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Oryzophagus oryzae is the key insect pest in flooded rice fields in southern Brazil. Their larvae, known as rice water weevil cause significant yield losses when they cut the roots of rice plants. For the monitoring and survey of the larval population of O. oryzae, on rice fields and rice trials, respectively, are currently used standard samples of soil and roots, with 8.5cm deep and 10cm wide, blown away by submersion and shaking in a sieve with water for the counting of larvae. The visualization of larvae, especially the 1st and 2nd instars, becomes difficult in the suspension formed by the soil samples with these dimensions and the water inside the sieves. Thus, an experiment was conducted in a Typic Albaqualf soil according to the Latin square design to determine a sampling depth of soil and roots that makes possible the capture and display a larger number of larvae in a smallest possible volume of soil, in different rice cultivars. The treatments consisted of six rice cultivars ('BRS Atalanta'; 'BRS Firmeza'; 'BRS Ligeirinho'; 'BRS Querência'; 'BRS Sinuelo CL'; 'IRGA 417') and three depths (3, 6 and 9cm) for removing samples of soil and roots, every 10cm diameter. In the immediate withdrawal of samples, it was announced the number of larvae. Subsequently, in periodic evaluations, it was announced the number of adults emerged from samples kept intact in plastic buckets with water depth of 13, 16 and 19cm, covered by screened mesh fabric. It was detected a significant interaction between sampling depths and the rice cultivars 'BRS Sinuelo CL' and 'BRS Querência' in the rate of infestation of larvae and adults of O. oryzae, respectively. In the case of both variables the number of insects per sample was significantly higher at 6 cm depth than at 3cm, an intermediate in 9cm. It was concluded that in Typic Albaqualf soil, samples (soil and rice roots) taken from a depth of 6cm are more effective to capture and visualize larvae of O. oryzae in suspension (soil and water) formed in the sieves used for counting larvae, and also for the collection of adults of this insect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to record, for the first time, the damage caused by a pruner beetle on hybrid eucalypts cloned trees (Eucalyptus urophylla vs. E. grandis), located in Bahia and Espírito Santo States, Brazil. The specie was determined as Chalcodermus bicolor Fiedler, 1936 (Curculionidae: Molytinae). The female prunes the tree shoot and lays a single egg inside a small hole, just below the incision point. Eucalypt is the first host recorded to this pruner beetle specie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to evaluate the population dynamics of citrus root weevils. Samples of the larval, pupa and adult phases were taken every 15 days in four citrus farms in Itapetininga, State of São Paulo, Brazil, between March, 2000 and February, 2002. The emergence of adults was evaluated in cages under plant canopy and the adult population at plant canopy with a beating cloth; larvae and the pupae in ditches opened in the soil, under plant crowns. Based on the population dynamics, the insects are univoltine. Most adults emerged from October to April, with peaks at the beginning of the period. Species Parapantomorus fluctuosus (Boheman), Naupactus cervinus Boheman and Naupactus versatilis Hustache were more frequent in Itapetininga, SP, although the peaks and times were different. Larvae occurred almost during the whole year, with population peaks from June to January. The number of curculionids was lower in the second year of the study for all insect phases, probably due to drought. Adults and larvae sampled, with beating cloths and in cages, could be used to detect, quantify and predict the occurrence of citrus root weevils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]