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Thysanoptera species can transmit virus to Solanaceae family vegetables, including tomato plants for industrial processing, causing the disease known as Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV). Thrips resistance to insecticides indicate the urgent need of techniques adequate for Integrate Pest Management practices. The objective was to evaluate the control efficiency (CE%) against Frankliniella schultzei (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) of the fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bb), the resistance inducer potassium silicate (KSil) and the chemical insecticide profenophos + cypermethrin (PC) isolated, or in binary mixtures. The treatments were foliar spraying on tomato plants with Bb (T1), KSil (T2) and PC (T3) isolated or in mixtures of Bb+KSil (T4), PC+KSil (T5) and Bb+PC (T6). Thrips were sampled with white plastic trays at 0, 1, 7, 14 and 21 days after application (daa). The CE% of each product (isolated or in mixtures) differed at all time intervals. The Bb+KSil treatment had highest CE% from 24 hours of application, until the end of the experiment, ranging from 95% (1 daa) to 41.5% (21 daa). The CE% decreased in all treatments with a quadratic curve behavior, throughout time. PC insecticide, isolated, showed a decreased CE% through a linear regression. Grouping analyzes indicated the Bb+KSil effect was more dissimilar than the other evaluated treatments. Synergism between Bb and KSil, in mixture, indicate its potential for Integrated Pest Management programs of F. schultzei in tomato plants for industrial processing. RESUMO Espécies de Thysanoptera podem transmitir vírus para vegetais da família Solanaceae, incluindo plantas de tomate para processamento industrial, causando a doença vira-cabeça do tomateiro (TSWV). A resistência dos tripes a inseticidas indica a necessidade urgente de técnicas adequadas às práticas de Manejo Integrado de Pragas. O objetivo foi avaliar a eficiência de controle (CE%) de Frankliniella schultzei (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) com o fungo Beauveria bassiana (Bb), o indutor de resistência silicato de potássio (KSil) e o inseticida químico profenofós + cipermetrina (PC) isolados, ou em misturas binárias. Os tratamentos foram aplicados via foliar nas plantas de tomate com Bb (T1), KSil (T2) e PC (T3) isolados ou em misturas binárias Bb+KSil (T4), PC+KSil (T5) e Bb+PC (T6). Os tripes foram amostrados com bandejas plásticas aos 0, 1, 7, 14 e 21 dias após a aplicação (daa). A CE% de cada produto (isolado ou em misturas) diferiu em todos os intervalos de tempo. O tratamento Bb+KSil teve alta CE% desde as primeiras 24 horas da aplicação até o final do período experimental, variando entre 95% (1 daa) a 41,5% (21 daa). A CE% diminuiu em todos os tratamentos com um comportamento quadrático ao longo do tempo. O inseticida PC, isolado, apresentou uma diminuição para a CE% através de uma regressão linear. Análises de agrupamento indicaram que o efeito do Bb+KSil foi mais heterogêneo do que o dos outros tratamentos avaliados. O sinergismo entre Bb e KSil, em mistura, indica seu potencial em programas de Manejo Integrado de Pragas de F. schultzei em plantas de tomate para processamento industrial.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:41:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2022-12-01 Queens of Atta sexdens Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) face biotic and abiotic environmental factors in the environment while establishing their nests. Biotic factors such as predation, microbial pathogens, successful symbiotic fungus regurgitation, excavation effort and abiotic factors such as radiant sunlight, temperature, density, and soil moisture exert selection pressures on ant queens. Biotic factors such as temperature and solar irradiation affect the survival of the initial colony differently, in different environments in the field. Queens of the leaf-cutting ant A. sexdens, were installed in sunny and shaded conditions to test this hypothesis. Two hundred A. sexdens queens were collected and individualized in two experimental areas (sunny and shaded), each in an experimental area (25 m2) in the center of a square (50 × 50 cm). Temperature, irradiance, nest depth, rainfall and queen mortality were evaluated. Atta sexdens colony development was better in the shaded environment, and the depth and volume of the initial chamber, fungus garden biomass and number of eggs, larvae, pupae and workers were greater. The queen masses were similar in both environments but mortality was higher in the sunny environment. The worse parameter values for A. sexdens nests in the sunny environment are due to the greater solar irradiance, increasing the variation range of the internal temperature of the initial chamber of the nest. On the other hand, the more stable internal temperature of this chamber in the shaded environment, is due to the lower incidence of solar irradiance, which is also more advantageous for queen survival and the formation and development of A. sexdens colonies. Shaded environments are a better micro habitat for nesting A. sexdens than sunny ones. Departamento de Proteção Vegetal Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São Paulo Departamento de Bioprocesso e Biotecnologia Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São Paulo Instituto de Ciências e Engenharia Universidade Estadual Paulista, São Paulo Departamento de Entomologia/BIOAGRO Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Minas Gerais Laboratório de Fitossanidade (FitLab) Instituto Federal de Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso Departamento de Proteção Vegetal Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São Paulo Departamento de Bioprocesso e Biotecnologia Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São Paulo Instituto de Ciências e Engenharia Universidade Estadual Paulista, São Paulo

