DNA bar-coding reveals source and patterns of Thaumastocoris peregrinus invasions in South Africa and South America.

Thaumastocoris peregrinus is a recently introduced invertebrate pest of non-native Eucalyptus plantations in the Southern Hemisphere. It was first reported from South Africa in 2003 and in Argentina in 2005. Since then, populations have grown explosively and it has attained an almost ubiquitous distribution over several regions in South Africa on 26 Eucalyptus species. Here we address three key questions regarding this invasion, namely whether only one species has been introduced, whether there were single or multiple introductions into South Africa and South America and what the source of the introduction might have been. To answer these questions, bar-coding using mitochondrial DNA (COI) sequence diversity was used to characterise the populations of this insect from Australia, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Uruguay. Analyses revealed three cryptic species in Australia, of which only T. peregrinus is represented in South Africa and South America. Thaumastocoris peregrinus populations contained eight haplotypes, with a pairwise nucleotide distance of 0.2-0.9% from seventeen locations in Australia. Three of these haplotypes are shared with populations in South America and South Africa, but the latter regions do not share haplotypes. These data, together with the current distribution of the haplotypes and the known direction of original spread in these regions, suggest that at least three distinct introductions of the insect occurred in South Africa and South America before 2005. The two most common haplotypes in Sydney, one of which was also found in Brisbane, are shared with the non-native regions. Sydney populations of T. peregrinus, which have regularly reached outbreak levels in recent years, might thus have served as source of these three distinct introductions into other regions of the Southern Hemisphere.

Mitochondrial DNA diversity of Cleruchoides noackae (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae): a potential biological control agent for Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae)

Carpintero and Dellap, (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) is a native Australian sap-feeding insect that has become invasive and seriously damaging to commercially grown in the Southern Hemisphere. Lin and Huber (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) was recently discovered as an egg parasitoid of the Thaumastocoridae in Australia. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA; cytochrome oxidase subunit I, COI) sequence diversity amongst 104 individuals from these native populations revealed 24 sequence haplotypes. The COI haplotypes of individuals collected from the Sydney and Southeast Queensland clustered in distinct groups, indicating limited spread of the insect between the regions. Individuals collected from Perth in Western Australia were represented by four COI haplotypes. Although this population is geographically more isolated from other populations, two COI haplotypes were identical to haplotypes found in the Sydney region. The results suggest that has recently been introduced into Perth, possibly from the Sydney area. The high mtDNA diversity and limited spread that is suggested for is in contrast to the lack of geographic associated mtDNA diversity and extensive spread of . If implemented as a biological control agent, this factor will need to be considered in collecting and releasing .

Population dynamics of Thaumastocoris peregrinus in Eucalyptus plantations of South Africa

Thaumastocoris peregrinus is a sap-sucking insect that infests non-native Eucalyptus plantations in Africa, New Zealand, South America and parts of Southern Europe, in addition to street trees in parts of its native range of Australia. In South Africa, pronounced fluctuations in the population densities have been observed. To characterise spatiotemporal variability in T. peregrinus abundance and the factors that might influence it, we monitored adult population densities at six sites in the main eucalypt growing regions of South Africa. At each site, twenty yellow sticky traps were monitored weekly for 30 months, together with climatic data. We also characterised the influence of temperature on growth and survival experimentally and used this to model how temperature may influence population dynamics. T. peregrinus was present throughout the year at all sites, with annual site-specific peaks in abundance. Peaks occurred during autumn (February-April) for the Pretoria site, summer (November-January) for the Zululand site and spring (August-October) for the Tzaneen, Sabie and Piet Retief monitoring sites. Temperature (both experimental and field-collected), humidity and rainfall were mostly weakly, or not at all, associated with population fluctuations. It is clear that a complex interaction of these and other factors (e.g. host quality) influence population fluctuations in an annual, site specific cycle. The results obtained not only provide insights into the biology of T. peregrinus, but will also be important for future planning of monitoring and control programs using semiochemicals, chemical insecticides or biological control agents. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Population dynamics of Thaumastocoris peregrinus in Eucalyptus plantations of South Africa

