Biological and morphometric aspects and rearing of Syssphinx molina (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), a defoliator of parica tree

The objective of this research was to describe the biological and morphometric aspects of the parica tree defoliator, Syssphinx molina (Cramer), and make recommendations about the insect rearing. The life cycle was 62.9 days with mean periods for the egg, larval, pre-pupal and pupal stages of 5.6, 31.1, 2.2 and 16.6 days respectively. The pupal viability was 60.5% for females and 48.6% for males. The sexual ratio was 0.5 with mean production of 182.3 ± 2.2 eggs per female and egg viability of 24.3%. The mean longevity was 7.9 ± 2 and 8.1 ± 3 days for females and males respectively. Other parameters were also observed and compared with description of other Saturniidae species.

Ocorrência do fungo entomopatogênico Isaria javanica (Frieder. & Bally) Samson & Hywell-Jones (Fungi, Sordariomycetes) em lagartas de Lonomia obliqua Walker (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae, Hemileucinae)

Este fungo foi isolado pela primeira vez de lagartas de L. obliqua de uma agregação em plátano (Platanus acerifolia (Aiton) Wild - Platanaceae), em Bento Gonçalves, RS, Brasil. Após isolamento, purificação e caracterização, realizou-se um teste de patogenicidade com lagartas sadias de L. obliqua para corroborar, sua infectividade pelo postulado de Koch. Constatou-se correspondência morfológica e molecular entre o inóculo e o reisolado, comprovando sua patogenicidade a L. obliqua.

Lonomia obliqua (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae) caterpillar bristle extract induces direct lysis by cleaving erythrocyte membrane glycoproteins

Lonomia obliqua caterpillar bristle extract induces hemolysis in vitro on washed human and rat erythrocytes, in either the absence or presence of exogenous lecithin. In the former condition, phospholipases A(2) are key enzymes involved in hemolysis. However, the mechanism whereby this extract causes direct hemolysis is not known. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the hemolytic mechanism of the crude extract of the caterpillar L obliqua on human erythrocytes in the absence of lecithin. The extract significantly increased the erythrocyte osmotic fragility and promoted the removal of glycophorins A and C, and band 3 from the erythrocyte membrane. The use of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) ions significantly potentiated glycoprotein removal, remarkably of erythrocyte band 3. The composition of fatty acids was analyzed by HPLC in both L obliqua caterpillar bristle extract and human erythrocyte membranes incubated with the extract. The levels of unsaturated fatty acids were remarkably augmented in erythrocytes incubated with the extract than in control erythrocytes, modifying thereby the saturated/unsaturated fatty acid ratio. Altogether, evidence is provided here that the interplay of at least three mechanisms of action accounts for the direct activity of the bristle extract on erythrocyte membrane, leading to hemolysis: the removal of glycoproteins and band 3; the insertion of fatty acids; and the action of phospholipases. Such mechanisms might affect erythrocyte flexibility and deformability, which may induce hemolysis by increasing erythrocyte fragility. However, whether the direct hemolytic activity of L obliqua caterpillar is the major cause of intravascular hemolysis during envenomation still needs further investigation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Palmistichus elaeisis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) parasitizing pupae of Citioica anthonilis (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) collected on Piptadenia gonoacantha (Fabaceae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Periphoba hircia (lepidoptera: saturniidae) defoliating plants of acacia mangium in the state of roraima, Brazil

Larvae of Periphoba hircia (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) defoliated Acacia mangium in the state of Roraima, Brazil. This is the first report of this species defoliating A. mangium in Brazil. The damage to the foliage was substantial and P. hircia should be monitored to ascertain its significance as pest of this plant. The larval stage of this species had 6 instars. Its cocoons were woven either on A. mangium leaves or in the soil. The pupal period of P. hiricia reared on A. mangium lasted 6 months. Its adults were dimorphic with females larger and having more prominent abdomens than males.

A revision of the lepidopterous family saturniidae.

Caption title.

Familiar moths of Maryland: families Saturniidae and Ceratocampidae;

Bibliography: p. 19.

