A new species of Neoseiulus Hughes (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from Sao Paulo State, Brazil

International audienceA new species Neoseiulus jeca n. sp. is decribed in this paper based on specimens collected on Cecropia sp. in the Atlantic Forest area of Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Neoseiulus jeca n. sp. is the third species included in the peruanus species group. This species group has been registered only in South America and Africa

INFLUÊNCIA DE FRAGMENTOS DE CERRADO NA INFECÇÃO FÚNGICA EM ÁCAROS DE SERINGUEIRA

RESUMO Os fungos são os patógenos mais comuns encontrados em ácaros, sendo candidatos promissores para o controle biológico. Ao longo de um ano, foram realizadas 25 coletas em duas áreas de cultivo de seringueira, vizinhas de fragmentos de Cerrado, Cerradão e Mata Ripária, no Município de Itiquira, MT. Cinco transectos foram estabelecidos em cada seringal, distantes 50 m entre si, sendo um na borda com as áreas nativas e o último 200 m no interior de cada seringal. Em cada transecto, foram marcadas cinco plantas, distantes cerca de 25 m entre si. Em cada transecto, 50 indivíduos de três espécies de ácaros fitófagos (Calacarus heveae Feres, Phyllocoptruta seringueirae Feres e Tenuipalpus heveae Baker) foram coletados e montados em lâminas de microscopia, para a observação da epizootia nos ácaros. O mesmo procedimento foi adotado em coletas qualitativas para os ácaros presentes nas plantas localizadas nos fragmentos vizinhos aos seringais. Verificouse relação entre a infecção dos ácaros por fungos em relação à distância do fragmento de Mata Ripária. Além disso, nos 2 fragmentos vizinhos, foram coletados ácaros infectados por Hirsutella thompsonii. Essas áreas podem servir de reservatórios de fungos, principalmente no período da senescência natural das folhas das seringueiras.</jats:p

Tetranychidae (Acari) in forest fragments in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil

International audienceTetranychidae is an important family of phytophagous mites, with some species considered agricultural pests. Nevertheless, there are few studies about the diversity of this mite family in natural environments. Thus, the objective was to record the species of spider mites associated with plants in forest fragments located in the Northwestern of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Thirty-eight species belonging to 14 genera of Tetranychidae were recorded. Only Tetranychus mexicanus and Eutetranychus banksi, species recorded on plants of economic interest, in some cases causing damage to crops, were abundant and frequent in the forest fragments sampled in this study. The knowledge of plants that can serve as alternate hosts or plant-traps can assist in understanding the dynamics of these mites in agroecosystems. The great diversity of Tetranychidae registered, and the limited knowledge of these mites associated with plants in natural environments, reinforces the importance of surveys carried out in forest remnants. Future studies should be conducted to increase the knowledge of spider mites in natural areas