Mastigimas anjosi is an important pest of Cedrela fissilis in the southeastern and southern regions of Brazil. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of the temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and natural enemies on the flight activity of adults and the movement of M. anjosi nymphs, with two sampling methods, yellow sticky traps and direct collections on the leaves of C. fissilis trees. The sex ratio of this pest was also assessed. The number of M. anjosi individuals was negatively correlated with the minimum and maximum temperatures, with a population peak in late May and early June 2017. The numbers of individuals of this psyllid was positively correlated with the relative humidity and rainfall. Larvae and adults of Cycloneda sanguinea , Hippodamia convergens adults and Atopozelus opsimus nymphs and adults preyed upon M. anjosi adults and nymphs on C. fissilis leaves in the field. Mastigimas anjosi sex ratio was 0.46. Information about sampling methods of M. anjosi and its natural enemies is presented and can contribute to the integrated management of this pest in the field.

Cultivation of species of the genus Eucalyptus is important for the Brazilian economy, with 6.97 million hectares planted. Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae), detected in Brazil in 2003, has dispersed and now damages Eucalyptus crops in all regions of this country. The location and identification of entomopathogenic fungi isolates may increase the options for integrated pest management. The objective of this research was to evaluate the pathogenicity of Cordyceps cateniannulata and Cordyceps javanica isolates to G. brimblecombei. Ten nymphs of G. brimblecombei, with or without lerps, were placed per Eucalyptus leaf cut with one of its edges on hydroretentive gel inside Petri dishes. The fungi isolates were suspended in a solution of Tween 80 (0.1%) at the concentration of 1.0 x 108 conidia mL-1 and sprayed on the G. brimblecombei nymphs. The mortality of this insect was evaluated daily for seven days, and the dead individuals were transferred to humid chambers. The conidia viability of the isolates was greater than 93%. The mortality of G. brimblecombei nymphs, seven days after the application of the fungi, was 100%. This is the first report of the pathogenicity of C. cateniannulata and C. javanica isolates, occurring naturally in the field, to G. brimblecombei.

