Pineus boerneri Annand, 1928 (Hemiptera, Adelgidae) - a new species to Brazil: morphology of eggs, nymphs and adults

Pineus boerneri Annand, 1928 (Hemiptera, Adelgidae) _ a new species to Brazil: morphology of eggs, nymphs and adults. Pineus boerneri represents the first Adelgidae species recorded in Brazil. This aphid species forms extensive colonies on branches and trunk of Pinus spp., with apterous oviparous females, eggs and nymphs covered with white wax. The aim of this research is to study the morphology of eggs, nymphs, and adults to provide useful data for species identification in order to solve taxonomic issues. The study was based on morphometric data and optical and scanning electron microscopy images. First instar nymphs are active and can be easily distinguished from the others by their elongate minute yellowish body; well developed legs bearing a pair of sensorial setae at the apex of the second tarsomere; and antenna with three segments with a large rhinarium and distinct apical setae on the last segment. From the second to the fourth instar, nymphs are sessile, with round red body; they loose the third antennal segment and its sensorial structures, as well as the setae on the second tarsomere. The oviparous female is reddish-brown, with round body with about 0.76 mm diameter; legs reduced; antennae one-segmented; ovipositor distinct; numerous wax glands are present, mainly on the head. Accurate characterization of the species and distinction of the nymphal instars of P. boerneri were made possible by canonical analysis of morphometric data and morphological characters.

Description of the immature stages of the weevil Anthonomus vis Clark (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), inquiline into the gall of Leandra aurea (Melastomataceae)

Description of the immature stages of the weevil Anthonomus vis Clark (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), inquiline into the gall of Leandra aurea (Melastomataceae). The third instar larva and the pupa of Anthonomus vis Clark, 1992 are described and illustrated, based upon specimens collected in the Serra de São José, Tiradentes, in Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The species was previously known from the type series collected in the states of Amapá and Pará. Comparisons with the larva and pupa of A. grandis Boheman, 1843 and A. monostigma Champion, 1903 are included. The larvae of A. vis live as inquilines in the galls induced by a species of momphid moths (Lepidoptera, Momphidae) in the stems of Leandra aurea (Cham.) Cogn. (Melastomataceae).

No impact of Bt soybean that express Cry1Ac protein on biological traits of Euschistus heros (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) and its egg parasitoid Telenomus podisi (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae)

No impact of Bt soybean that express Cry1Ac protein on biological traits of Euschistus heros (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) and its egg parasitoid Telenomus podisi (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae). Biological traits of the stink bug Euschistus heros and its main biological control agent Telenomus podisi were evaluated under controlled environmental conditions (25 ± 2ºC; 60 ± 10% RH; and 14/10 h photoperiod) by placing first instar nymphs into Petri dishes with pods originating from two soybean isolines (Bt-soybean MON 87701 × MON 89788, which expresses the Cry1Ac protein, and its near non-Bt isoline A5547) where they remained until the adult stage. Due to gregarious behavior exhibited by first instar nymphs, they were individualized only when at the second instar. Adults were separated by sex and weighed, and pronotum width of each individual was subsequently measured. They were placed into plastic boxes containing soybean grains of the same soybean isoline as food source. Egg viability and female fecundity were assessed in adult individuals. Adult females of T. podisi (up to 24h old) were placed with eggs of E. heros from mothers reared on both soybean isolines. Nymphal development time, insect weight, pronotum width, sex ratio, female fecundity, and egg viability (% emergence) of Euschistus heros did not differ between treatments. Eggto-adult development time, female longevity, sex ratio, and percentage of parasitized eggs were not impacted by the Bt-soybean (expressing Cry1Ac protein). Results indicate that the Bt-soybean, MON 87701 × MON 89788, has no direct significant impact on the two studied species.