INFLUENCE OF FRAGMENTS OF CERRADO VEGETATION IN FUNGAL INFECTION IN RUBBER-TREE MITES

Fungi are the most common pathogens found in mites, being promising candidates for the biological control of these pests. Twenty-five samples were collected from rubber tree plantations adjacent to two fragments of cerrado vegetation, cerradão andriparianforest, in Itiquira, MT, Brazil. Five transects made 50 m apart were established for each plantation; the first transect was located on the edge, near the native cerrado area; the last transect was 200 m from the edge. Five plants from each transect, 25 m apart from each other were chosen. Fifty specimens of each of 3 phytophagous species (Calacarus heveae Feres, Phyllocoptruta seringueirae Feres, and Tenuipalpus heveae Baker) were collected and mounted on microcopy slides for the observation of epizooty. The same procedure was adopted in qualitative collections for the mites on the plants located in the fragments neighboring the rubber tree crop. A relationship was found to exist between the infection by fungi and the distance from the riparian forest. Moreover, in the 2 areas of neighboring native vegetation, mites were collected infected by Hirsutella thompsonii. These areas can serve as reservoirs of fungi, mainly in the period of the natural senescence of the leaves of the rubber 3 plantations.Os fungos são os patógenos mais comuns encontrados em ácaros, sendo candidatos promissores para o controle biológico. Ao longo de um ano, foram realizadas 25 coletas em duas áreas de cultivo de seringueira, vizinhas de fragmentos de Cerrado, Cerradão e Mata Ripária, no Município de Itiquira, MT. Cinco transectos foram estabelecidos em cada seringal, distantes 50 m entre si, sendo um na borda com as áreas nativas e o último 200 m no interior de cada seringal. Em cada transecto, foram marcadas cinco plantas, distantes cerca de 25 m entre si. Em cada transecto, 50 indivíduos de três espécies de ácaros fitófagos (Calacarus heveae Feres, Phyllocoptruta seringueirae Feres e Tenuipalpus heveae Baker) foram coletados e montados em lâminas de microscopia, para a observação da epizootia nos ácaros. O mesmo procedimento foi adotado em coletas qualitativas para os ácaros presentes nas plantas localizadas nos fragmentos vizinhos aos seringais. Verificouse relação entre a infecção dos ácaros por fungos em relação à distância do fragmento de Mata Ripária. Além disso, nos 2 fragmentos vizinhos, foram coletados ácaros infectados por Hirsutella thompsonii. Essas áreas podem servir de reservatórios de fungos, principalmente no período da senescência natural das folhas das seringueiras.Universidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Zoologia e BotânicaUniversidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Zoologia e Botânic

Contrasting Engineering Effects Of Leaf-rolling Caterpillars On A Tropical Mite Community

