regards to the production process.

Tropical dermatology: Venomous arthropods and human skin Part I. Insecta

Although many tropical insects carry infectious diseases, cutaneous injury can occur by other mechanisms, for example erucism (envenomation by caterpillars) or lepidopterism (dermatitis from moths). Pararama is a unique form of erucism seen in workers in contact with rubber trees in the Amazon, and it is caused by Premolis larvae, resulting in progressive periarticular fibrosis, ankylosis, and the loss of articulation. Ants and aquatic insects of the Belostomatidae family can cause painful bites and stings. Anaphylactic shock and death can result from the venom of bees and wasps. Beetles can cause vesicular dermatitis via cantharidin or paederin. Myiasis results from fly larvae (maggots) feeding on live or necrotic tissue of humans or other hosts, while New World screwworm fly larvae feed only on living tissue and burrow (ie, screw) more deeply when attempts are made to remove them. Tungiasis is characterized by very pruritic and painful papules and ulcers resulting from a Tunga flea penetrating the host's skin. Dermatologists should be able to diagnose and treat the cutaneous manifestations of these tropical insects and educate their patients on prevention. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2012; 67:339.e1-14.)

Ultramorphology of digestive tract of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hubner, 1818) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) at final larval development

The digestive tract of insects is an important natural, physical, and chemical defense barrier against pathogen invasion. Certain. lepidopteran caterpillars are serious pests of agricultural crops and their biology has received much attention, but little is known about the larval noctuid gut. The morphological analysis of the digestive tract in Anticarsia gemmatalis under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a good model for studies about its defense mechanism. The material was fixed (2,5% glutaraldehyde solution; 0.1 M-phosphate buffer, pH 7.3), post-fixed (1% osmium tetroxide in the same buffer), dried at critical point, gold coated and analyzed in a SEM 515-Philips. A. gemmatalis digestive tract consists of a straight duct of varying length and diameter, subdivided in three main regions: the foregut formed by the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, and crop; the midgut that is the largest portion of the digestive tract without noticeable morphological differentiation along its length; and the hindgut that is morphologically differentiated in pylorus, ileum, colon, and rectum. Although the general morphology of the A. gemmatalis digestive tract is quite similar to the other Lepidoptera species, the anatomical array of the crop muscular layers is quite different comparing with the description for other larval insect.

Preferência de Apanteles galleriae Wilkinson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) por Galleria mellonella (L.) ou Achroia grisella (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

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

Capacidade reprodutiva de fêmeas de Apanteles galleriae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) em lagartas de Galleria mellonella e Achroia grisella (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) criadas com dietas diferentes

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

Foraging Behavior of the Swarm-Founding Wasp, Polybia (Trichothorax) sericea (Hymenoptera, Vespidae): Prey Capture and Load Capacity

The main component of the protein diet of P. sericea was larvae of Lepidoptera (75.38%), with predominance of the following Families: Noctuidae (30.99%), Hesperiidae (19.01%); Pyralidae (19.01%) and Nymphalidae (11.98%). The average weight of the prey captured was 14.2 mg, a value equivalent to 24.7% of the average wasp weight. The average glucidic food load was 28.61 mg, corresponding to approximately half the wasp weight (49.64%). The weight of the load transported in the crop varied according to the food density, which, in turn, influenced the time spent in its collection (Pearson: n=64; r=0.64;p<0.05). Polybia sericea showed predatory interactions against Lepidopteran caterpillars, who are known to be agricultural pests. P. sericea has potential to be used in Integrated Pest Management.