Vegetable cultivation requires high water use and weed control. Soil cover using recycled paper, can be an alternative to polyethylene film to reduce weed incidence, soil temperature and increase water use efficiency beyond reduces costs and environmental pollutions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of biodegradable mulch in weed management and water use efficiency (WUE) in lettuce crop. The treatments were composed of brown recycled paper (RP), black polyethylene film (PF) and soil without cover with weed removal (WR) and without weed removal (WW). RP and PF were efficient to control weeds. The soil temperature with RP was 8.2 and 2.1ºC lower than with PF and WR, respectively. The lettuce yield with RP was 14.5 and 28.3% higher than WR, and with PF, respectively. The water volume applied with RP was 26.5% lower, and WUE was 55.6% higher compared to WR. Soil cover with recycled paper controlled weeds, reduced soil temperature and water consumption and increased yield and water use efficiency in lettuce crop. RESUMO O cultivo de hortaliças requer alto consumo de água e controle de plantas daninhas. A cobertura do solo com papel reciclado pode ser uma alternativa biodegradável ao filme de polietileno para reduzir a incidência de plantas daninhas, temperatura do solo e aumentar a eficiência do uso da água além de reduzir custos e poluição ambiental. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o uso do mulch biodegradável no manejo de plantas daninhas e eficiência do uso da água (EUA) na cultura da alface. Os tratamentos foram papel reciclado marrom (RP), filme de polietileno preto (PF) e solo sem cobertura com remoção de plantas daninhas (WR) e sem remoção de plantas daninhas (WW). O RP e PF foram eficientes no controle das plantas daninhas. A temperatura do solo com RP foi 8,2 e 2,1ºC menor que PF e WR, respectivamente. A produtividade da alface com RP foi 14,5 e 28,3% superior ao WR e PF, respectivamente. O volume de água aplicado com RP foi 26,5% menor e EUA foi 55,6% maior em comparação a WR. A cobertura do solo com papel reciclado controlou a incidência de plantas daninhas, reduziu a temperatura do solo e o consumo de água e aumentou a produtividade e eficiência do uso da água na cultura da alface.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:33:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) can control pests due to their mutual association with bacteria. The use of these biological control agents is increasing worldwide due to advances in research about its control efficiency, range of action and mass production. The identification of EPNs adapted to specific environmental and climatic conditions is important for sustainable pest suppression in integrated management (IPM) programs. The objective is to report, for the first time, the occurrence of the Steinernema diaprepesi in Brazil. Steel mesh traps with Galleria mellonella Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae were buried in red latosol cultivated with Eucalyptus. Infective juveniles (IJs) were isolated from dead larvae and multiplied in healthy ones of this host to confirm its pathogenicity and to start a laboratory population from the strain found in the field. The DNA of the IJs was extracted and amplified using PCR technique with the universal primers D2A and D3B. The detection of S. diaprepesi is the first report of this nematode in Brazil, increasing the knowledge about its distribution in the world and the diversity of EPNs that must be considered as agents of biological pest control in the country. Universidade Estadual Paulista/UNESP Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas Departamento de Proteção Vegetal, Avenida Universitária, 3780 Universidade Federal de Viçosa Departamento de Entomologia/BIOAGRO, Avenida P.H. Holfs, s/n Universidade Estadual Paulista/UNESP Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas Departamento de Proteção Vegetal, Avenida Universitária, 3780 CAPES: 001

The fungus

The subsequent deposition of an egg clutch by a female parasitoid into a host already parasitised either by itself or a conspecific (i.e. superparasitism) is a counterintuitive adaptive strategy, particularly considering the female parasitoid's ability to recognise the parasitised hosts. Such a scenario suggests that the adaptive value of superparasitism depends on the number of clutches laid in the same host, with consequences for parasitoid progeny yield. Here, we tested whether such is the case for the gregarious parasitoid Palmistichus elaeisis and explored its underlying basis.Allowing female parasitoids to lay multiple egg clutches in a single melonworm host pupa, parasitoid progeny and fitness exhibited a peak or optimum at three egg clutches laid per host pupa. In addition, haemocyte count, encapsulation and melanisation decreased with the number of egg clutches laid per host pupa.An optimum number of three clutches laid per host pupa was detected for P. elaeisis. As immune response via haemocyte production, encapsulation and melanisation decreased with the number of clutches laid per host, the higher parasitoid yield and fitness observed is the likely consequence of a compromised immune response coupled with an accommodative (i.e. scramble) larval competitive strategy allowing enough resources for optimum balance of parasitoid number and quality produced. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Factors such as fertilization, allelochemicals, trichomes, weather, and natural enemies can influence pest populations. Thus, it is necessary to understand the factors that predispose vegetable species to pests and the role of polyculture, crop rotation, and neighboring plants. The objective of this research was to study the hosting capacity for pests of Abelmoschus esculentus (L.), Brassica oleracea L. vars. acephala and capitata, Capsicum annuum L., Cucurbita moschata (Duchesne), Cucurbita maxima Duchesne and Cucumis sativus L., Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., Solanum gilo Raddi and Solanum melongena L., and Phaseolus vulgaris L. The higher density of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) adults on C. sativus can be due to the higher amount of pentacosane and octacosane in this plant. The occurrence of Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) only in Brassica spp. can be accounted for by the nonacosane of these plants. The low trichome density and greater palmitic acid level can explain the greatest damage by Aphis gossypii Glover in A. esculentum. Empoasca sp. was more frequent in P. vulgaris followed by A. esculentum, which are plants with lower K content. Solanum melongena was attacked more by Hydrangea similis (Walker) and Epitrix sp. perhaps because of higher palmitic acid and 11,14,17-eicosatrienoic methyl ester concentrations in their leaves. Frankliniella sp. exhibited more damage in C. sativus probably owing to higher pentacosane and octacosane in its leaves. Sistena sp. was more frequent in C. maxima and had higher octadecane levels and trichome density. The presence of ¥-humulene and hexacosane can explain the damage by Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) on L. esculentum.Factores tales como la fertilización, aleloquímicos, tricomas, el clima y los enemigos naturales pueden influir en las poblaciones de plagas. Por lo tanto, es necesario comprender los factores que predisponen a las especies vegetales a las plagas y el papel de policultivos, rotación de cultivos y las plantas vecinas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar la capacidad hospedera de Abelmoschus esculentus (L.), Brassica oleracea L. vars. acephala and capitata, Capsicum annuum L., Cucurbita moschata (Duchesne), Cucurbita maxima Duchesne, Cucumis sativus L., Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., Solanum gilo Raddi, Solanum melongena L. y Phaseolus vulgaris L. a insectos plaga. La mayor densidad de adultos de Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) en C. sativus puede deberse al mayor contenido de pentacosano y octacosano en estas plantas. La aparición de Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) sólo en Brassica spp. puede ser debida a la nonacosano de estas plantas. La baja densidad de tricomas y mayor cantidad de ácido palmítico puede explicar el mayor daño por Aphis gossypii Glover en A. esculentum. Empoasca sp. fue más frecuente en P. vulgaris, seguido por A. esculentum, las plantas con menor contenido de K. Solanum melongena fue más atacada por Hortensia similis (Walter) y Epitrix sp., tal vez debido al aumento de las concentraciones de ácido palmítico y el éster metílico 11,14,17-eicosatrienoico en sus hojas. Frankliniella sp. presentan mayor daño en C. sativus, probablemente por el mayor contenido de pentacosano y octacosane en sus hojas. Sistena sp. fue más frecuente en C. maxima que tenían los mayores niveles de octadecano y densidad de tricomas. La presencia de ¥-humuleno y hexacosane podría explicar el daño por Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) en L. esculentum.