Ecosystem engineers are organisms that change the physical structure of environments and provide habitats for other organisms. Lepidopteran caterpillars may act as ecosystem engineers by rolling leaves as shelters to complete metamorphosis. After being abandoned, these structures may provide shelter for other organisms. In this study, the influence of leaf-rolling caterpillars on tropical mite communities was reported. Expanded leaves and leaves rolled by larvae and also developed field experiments using leaves rolled manually with different shapes and sizes (i.e. different architectures) in different seasons were surveyed (dry and rainy). While the abundance and diversity of predatory mites were higher in rolled leaves, the abundance of phytophages decreased in these leaves. Species composition differed between rolled and expanded leaves. The structure of shelters affected the distribution of predatory mites, with higher abundances found on funnel-shaped leaves. Predatory mites only benefited from the rolled leaves in the dry season. This is the first study showing (i) the contrasting effects of ecosystem engineers on microarthropod communities, favouring some feeding guilds and inhibiting others; (ii) that the shape of rolled leaves has variable effects on mite communities; and (iii) that facilitation was temporally dependent, i.e. occurred only in the dry season. © 2013 The Royal Entomological Society.382193200Badano, E.I., Marquet, P.A., Cavieres, L.A., Predicting effects of ecosystem engineering on species richness along primary productivity gradients (2010) Acta Oecologica, 36, pp. 46-54Brown, K.S., Borboletas da Serra do Japi: diversidade, habitats, recursos alimentares e variação temporal (1992) História natural da Serra do Japi, pp. 142-186. , L. P. C. Morellato, Editora Unicamp/FAPESP, Campinas, BrazilCappuccino, N., Martin, M., Estimating early-season leaf-tiers of paper birch reduce abundance of mid-summer species (1994) Ecological Entomology, 19, pp. 399-401Clarke, K.R., Warwick, R.M., (1994) Change in Marine Communities- An Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation, , Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, U.KCrawford, K.M., Crutsinger, G.M., Sanders, N.J., Host-plant genotypic diversity mediates the distribution of an ecosystem engineer (2007) Ecology, 88, pp. 2114-2120Diniz, I.R., Morais, H.C., Lepidopteran caterpillar fauna of cerrado host plants (1997) Biodiversity and Conservation, 6, pp. 817-836Flechtmann, C.H.W., (1975) Elementos de acarologia, , Nobel, São Paulo, BrazilFournier, V., Rosenheim, J.A., Brodeur, J., Laney, L.O., Johnson, M.W., Herbivorous mites as ecological engineers: indirect effects on arthropods inhabiting papaya foliage (2003) Oecologia, 135, pp. 442-450Fukui, A., Indirect interactions mediated by leaf shelter in animal-plant communities (2001) Population Ecology, 43, pp. 31-40Fukui, A., Murakami, M., Konno, K., Nakamura, M., Ohgushi, T., A leaf rolling caterpillar improves leaf quality (2002) Entomological Science, 5, pp. 263-266Gotelli, N.J., Colwell, R.K., Quantifying biodiversity: procedures and pitfalls in the measurement and comparison of species richness (2001) Ecology Letters, 4, pp. 379-391Hastings, A., Byers, J.E., Crooks, J.A., Cuddington, K., Jones, C.G., Lambrinos, J.G., Ecosystem engineering in space and time (2007) Ecology Letters, 10, pp. 153-164Janzen, D.H., Ecological characterization of a Costa Rican dry forest caterpillar fauna (1988) Biotropica, 20, pp. 120-135Jones, C.G., Lawton, J.H., Shachak, M., Organisms as ecosystem engineers (1994) Oikos, 69, pp. 373-386Jones, C.G., Lawton, J.H., Shachak, M., Positive and negative effects of organisms as physical ecosystem engineers (1997) Ecology, 78, pp. 1946-1957Kawasaki, T., Yano, S., Osakabe, M., Effects of wall structure and light intensity on the settlement of a predatory mite, Euseius sojaensis (Ehara) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) (2009) Applied Entomology and Zoology, 44, pp. 81-84Kreiter, S., Tixier, M.S., Croft, B.A., Auger, P., Barret, D., Plants and leaf characteristics