Contribuição para o conhecimento do lepidóptero saturnídeo Rothschildia arethusa (Walker, 1855)

In this paper, the writers present a summary of their investigations on Rothschildia arethusa (Walker, 1855) ( Lepidoptera, Saturniidae ) performed at the Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The larva was found to feed on "bacupari do mato" (Rheedia sp.) ( Guttiferae ). Some bionomical notes on the larval and pupal stages and the description of the adult are the mainly subject.

Comparação dos sistemas de cultivo nativo e adensado de erva mate, Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil., quanto à ocorrência e flutuação populacional de insetos

This research was carried out in order to compare the occurrence of insects in two maté cultivation systems, native and high tree density. It was performed from August/2000 to September/2001, in a private property in São Mateus do Sul county, in Paraná State, Brazil. Visual inspections of trees and light traps were used to evaluate insect populations in both areas. For Hedypathes betulinus (Klug) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), only six adults were observed in the dense area. Based on presence of sawdust at the basis of the trunk, it was obtained that the number of attacked trees did not surpass 11% in either area. For Gyropsylla spegazziniana (Lizer y Trelles) (Hemiptera, Psyllidae), the number of galls per tree was counted and it was observed that the population peak occurred from November to January. For Hylesia spp. (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae) and Thelosia camina Schaus (Lepidoptera, Eupterotidae), the presence of caterpillars on the trees was noticed from September to February, with the population peak in November and December. Adults of Hylesia spp. were more numerous in February and March. Two species that were not previously recorded for Brazil on maté were identified: Hylesia paulex Dognin (83%) and Hylesia remex Dyer (17%), collected with light traps. The maté caterpillar, T. camina was not collected with these traps. Nymphs and adults of Ceroplastes grandis Hempel (Hemiptera, Coccidae) were observed along the year on the branches, with population peak between April and June for the nymphs and from September to November for the adults. It should be considered that despite higher insect incidence in the dense area compared to the native area, the first presents higher yield, and that with a good pest management program the insect problems can be minimized.

Desenvolvimento e reprodução de Dirphia moderata (Lepidoptera: Satutniidae) em Eucalyptus cloeziana e Psidium guajava em laboratório

Neste trabalho, estudaram-se o desenvolvimento e a reprodução de Dirphia moderata Bouvier, 1919 (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) alimentada com Eucalyptus cloeziana F. Muell ou Psidium guajava L. Os períodos de pré-oviposição, oviposição e incubação e a viabilidade e número de ovos por fêmea foram de 6,71 ± 0,18 dia; 4,00 ± 0,66 dia; 18,14 ± 0,18 dia; 17,54 ± 3,78%; 121,71 ± 18,96% para esse inseto com E. cloeziana e de 3,86 ± 0,26 dia; 5,86 ± 0,40 dia; 17,71 ± 0,21 dia; 23,12 ± 10,81%; 112,00 ± 8,79% com P. guajava, respectivamente. A duração e viabilidade larval (%) foram de 53,00 ± 0,09 e 80,00 ± 0,99 e de 55,83 ± 0,29 e de 77,5 ± 6,60 para lagartas de D. moderata criadas nos primeiro e segundo hospedeiros, respectivamente. A duração e viabilidade das fases de pré-pupa e pupa foram de 4,84 ± 0,07 dia e 96,88 ± 3,13% e de 37,64 ± 1,20 dia e 84,37 ± 6,53% com E. cloeziana e de 3,82 ± 0,06 dia e 100% e de 49,93 ± 2,04 dias e 75,00 ± 7,79% com P. guajava, respectivamente. A razão sexual de D. moderata foi de 0,48 e 0,46 e a longevidade, de 6,78 e 8,84 dias para machos e de 10,23 e 10,07 dias para fêmeas desse inseto com E. cloeziana e P. guajava, respectivamente. D. moderata apresentou melhor desenvolvimento e reprodução em E. cloeziana, mas P. guajava pode, também, ser utilizado para a criação desse inseto em laboratório.

Levantamento da entomofauna em sítios florestais em recuperação e em um fragmento de floresta natural em Botucatu, SP

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

Stay out (almost) all night: contrasting responses in flight activity among tropical moth assemblages

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