Thaumastocoris peregrinus is a sap-sucking insect that infests non-native Eucalyptus plantations in Africa, New Zealand, South America and parts of Southern Europe, in addition to street trees in parts of its native range of Australia. In South Africa, pronounced fluctuations in the population densities have been observed. To characterise spatiotemporal variability in T. peregrinus abundance and the factors that might influence it, we monitored adult population densities at six sites in the main eucalypt growing regions of South Africa. At each site, twenty yellow sticky traps were monitored weekly for 30 months, together with climatic data. We also characterised the influence of temperature on growth and survival experimentally and used this to model how temperature may influence population dynamics. T. peregrinus was present throughout the year at all sites, with annual site-specific peaks in abundance. Peaks occurred during autumn (February–April) for the Pretoria site, summer (November–January) for the Zululand site and spring (August–October) for the Tzaneen, Sabie and Piet Retief monitoring sites. Temperature (both experimental and field-collected), humidity and rainfall were mostly weakly, or not at all, associated with population fluctuations. It is clear that a complex interaction of these and other factors (e.g. host quality) influence population fluctuations in an annual, site specific cycle. The results obtained not only provide insights into the biology of T. peregrinus, but will also be important for future planning of monitoring and control programs using semiochemicals, chemical insecticides or biological control agents.

Parasitoides de huevos de Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: noctuidae) Dalbulus maidis (Delong y wolcott) (Homoptera: cicadellidae) y Peregrinus maidis (Ashm) (Homoptera: delphacidae) en maíz (Zea mays)

Durante la época seca bajo riego y la época lluviosa de 1988 se llevó a cabo un sondeo de los parasitoides de huevos de spodoptera frugiperda en maíz, en el centro nacional de investigación de granos básicos “Humberto tapia” (depto. De Managua) y en la estación experimental “Raúl González” del valle de sebaco (depto. de Matagalpa). También se hizo una evaluación de la presencia de telenomus remus en alguno de los sitios de liberación de estas especies en el año 1976. En la calera (depto. De Managua), la trinidad (depto. De Estelí), valle de sebaco (depto. De Matagalpa) y camoapa (depto. De Boaco); en 1984 en la cartonera y santa clara (depto. De león). Durante el ciclo de postrera del año 1988 se llevó a cabo un sondeo de los parasitoides de huevos de dalbulus maidis y peregrinus maidis en el centro experimental “ Humberto tapia”, y en una finca en el km 93 y 98 de la carretera león- Chinandega, km 40 de la carretera Managua-león y en san juan de la concepción (depto. De Masaya). En la estación experimental “Humberto tapia” no se encontraron parasitoides de huevos ni parasitoides ovo-larvales de s. frugiperda. en la “Raúl González” tampoco se encontraron parasitoides de huevos sensuestricto de s. frugiperda, pero se detectó la presencia de parasitoide ovo-larval, chelonus insularis en las dos épocas de siembra se comprobó que en el estado fenológico de la planta durante las dos épocas ni la época de siembra influyeron significativamente sobre la tasa de parasitismo de c. insularis dentro y entre las masas de huevos de s. frugiperda ya no se encontró diferencias significativa en el porcentaje de masas de huevos parasitadas 27 días después de germinación (DDG) (45%) y 55 DDG (50%) en la época seca, ni en la lluviosa 26 DDG (20%), 43 DDG (29%) y 57DDG (0%). Tampoco hubo efecto de la época de siembra (seca, 47% y lluviosa, 19%) sobre el porcentaje de masas de huevos parasitadas. En el porcentaje promedio de huevos por masa parasitados a los 27 DDG (19%) y 55 DDG (8%) durante la época seca y la lluviosa 26 DDG (18%), 43 DDG (9%) y 57 DDG (0%) tampoco se encontró una diferencia significativa. La época (seca 17% y la lluviosa 19%) tampoco influyo sobre el porcentaje promedio de huevos por masas parasitadas. La edad de la masa de huevos de s. frugiperda (5-6 días de edad, 33.33. % y 3-4 días de edad 12.12%) influyo significativamente sobre el porcentaje de masas de huevos parasitadas por c.insulularis el cual afecto las poblaciones de s. frugiperda en la época seca y lluviosa en un 8.35 % y 5.32% respectivamente. Los anteriores resultados más el no aparente establecimiento aparente de t.remus en los sitio donde fue liberado, permiten recomendar la introducción nuevamente de raza especifica de este parasitoide para nuestra condiciones de clima, debiéndose realizar las liberaciones preferiblemente en sitio montañosos y de clima fresco. La presencia de parasitoides de D. maidis fue nula. Las cuatro especies parasíticas de huevos de p.maidis encontradas en esta investigación (anagrus spp, gonatocerus spp, paracentrobia spp y oligosita oophagus), se consideran como un nuevo hallazgo para Nicaragua. Estos resultados insinúan la necesidad de conocer los periodo crítico de infestación de d. maidis en el maíz , para realizar aplicaciones mínima de insecticida con el fin de controlarlo sin afectar las poblaciones de benéficos que atacan a p.maidis, evitando así que este insecto se convierta en una plaga peligrosa para el cultivo de maíz.