influencing the predaceous mite Kampimodromus aberrans (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in habitats surrounding vineyards (2002) Environmental Entomology, 31, pp. 648-660Leitão-Filho, H.L., A flora arbórea da Serra do Japi (1992) História natural da Serra do Japi, pp. 40-62. , L. P. C. Morelatto, Editora da UNICAMP, Campinas, BrazilLind, E., Jones, M.T., Long, J.D., Weiss, M.R., Ontogenetic changes in leaf shelter construction by larvae of the silver spotted skipper, Epargyreus clarus (2001) Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society, 54, pp. 77-82Marquis, R.J., Lill, J.T., Effects of arthropods as physical ecosystem engineers on plant-based trophic interaction webs (2006) Indirect Interaction Webs: Nontrophic linkages Through Induced Plant Traits, pp. 246-274. , T. Ohgushi, P. Craig and P. W. Price, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.KMartinsen, G.D., Floate, K.D., Waltz, A.M., Wimp, G.M., Whitham, T.G., Positive interactions between leafrollers and other arthropods enhance biodiversity on hybrid cottonwoods (2000) Oecologia, 123, pp. 82-89Moraes, G.J., Flechtmann, C.H.W., (2008) Manual de acarologia: acarologia básica e ácaros de plantas cultivadas no Brasil, , Holos, Ribeirão Preto, BrazilNakamura, M., Ohgushi, T., Positive e negative effects of leaf shelters on herbivorous insects: linking multiple herbivores on a willow (2003) Oecology, 136, pp. 445-449Norton, A.P., English-Loeb, G., Belden, E., Hostplant manipulation of natural enemies: leaf domatia protectbeneficial mites from insect predators (2001) Oecologia, 126, pp. 535-542Norton, A.P., English-Loeb, G., Gadoury, D., Seem, R.C., Mycophagous mites and foliar pathogens: leaf domatia mediate tritrophic interactions in grapes (2000) Ecology, 81, pp. 490-499Ohgushi, T., Herbivore induced indirect interaction webs on terrestrial plants: the importance of non-trophic, indirect, and facilitative interactions (2008) Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 128, pp. 217-229Pinto, H.S., Clima na Serra do Japi (1992) História natural da Serra do Japi: ecologia e preservação de uma Área florestal no Sudeste do Brasil, pp. 30-38. , L. P. C. Morellato, Editora da Unicamp, Campinas, BrazilQueiroz, J.M., Host plant use among closely related Anaea butterfly species (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Charaxinae) (2002) Brazilian Journal of Biology, 62, pp. 657-663Quinn, G.P., Keough, M.J., (2002) Experimental Design and Data Analysis for Biologists, , Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.KRibeiro, S.P., Borges, P.A.V., Gaspar, C., Melo, C., Serrano, A.R.M., Amaral, J., Canopy insect herbivores in the Azorean Laurisilva forests: key host plant species in a highly generalist insect community (2005) Ecography, 28, pp. 315-330Romero, G.Q., Benson, W.W., Leaf domatia mediate mutualism between mites and a tropical tree (2004) Oecologia, 140, pp. 609-616Romero, G.Q., Benson, W.W., Biotic interaction of mites, plants and leaf domatia (2005) Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 8, pp. 436-440Ruppert, E.E., Fox, R.S., Barnes, R.D., (2003) Invertebrate Zoology: A Functional Evolutionary Approach, , 7th edn. Brooks Cole, Belmont, CaliforniaSandberg, S.L., Berenbaum, M.R., Leaf-tying by tortricid larvae as an adaptation for feeding on phototoxic Hypericum perforatum (1989) Journal of Chemical Ecology, 15, pp. 875-885Santoro, E., Machado, D.L., Elementos geológicos da Serra do Japi (1992) História natural da Serra do Japi, pp. 24-29. , ed. by L. P. C. Morelatto, Editora da UNICAMP, Campinas, BrazilWalter, D.E., Living on leaves: mites, tomenta, and leaf domatia (1996) Annual Review of Entomology, 41, pp. 101-114Waltz, A.M., Whitham, T.G., Plant development affects arthropod communities: opposing impact of species removal (1997) Ecology, 78, pp. 2133-2144Woodcock, B.A., Potts, S.G., Westbury, D.B., Ramsay, A.J., Lambert, M., Harris, S.J., The importance of sward architectural complexity in structuring predatory and phytophagous invertebrate assemblages (2007) Ecological Entomology, 32, pp. 302-31