The life history of Haplostegus nigricrus Conde (Hymenoptera: Pergidae), a leaf-feeding sawfly of Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae), was studied in Vicosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The life history and morphology are compared with those of Haplostegus epimelas Konow (Hymenoptera: Pergidae), another species that feeds on guava leaves. Haplostegus nigricrus females oviposit in the midrib of guava, and larvae feed on the leaves. Late-instar larvae drop to the ground and construct a cell for pupation. Cocoons are made individually with soil particles and other substrate. Three occurrence peaks of female adults were observed for H. nigricrus and two for H. epimelas. No males of H. nigricrus were found. The importance of this study to the knowledge of South American Pergidae is discussed.

The mosquito Aedes aegypti transmits a virus that causes diverse human diseases, and control of the vector is an important strategy to avoid disease propagation. Plants in the family Annonaceae are recognised as sources of molecules with uses in the medical and agriculture fields. Molecules of secondary metabolites of Annonaceae plants exhibit insecticidal potential against insect pests and vectors, especially acetogenins, showing high toxicity at low doses, which has encouraged research into producing new insecticide molecules. Herein, we identify an acetogenin from Annona mucosa seeds (chemical analysis) and provide the results of toxicity tests against larvae of A. aegypti (target insect) and its predators Culex bigoti and Toxorhynchites theobaldi (non-target insects) and cytotoxicity to human leukocytes.We identified squamocin (CWe identified squamocin from A. mucosa seeds, which exhibited lethal action against A. aegypti and showed selectivity for non-target insects and low cytotoxicity to human cells. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Horismenus abnormicaulis sp. nov., H. patensis sp. nov. and H. zuleidae sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), all authored by Pikart, CostaHansson, are described from material obtained from seed pods of Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. (Fabaceae) collected in Northeastern Brazil. The seed pods were infested with larvae of Coleoptera (Chrysomelidae (Bruchinae) and Curculionidae). The associations of the Horismenus species and the beetle larvae have not been established. Morphological similarities between these new species and previously described species with host known suggest that H. patensis and H. zuleidae are primary parasitoids of Bruchinae, whereas H. abnormicaulis may act as a hyperparasitoid on other Horismenus species. The three species are compared with similar species of Horismenus.