Biology and management of the masked chafer Cyclocephala distincta Burmeister (Melolonthidae, Dynastinae, Cyclocephalini)

Adults of Cyclocephala distincta are flower visitors of Neotropical palms (Arecaceae) and commonly found in the Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco, Brazil. Males and females were collected in the wild and subjected to captive rearing and breeding. The egg hatching rate, the life cycle, longevity of immatures and adults, and oviposition parameters in captivity were analyzed. The average duration of the life cycle of C. distinctawas 108.2 days (n = 45). The egg stage lasted on average 10.9 days, and the egg-hatching rate was 73.9%. The immature stage lasted on average 93.4 days. The larvae stage exhibited negative phototaxis, and the size of their head capsules increased at a constant rate of 1.6 between instars, following Dyar's rule. The average duration of the first instar was 24.8 days (n = 88), whereas the second and third instars lasted for 17.2 (n = 76) and 40.4 (n = 74) days respectively, and survival rates were 21.6%, 86.4% and 97.4%. The pre-pupal stage was recorded, and pupal chambers were built before pupation. The average number of eggs laid per female was 15.5, the total reproductive period lasted for 3.3 days, and the total fertility was 81.2%. Adults that emerged in captivity exhibited an average longevity of 18.9 days. Adult C. distincta exhibited thanatosis behavior upon manipulation, a strategy observed for the first time in Cyclocephala.

Anopheles goeldii Rozeboom & Gabaldón (Diptera, Culicidae): a species of the Nuneztovari Complex of Anopheles Meigen

Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) goeldiiRozeboom & Gabaldón, 1941, a species of the Nuneztovari Complex, was described based on morphological characteristics of the male, female, larva, pupa, and eggs. The type locality is Boa Vista (= Fordlândia), a district in the vicinity of Rio Tapajós, in the municipality of Aveiro, in the state of Pará, Brazil. Anopheles goeldii is redescribed based on morphological traits of the fourth instar larva, pupa, egg, and male and female. DNA sequences from the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI barcode region) of the mitochondrial genome were utilized for species characterization. Specimens of An. goeldii from the Pará, Amapá, and Amazonas states were employed to redescribe the species and to compare with morphologically similar taxa.

Description and life history of a new cecidogenous species of Palaeomystella Fletcher (Lepidoptera, Momphidae) from Brazil

ABSTRACTMale, female, pupa, and last-instar larva of Palaeomystella beckeri (Moreira and Basilio) a new species from the Atlantic forest, southern Brazil, are described and illustrated with the aid of optical and scanning electron microscopy. Larvae induce galls on apical branches of Tibouchina trichopoda (DC.) Baill. (Melastomataceae) within which pupation occurs. Gall description and preliminary data on life history are also provided.

The costs and consequences of parasitoid attack for the predatory hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus

Question: What are the life-history costs for a predatory insect of surviving parasitoid attack, and can parasitoid attack alter predator-prey interactions? Hypotheses: Survivorship is influenced by host age. Hosts that suffer parasitoid attack grow more slowly and consume fewer prey. Those that survive attack are smaller as adults and show reduced survivorship. Organisms: The aphidophagous hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus, its endoparasitoid wasp Diplazon laetatorius and its prey, the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Site of experiments: All experiments were conducted in controlled temperature rooms and chambers in the laboratory. Methods: Episyrphus balteatus larvae of each instar were exposed to attack by Diplazon laetatorius, then dissected to measure the encapsulation response (a measure of immunity). Second instar larvae were either attacked or not attacked by D. laetatorius. Their development rates and numbers of prey consumed were noted. The size and survivorship of surviving (immune) and control hoverflies were compared following eclosion. Conclusions: Successful immune response increased with larval age (first instar 0%, second instar 40%, third instar 100% survival). Second instar larvae that successfully resisted parasitoid attack were larger as pupae (but not as adults) and showed reduced adult survivorship. Female adult survivors were more likely than male survivors to have died within 16 days of eclosion, but there was no difference between unattacked male and female control hoverflies. Attacked larvae, irrespective of immune status, consumed fewer aphids than unattacked individuals. Episyrphus balteatus suffers significant costs of resisting parasitoid attack, and parasitoid attack can reduce the top-down effects of an insect predator, irrespective of whether the host mounts an immune response or not.

