Architecture of nests of Acromyrmex (Moellerius) balzani (Formicidae: Myrmicini: Attini) in pasture

Leaf-cutter ants Acromyrmex (M.) balzani (Emery), specialized in the cutting of gramineae are very common in pastures and agricultural crops of the South West of Bahia, with high density of nests. The objective of this work was to study aspects of nest architecture of A. balzani, located in pastures in the Southwest of Bahia, in order to search for the improvement of pest control strategies. Ten nests located in the cities of Vitoria da Conquista, Itapetinga, Tremedal and Itambé, BA were selected for study. Externally, the area, the volume of loose soil and the distance between the mount of loose soil and the tower were evaluated. The excavation was complete, opening gutters and cuttings in the soil profile. Afterwards, the measure of the height, width, depth, and the chambers height, regarding to the soil surface and to the coordinates of an orthogonal axis previously established were performed. The area and volume varied from 325 cm2 to 1880 cm2 and from 0.15 L to 5.88 L respectively. The distances between the loose soil mount and the tower varied from 2 to 37 cm. The total number of chambers per nest varied from 3 to 14, predominantly of chambers containing fungus, adult ants, and young forms. The higher concentration of chambers was at the first 30 cm and near the soil mount, but not under its projection.Hormigas cortadoras Acromyrmex (M.) balzani (Emery), especializadas en el corte de gramíneas son de ocurrencia común en los pastos y cultivos en el suroeste de lo Estado de Bahia, alcanzando una alta densidad de nidos. El objetivo de esta investigación fue estudiar la arquitectura de los nidos de A. balzani, en pastos ubicados en la región suroeste de Bahía, en busca de subvenciones para la mejora de las estrategias de control de esta plaga. Diez nidos ubicados en las ciudades de Vitoria da Conquista Itapetinga, Tremedal y Itambé - BA, fueron seleccionados para el estudio. Externamente, se midió el área y el volumen de tierra suelta y la distancia entre el cúmulo de tierra suelta y la torre. La excavación fue completa, mediante la apertura de zanjas y cortes en el perfil del suelo. Se procedió la medición de la anchura, altura, longitud de las cámaras, la profundidad en relación con la superficie del suelo y la ubicación de las coordenadas de un eje ortogonal predeterminado. El área y el volumen de tierra suelta van desde 325 cm2 a 1880 cm2 y de 0,1 L a 5,9 L, respectivamente. Las distancias entre el cúmulo de tierra suelta y la torre varían de 2 a 37 cm. El número total de cámaras por nido varió de 3 a 14, con un predominio de cámaras conteniendo hongos, hormigas adultas y formas juveniles. La mayor concentración de cámaras ha ocurrido en los primeros 30 cm y en las cercanías de los cúmulos de tierra suelta, pero no en su proyección.Formigas cortadeiras Acromyrmex (M.) balzani (Emery), especializadas no corte de gramíneas, são de ocorrência comum em pastagens e cultivos agrícolas da região Sudoeste da Bahia, atingindo altas densidades de ninhos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar aspectos da arquitetura de ninhos de A. balzani, localizados em pastagens da Região Sudoeste da Bahia, buscando-se subsídios para o aperfeiçoamento de estratégias de controle da praga. Dez ninhos localizados nos municípios de Vitória da Conquista, Itapetinga, Tremedal e Itambé, BA, foram selecionados para os estudos. Externamente, foram medidos a área e o volume de terra solta e a distância entre o monte de terra solta e a torre. A escavação foi completa, abrindo-se valetas e efetuando-se cortes no perfil do solo. Procedeu-se à medição da largura, altura, comprimento das câmaras, profundidade em relação à superfície do solo e localização nas coordenadas de um eixo ortogonal previamente estabelecido. A área e volume de terra solta variaram de 325 cm2 a 1880 cm2 e de 0,1 L a 5,9 L, respectivamente. As distâncias entre o monte de terra solta e a torre variaram de 2 a 37 cm. O número total de câmaras por ninho variou de 3 a 14, com predominância de câmaras contendo fungo, formigas adultas e formas jovens. A maior concentração de câmaras ocorreu nos primeiros 30 cm e nas proximidades do monte de terra solta, mas não sob sua projeção

Abiotic and Biotic Factors Affecting Resting Spore Formation in the Mite Pathogen Neozygites floridana

Neozygites floridana is an obligate mite pathogenic fungus in the Entomophthoromycota. It has been suggested that resting spores of this fungus are produced as a strategy to survive adverse conditions. In the present study, possible mechanisms involved in the regulation of resting spore formation were investigated in the hosts Tetranychus urticae and Tetranychus evansi. Abiotic and biotic factors mimicking conditions that we, based on earlier field studies, thought might induce resting spores in temperate and tropical regions were tested with isolates from Norway and Brazil. A total of 42 combinations of conditions were tested, but only one induced the formation of a high number of resting spores in only one isolate. The Brazilian isolate ESALQ1420 produced a large number of resting spores (51.5%) in T. urticae at a temperature of 11 ∘ C, photoperiod of 10L:14D, and light intensity of 42-46 ( mol m −2 s −1 ) on nonsenescent plants (nondiapausing females). Resting spores of the Brazilian N. floridana isolate ESALQ1421 were found at very low levels (up to 1.0%). Small percentages of T. urticae with resting spores (0-5.0%) were found for the Norwegian isolate NCRI271/04 under the conditions tested. The percentages of resting spores found for the Norwegian isolate in our laboratory studies are similar to the prevalence reported in earlier field studies

Parasitismo natural em moscas-das-frutas (Diptera: Tephritidae) no semiárido do sudoeste da Bahia, Brasil Natural parasitism in fruit-flies in the fruticulture area of anagé, semi-arid of southwestern Bahia, Brazil