Acetogenins are secondary metabolites exclusively produced by Annonaceae, which have antitumor, cytotoxic, and pesticide activities. In this study, we evaluated the larvicidal and cytotoxic effect of squamocin from Annona squamosa on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) midgut. The compound was solubilized in 2% Tween 20 at 10, 20, 50, 80 and 100 ppm. The assay was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replications, each with 20 third-instar larvae. Larval mortality was assessed every hour until total mortality, and the data were subjected to Probit analysis. Cellular damage was evaluated every 30 min in groups comprising five larvae subjected to squamocin at 50 and 100 ppm for 240 min. The total larval mortality occurred after 360 min following application of 50, 80, and 100 ppm squamocin, and 600 min after applying other concentrations with LC50 at 6.4 ppm. Both 50 and 100 ppm of squamocin showed cytotoxic activity in the midgut epithelium of A. aegypti after 240 min with 50 ppm resulting in midgut cells with light cytoplasm containing small vacuoles, whereas at 100 ppm were found cells with cytoplasm highly vacuolated, damaged apical surface and cell protrusion toward the gut lumen. In conclusion, squamocin has the potential to control A. aegypti.

Non-linear models making it possible to predict agricultural pest outbreaks and optimise control tactics are of primary importance for integrated pest management. The development period for immature stages of the fennel aphid Hyadaphis foeniculi (Passerini) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) at constant temperatures was modelled in order to determine mathematical functions for simulating the aphid's development. Non-linear models were used to describe the relationship between temperature and development rates of H. foeniculi subjected to constant temperatures.The models used were found to be good fits for estimating H. foeniculi development rates as a function of temperature, with the exception of the Davidson model. The development time of H. foeniculi nymphs ranged from 2.73 days (first instar) to 6.18 days (fourth instar) at 15 °C, from 2.57 days (first instar) to 4.52 days (fourth instar) at 20 °C and from 1.53 days (first instar) to 2.05 days (fourth instar) at 28 °C.These models provide important tools for better elucidation of the relationship between temperature and development rates in H. foeniculi. The results could be used for predicting the occurrence of the various immature stages of H. foeniculi in the fennel crop in Brazil, making it possible to predict more accurately the best periods for implementing pest control.

Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo estudiar la duración, la sobrevivencia ninfal y las características reproductivas de la especie Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret) alimentada con larvas de Tenebrio molitor L. El experimento fue realizado en condiciones de temperatura de 25 ± 2 ºC, humedad relativa de 70 ± 10% y fotoperíodo de 12 horas. Las ninfas, de segundo ínstar de B. tabidus, se alimentaron con esa presa alternativa hasta el final de su desarrollo biológico. La viabilidad de los huevos, así como la duración y la sobrevivencia de la fase ninfa! fueron de 75.3% ± 1.2%, 23.7 ± 0.7 días y 60.3% ± 4.8%, respectivamente. A su vez, los períodos de pre-oviposición y de incubación de los huevos y el número de huevos por postura fueron de 7.6 ± 0.4, 5.20 ± 0.1 días y 36.5 ± 2.4 huevos, respectivamente, encontrándose una longevidad promedio de 16.6 días para las hembras de B. tabidus.

La eficiencia del cebo granulado Mirex-5 (sulfluramida 0.3%) fue estudiada en las dosis de 6, 8 y 10 g por metro cuadrado en el control de hormigueros de Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908, comparándose con aquellos a base de dodecacloro, de acuerdo con el área estratificada de los mismos, para el cálculo de la cantidad de producto a ser aplicado. Los hormigueros tratados se evaluaron 24 horas después de la aplicación de los cebos y a cada 7, 15, 30, 54, 90, 120 y 150 días. Para todos los tratamientos, la paralización de las hormigas, en los hormigueros, ocurrió entre 30 y 54 días después de la aplicación de los cebos, sin embargo la actividad de corte cesó entre el primero y séptimo día, mostrando no haber diferencias entre los productos formulados con dodecacloro y. con sulfluramida. La eficiencia del Mirex-5 fue de 88.89, 77.77 y 77.77% para las dosis de 6, 8 y 10 g, respectivamente. Por su parte, la eficiencia del cebo basado en dodecacloro fue de 77.77%, esto muestra que el cebo Mirex-5 puede substituir los cebos con compuestos clorados para el control de A. sexdens rubropilosa. La utilización de área estratificada de hormigueros permitió una reducción promedio de 63.31 % en la cantidad de cebo aplicado, comparado con el área total, representando una buena eficiencia de control y reducción en los costos de combate a las hormigas cortaderas.