Neotype designation and redescription of adult male and immature stages of Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) pictipennis (Philippi) (Diptera: Culicidae)

A neotype is designated for Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) pictipennis (Philippi) and morphological redescriptions are provided for the adult male, male genitalia, fourth-instar larva and pupa. All specimens, including the neotype were collected in Rio Mapocho, Santiago, Chile in 1945/1946, and were deposited in the Entomological Collection of Faculdade de Saude Publica, Universidade de Sao Paulo (FSP-USP), Brazil. The neotype was previously invalidly designated the allotype of An. pictipennis by Lane and Neghme (1946). Illustrations are provided for diagnostic characteristics of the male genitalia, and larval stage.

Feeding of Spodoptera eridania (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on soybean genotypes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Aspectos Biológicos dos Estádios Imaturos de Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) e Ceraeochrysa cincta (Schneider) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) Alimentados com Ovos e Ninfas de Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) Biótipo B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

Foram avaliados os aspectos biológicos dos estádios imaturos de Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) e Ceraeochrysa cincta (Schneider), alimentados com ovos e ninfas de Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) biótipo B. Ovos dos predadores foram individualizados em recipientes de vidro de fundo chato com 2,5 cm de diâmetro e 8,5 cm de altura que foram mantidos à temperatura de 25±2ºC, UR de 70±10% e fotofase de 14h. Após a eclosão das larvas, discos de folhas de tomateiro e de couve com 2 cm de diâmetro, contendo ovos e ninfas de B. tabaci, respectivamente, foram colocados nos recipientes. A duração e a viabilidade de cada ínstar e da fase pupal de ambas as espécies predadoras alimentadas com diferentes estágios da presa foram avaliados. Larvas de primeiro ínstar de C. externa apresentaram desenvolvimento mais lento quando alimentadas com ovos de B. tabaci biotipo B monstrando influência do estágio da presa fornecida no período de desenvolvimento do predador. O mesmo não ocorreu para a espécie C. cincta. O desenvolvimento de larvas de primeiro ínstar de ambas as espécies predadoras foi semelhante quando foram alimentadas com ovos de B. tabaci; porém C. cincta apresentou período de desenvolvimento mais longo (5,4 dias) comparada a C. externa (4,0 dias) quando alimentada com ninfas da presa. Para larvas de segundo e terceiro ínstares e para a duração da fase larval não houve influência do estágio da presa fornecida (ovo ou ninfa) no período de desenvolvimento. A duração do segundo ínstar foi maior para C. cincta do que para C. externa (4,8 e 4,1 dias, respectivamente). Porém a duração do terceiro instar foi maior e da fase larval foi menor para C. externa (6,6 e 15,3 dias, respectivamente) do que para C. cincta (6,4 e 16,7 dias, respectivamente). A viabilidade dos ínstares foi acima de 90% para ambas as espécies. No entanto, menor porcentagem de viabilidade da fase de pupa foi registrada para C. cincta, quando alimentada com ovos (30%) ou ninfas (55,6%).

Descrição das ninfas de Quesada gigas (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) associadas ao cafeeiro

Neste trabalho, as ninfas de Quesada gigas (Olivier) são descritas e ilustradas. Uma chave para o reconhecimento dos cinco ínstares ninfais é também apresentada. Foram analisados exemplares coletados em cafezais dos municípios de São Sebastião do Paraíso, Monte Santo de Minas e Patrimônio (Minas Gerais), Franca e Casa Branca (São Paulo). As amostras encontram-se preservadas em álcool a 80% e depositadas na Coleção Entomológica do Departamento de Fitossanidade da FCAV-UNESP, Câmpus de Jaboticabal. Os caracteres analisados foram: antenas, tecas alares, perna anterior, ápice da tíbia meso e metatorácicas e ápice abdominal do macho/fêmea. Foi adotada uma fórmula para indicar a configuração que é apresentada pelas estruturas presentes no fêmur anterior. Ninfas de Q. gigas de primeiro ínstar apresentam fórmula femoral 2-1-0, de segundo ínstar 2-1-3, de terceiro ínstar 2-1-5, de quarto ínstar 2-1-6 e as de quinto ínstar 2-2-8. O primeiro número refere-se à somatória dos dentes posteriores e dentes acessórios, o segundo ao número de dentes intermediários e o terceiro aos dentes do pente femoral. As estruturas apresentadas pelo fêmur protorácico constituem caracteres morfológicos adequados para a identificação dos ínstares ninfais de cigarras.