Predação de Thaumastocoris peregrinus por Chrisoperla externa.

2010

DNA bar-coding reveals source and patterns of Thaumastocoris peregrinus invasions in South Africa and South America

Thaumastocoris peregrinus is a recently introduced invertebrate pest of non-native Eucalyptus plantations in the Southern Hemisphere. It was first reported from South Africa in 2003 and in Argentina in 2005. Since then, populations have grown explosively and it has attained an almost ubiquitous distribution over several regions in South Africa on 26 Eucalyptus species. Here we address three key questions regarding this invasion, namely whether only one species has been introduced, whether there were single or multiple introductions into South Africa and South America and what the source of the introduction might have been. To answer these questions, bar-coding using mitochondrial DNA (COI) sequence diversity was used to characterise the populations of this insect from Australia, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Uruguay. Analyses revealed three cryptic species in Australia, of which only T. peregrinus is represented in South Africa and South America. Thaumastocoris peregrinus populations contained eight haplotypes, with a pairwise nucleotide distance of 0.2-0.9% from seventeen locations in Australia. Three of these haplotypes are shared with populations in South America and South Africa, but the latter regions do not share haplotypes. These data, together with the current distribution of the haplotypes and the known direction of original spread in these regions, suggest that at least three distinct introductions of the insect occurred in South Africa and South America before 2005. The two most common haplotypes in Sydney, one of which was also found in Brisbane, are shared with the non-native regions. Sydney populations of T. peregrinus, which have regularly reached outbreak levels in recent years, might thus have served as source of these three distinct introductions into other regions of the Southern Hemisphere.

Biology of Thaumastocoris peregrinus in different eucalyptus species and hybrids

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

First Record of a Native Heteropteran Preying on the Introduced Eucalyptus Pest, Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), in Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Bronze Bug Thaumastocoris Peregrinus Carpintero and Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) on Eucalyptus in Brazil and its Distribution

The bronze bug Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellape (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) was detected infesting Eucalyptus trees in Brazil in 2008, in the states of São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Gerais and in 2009 was found in the state of Espirito Santo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rio de Janeiro and Parana. Details about geographical spread, means of introduction, impact in Eucalyptus plantations and natural enemies observed in the field are discussed.

Ocorrência de Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) no Estado de Goiás

The bronze bug Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) was found in Goiás state attacking Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. e E. urophylla S. T. Blake. The insect was detected in the cities of São Luiz do Norte, São Francisco de Goiás and Goiânia.

Amostragem e dinâmica populacional do percevejo bronzeado Thaumastocoris peregrinus (hemiptera: thaumastocoridae) em floresta clonal de eucalipto

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Bioecologia do percevejo bronzeado Thaumastocoris peregrinus carpintero & dellapé (hemiptera: thaumastocoridae) em eucalipto e prospecção de inimigos naturais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Caracterização e patogenicidade de fungos entomopatogênicos isolados do percevejo-bronzeado do eucalipto, Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Controle biológico de thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: thaumastocoridae) com fungos entomopatogênicos

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Proteção de Plantas) - FCA