Este trabajo tuvo el objetivo de estudiar el efecto de la adición de hojas de mora (Moras alba), sales de Wesson y yemas de huevo de gallina, a una dieta a base de carne e hígado de res, además de sacarosa, para la cria del predador Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) a 25 ± 2°C de temperatura, 60 ± 10% de humedad relativa y fotoperíodo de 12 horas. Aunque la dieta con sales de Wesson y yemas de huevo presentó buenos resultados, los predadores alimentados con larvas de Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) alcanzaron mayor peso y porcentaje de sobrevivencia, además de me­nor duración en el período del segundo al cuar­to estadio. La duración de los estadios y el peso de las ninfas resultaron ser característi­cas buenas para la diferenciación de las dietas.

Nymphs of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas, 1851) were fed with Zophobas confusa Gebien, 1906, Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) and Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera, Muscidae) under 25±0.5ºC, 60±10% of RH and photophase of 12h. Nymphal viability of P. nigrispinus were 64.0%, 80.0% and 92.0% with Z. confusa, M. domestica and T. molitor, respectively. No differences were found for pre-oviposition period, number of egg masses, number of eggs, egg viability, and longevity for females of this predator fed with any of these preys.

Egg viability and nymphal development of the predatory bug Supputius cincticeps (Stål, 1860) were evaluated during two generations in the Biological Control Laboratory of the Núcleo de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Agropecuária (Bioagro/UFV) in Viçosa (Minas Gerais, Brazil) at 24.72±1.10ºC and photophase of 12 hours. Three treatments were represented by S. cincticeps fed with Zophobas confusa Gebien, 1906, Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus, 1758 and Musca domestica Linnaeus, 1758 larvae. Higher egg viability of this predator was found when the preys were Z. confusa and T. molitor, 74.46% and 80.91 %, than in M. domestica, 57.02%, but incubation period showed no differences between preys. Shorter nymphal development and higher nymphal viability were found with Z. confusa and T. molitor than with M. domestica. Higher weight increase was found for nymphs which originated males and females in the second generation specialy with the first two preys.

Palmistichus elaeisis DelvareLaSalle is a natural pupal parasitoid of eucalyptus defoliator lepidopterans and is considered a promising biocontrol agent. However, the development of efficient rearing techniques for this natural enemy are first required before it can be used in biocontrol programs. Bombyx mori L. pupae are potential alternative hosts for this parasitoid mass rearing, and they are easy to rear. Therefore, we investigated the most suitable host age and the effects of parasitoid age on progeny production of P. elaeisis. B. mori pupae, 24 h-, 48 h-, 72 h- or 96 h-old were exposed to P. elaeisis females of similar age. The duration of the life cycle (egg-adult) of P. elaeisis was not affected by the age of the parasitizing female; however, the host age affected parasitoid development. The best parasitization was obtained for 72 h- to 96 h-old parasitoid females when offered to 48 h- to 72 h-old host pupae, allowing the synchronized rearing of a large number of P. elaeisis offspring.

Coelomera lanio (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is the most important defoliator of Cecropia trees. Natural enemies of C. lanio collected in the region of Viçosa, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil were identified on field observations in a forest fragment and on laboratory analyses. Individuals of C. lanio were not found on Cecropia pachystachya trees colonized by Azteca mülleri (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The majority of the egg masses of C. lanio collected in the field were found to be parasitised by a species of the family Eulophidae (Hymenoptera), while larvae of this pest were attacked by a parasitoid of the family Tachinidae (Diptera). Individuals of Oplomus catena (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) were observed preying on C. lanio larvae. The fungus Beauveria bassiana was found growing on larvae, pupae and adults of C. lanio while the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae only affected pupae of this insect in laboratory conditions.

A faunistic analysis of sinantropic calliphorids, Chrysomya megacephala and C. albiceps, was carried out in the urban area of Volta Redonda city, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from October 2000 to September 2001. Two traps baited with fresh sardine were used. A total of 4,101 specimens of the genus Chrysomya were collected. The highest abundance of adults occurred between December 2000 and January 2001. Chrysomya megacephala was the most abundant species (57.71%) reaching its highest number in December 2000, followed by C. albiceps (41.94%) with a population peak in January 2001. Chrysomya putoria was also present in some traps but only 14 individuals were collected. Correlations between the presence of these species and the weather variables indicated that the presence of C. megacephala was influenced by rainfall and temperature, while C. albiceps was only affected by rainfall.