Parasitoides são importantes agentes de controle natural de tefritídeos, e os conhecimentos sobre as relações tritróficas podem subsidiar o manejo destas pragas. Este trabalho objetivou estimar índices de parasitismo em moscas-das-frutas, em 21 espécies vegetais, e identificar as espécies de parasitoides associados, nas condições do semiárido do sudoeste da Bahia. Oito hospedeiros apresentaram infestação por Anastrepha spp. e, destes, em quatro, ocorreu parasitismo superior a 20,0%, sendo: 20,8% (Ziziphus joazeiro L.); 21,3% (Spondias tuberosa L.); 32,4% (Spondias purpurea L.) e 57,1% (Malpighia emarginata L.). Os parasitoides coletados pertencem à família Braconidae, sendo 89% de Doryctobracon areolatus e 11% de Asobara anastrephae.<br>Parasitoids are important natural control agents of tephritids and knowledge about the tritrophic relationships can support the management of these pests. This study aimed to estimate of parasitism indexes in fruit flies in 21 plant species and identify the species of parasitoids associated, in semiarid conditions of Southwestern Bahia. Eight hosts showed infestation by Anastrepha spp. and, of these, four occurred parasitism above 20.0%, of which: 20.8% (Ziziphus joazeiro L.); 21.3% (Spondias tuberosa L.); 32.4% (Spondias purpurea L.) and 57.1% (Malpighia emarginata L.). The collected parasitoids belong to the Braconidae family, 89% of Doryctobracon areolatus and 11% of Asobara anastrephae

Prevalência de pré-hipertensão e de hipertensão arterial e avaliação de fatores associados em crianças e adolescentes de escolas públicas de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil

Trata-se de estudo para avaliar os fatores associados à hipertensão e pré-hipertensão. Participaram desta pesquisa 1.125 indivíduos com idade entre 7 e 14 anos da rede pública de ensino em Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. As variáveis de exposição foram: índice de massa corporal, circunferência da cintura, sexo, idade, atividade física, condições ambientais e de moradia, renda familiar, consumo alimentar, escolaridade e idade maternas. Os dados foram analisados utilizando-se a Regressão Logística Politômica e a variável desfecho categorizada em normotensos, pré-hipertensos e hipertensos. A prevalência de pressão arterial elevada foi de 14,1%, sendo 4,8% de hipertensão e 9,3% pré-hipertensão. Houve associação entre pré-hipertensão e excesso de peso (OR: 3,13; IC95%: 1,75-5,57). Hipertensão foi associada a excesso de peso (OR: 3,02; IC95%: 1,45-6,28), sexo feminino (OR: 2,49; IC95%: 1,24-4,98) e padrão alimentar de risco (OR: 1,93; IC95%: 1,04-3,56). A prevalência de pré-hipertensão e hipertensão em crianças e adolescentes é maior entre aqueles com excesso de peso, do sexo feminino e com consumo alimentar inadequado

Oviposition preference and biological performance of Ceratitis capitata in Anacardiaceae, Cactaceae and Vitaceae fruit

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to compare the use of fruits of great economic and social importance for the northeast of Brazil by Ceratitis capitata Wied. (Diptera: Tephritidae) for oviposition, larval development, size and longevity of adults. Fruits of mango (Mangifera indica L.), quiabento (Pereskia bahiensis Gürke), forage palm [Opuntia fícus indica (L.) Mill] and grape (Vitis vinifera L.) were used, as well as flies from a hybrid laboratory population. Initially, four treatments (fruits) and six replications were used; the fruits were offered to 10 C. capitata couples, with later (96 hours) egg count. The second was conducted with six treatments and 10 replicates, offering two types of fruits simultaneously, combined two to two, to 10 C. capitata couples. The last bioassay comprised four treatments and six replicates, where 20 g of fruit were offered to 20 first-instar C. capitata larvae. After six days, the larvae were placed in plastic pots containing vermiculite until pupation, quantifying larval and pupal periods, viability and pupal mass, besides longevity and adult size. The data were submitted to ANOVA using the R Core Team software. Ceratitis capitata oviposits and completes its biological cycle in the four hosts studied, exhibiting no preference for oviposition and low biological performance in quiabento fruits. It yielded smaller adults and lower grape survival. Cactaceae palm and quiabento allow the survival of C. capitata in the laboratory, and this knowledge has been reported for the first time, proving that they can act as alternative hosts in the field

Abiotic and Biotic Factors Affecting Resting Spore Formation in the Mite Pathogen Neozygites floridana

Neozygites floridana is an obligate mite pathogenic fungus in the Entomophthoromycota. It has been suggested that resting spores of this fungus are produced as a strategy to survive adverse conditions. In the present study, possible mechanisms involved in the regulation of resting spore formation were investigated in the hosts Tetranychus urticae and Tetranychus evansi. Abiotic and biotic factors mimicking conditions that we, based on earlier field studies, thought might induce resting spores in temperate and tropical regions were tested with isolates from Norway and Brazil. A total of 42 combinations of conditions were tested, but only one induced the formation of a high number of resting spores in only one isolate. The Brazilian isolate ESALQ1420 produced a large number of resting spores (51.5%) in T. urticae at a temperature of 11°C, photoperiod of 10L:14D, and light intensity of 42–46 (μmol m−2 s−1) on nonsenescent plants (nondiapausing females). Resting spores of the Brazilian N. floridana isolate ESALQ1421 were found at very low levels (up to 1.0%). Small percentages of T. urticae with resting spores (0–5.0%) were found for the Norwegian isolate NCRI271/04 under the conditions tested. The percentages of resting spores found for the Norwegian isolate in our laboratory studies are similar to the prevalence reported in earlier field studies