Aspectos biológicos de Harmonia axyridis alimentada com duas espécies de presas e predação intraguilda com Eriopis connexa

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar os aspectos biológicos de Harmonia axyridis, alimentada com duas espécies de presas, e a ocorrência de predação intraguilda com Eriopis connexa. Larvas de H. axyridis foram alimentadas diariamente com ovos de Anagasta kuehniella ou com o pulgão Schizaphis graminum. Adultos da joaninha foram separados em dez casais que receberam o mesmo tipo de alimento da fase larval. Na avaliação da predação, uma larva de quarto instar de cada espécie foi mantida na presença ou ausência de abrigo e de ovos de A. kuehniella. A fase larval de H. axyridis durou 10,2 e 8,9 dias, quando alimentada com A. kuehniella e S. graminum, respectivamente. A sobrevivência do predador, em fase imatura, variou de 70 a 100%. A joaninha apresentou período de oviposição de 47,3 e 51,7 dias, com 887,6 e 822,5 ovos, ao se alimentar de A. kuehniella e S. graminum, respectivamente. A longevidade das fêmeas foi de 74,1 e 76,2 dias e a dos machos de 67,3 e 70,3 dias, em A. kuehniella e S. graminum, respectivamente. H. axyridis atuou como predador intraguilda e foi a espécie dominante na competição com E. connexa.

Efeito da aplicação de extratos aquosos em couve na alimentação de largatas de Ascia monuste orseis

Os efeitos de extratos aquosos de amêndoas de Azadirachta indica e frutos de Sapindus saponaria, aplicados em discos de folhas de couve (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) nas concentrações de 0,0117% e 1,0342% (p/v), respectivamente, foram estudados sobre a alimentação das lagartas de Ascia monuste orseis. Avaliou-se a atratividade e o consumo de área foliar de lagartas de primeiro e terceiro ínstar durante 24 horas, em condições de laboratório (T = 25 ± 2ºC, UR = 60 ± 10% e fotofase = 12 horas). Nos testes com e sem chance de escolha, para lagartas de primeiro ínstar e teste sem chance de escolha para lagartas de terceiro ínstar, não houve diferença quanto à atratividade das lagartas. No teste com chance de escolha para lagartas de terceiro ínstar, houve menor atratividade das lagartas pelos discos de folhas tratadas com S. saponaria, diferindo da testemunha. No decorrer de 24 horas de avaliações, pode-se observar 58,3% de lagartas atraídas na testemunha, não diferindo de A. indica e diferindo de S. saponaria, com 39,3% e 2,4% das lagartas atraídas, respectivamente. Quanto ao consumo de área foliar, o extrato de S. saponaria diminuiu o consumo de lagartas, em todos os testes realizados. Quando não tinham opção de escolha para se alimentar de folhas sem os extratos, as lagartas consumiram as folhas tratadas nas concentrações testadas, porém em menor quantidade. Os extratos testados neste experimento demonstram ter efeitos sobre a alimentação das lagartas de A. monuste orseis, possivelmente com propriedades deterrentes e/ou supressoras de alimentação.

Efeito de extratos aquosos de Azadirachta indica, Melia azedarach e Aspidosperma pyrifolium no desenvolvimento e oviposição de Plutella xylostella

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

Avaliação de cultivares de amendoim para resistência a Spodoptera frugiperda

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)