Fitoseídeos (Acari: Phytoseiidae) associados a cafezais e fragmentos florestais vizinhos Phytoseiids (Acari: Phytoseiidae) associated to coffee plantations and adjacent forest fragments

Existem poucas informações sobre a fauna de ácaros predadores (Phytoseiidae) em ambientes naturais brasileiros adjacentes a agroecossistemas cafeeiros (Coffea spp.) ou sobre a influência que essa vegetação exerce como reservatório de ácaros predadores. Neste estudo, objetivou-se avaliar a diversidade destes organismos em cafeeiros e fragmentos florestais adjacentes. Coletaram-se amostras das espécies Calyptranthes clusiifolia (Miq.) O. Berg (Myrtaceae), Esenbeckia febrifuga (A. St.-Hil.) A. Juss. ex Mart. (Rutaceae), Metrodorea stipularis Mart. (Rutaceae) e Allophylus semidentatus (Miq.) Radlk. (Sapindaceae), em oito fragmentos florestais, de 5 a 51 ha, e cafezais adjacentes, nos meses de junho (final período chuvoso) e outubro (final período seco) nos anos 2004 e 2005, na região Sul do Estado de Minas Gerais. Ácaros foram extraídos das folhas, utilizando o método de lavagem e, em seguida, montados em lâminas de microscopia em meio de Hoyer, para identificação específica. No total foram identificados 2.348 fitoseídeos, sendo 2.090 nos fragmentos florestais e 258 espécimes nos cafezais adjacentes, pertencentes a 38 espécies. Servindo-se de análise faunística, a espécie Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma, 1972 apresentou os melhores índices no agroecossistema cafeeiro, sendo muito frequente e constante nas épocas estudadas. Nos fragmentos florestais Amblyseius herbicolus Chant, 1959, Iphiseiodes affs. neonobilis Denmark & Muma, 1978, Leonseius regularis DeLeon, 1965 e Euseius alatus DeLeon, 1966 foram dominantes, muito abundantes, muito frequentes e constantes nas épocas estudadas. Podemos concluir que a vegetação nativa abriga ácaros predadores, inimigos naturais de ácaros-praga, que ocorrem na cultura cafeeira, possibilitando o desenvolvimento de programas de manejo ecológico com áreas de vegetação natural e agroecossistemas cafeeiros adjacentes.<br>There is little information about the fauna of predatory mites (Phytoseiidae) in Brazilian natural environments, adjacent to coffee agroecosystems (Coffea spp.), or about the influence exerted by neighbor vegetation as a reservoir of predatory mites. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diversity of these organisms in coffee plantations and adjacent forest fragments. Samples of the species Calyptranthes clusiifolia (Miq.) O. Berg (Myrtaceae), Esenbeckia febrifuga (A. St.-Hil.) A. Juss. ex Mart., Metrodorea stipularis Mart. (Rutaceae) and Allophylus semidentatus (Miq.) Radlk. (Sapindaceae) were collected in eight forest fragments, from 5 to 51ha, adjacent to coffee plantations, in June (end of the rainy season) and October (end of the dry season) in the years of 2004 and 2005, in the Southern region of State of Minas Gerais. Leaf mites were extracted using the wash method, mounted in microscopy slides with Hoyer's medium for identification. A total of 2.348 phytoseiids was collected, being 2.090 in the forest fragments and 258 in adjacent coffee plantations, belonging to 38 species. According to fauna analysis, Iphiseiodes zuluaguai Denmark & Muma, the year of 1972 presented the best indexes in the coffee agroecosystem, being very frequent and constant in those periods. In the forest fragments, Amblyseius herbicolus Chant, 1959, Iphiseiodes affs. neonobilis Denmark & Muma, 1978, Leonseius regularis DeLeon, 1965 and Euseius alatus DeLeon, 1966 were dominant, very abundant, very frequent and constant in those periods. One may conclude that the native vegetation shelters predator mite, natural enemies of mite-pests that still occur in coffee culture, making possible ecological management program development involving areas of natural vegetation and adjacent coffee agroecosystems

Padrões ecológicos da comunidade de ácaros em euforbiáceas de um fragmento de mata estacional semidecidual, no Estado de São Paulo

Foi estudada a diversidade e a sazonalidade da comunidade de ácaros em três euforbiáceas nativas de um fragmento de mata estacional semidecidual, através de coletas mensais realizadas de maio de 2003 a abril de 2004. Foram aplicados índices descritores de diversidade, dominância e de equitatibilidade, para estudar os padrões ecológicos da comunidade, e a correlação linear de Pearson, para relacionar a abundância dos ácaros com a pluviosidade. Foram registrados 11.515 ácaros pertencentes a 111 espécies de 73 gêneros e 25 famílias. Dessas espécies, 44% são generalistas enquanto que 21 e 35% são fitófagas e predadoras, respectivamente. As fitófagas foram as mais abundantes, representando 45,7% do material coletado, seguido pelas predadoras e generalistas, que constituíram 40,5 e 13,7% dos espécimes amostrados, respectivamente. Phytoseiidae foi a família com a maior riqueza de espécies (23), seguida por Tarsonemidae (18) e Tydeidae (16). As três euforbiáceas estudadas apresentaram grande diversidade de espécies, pois os índices calculados foram superiores a 50% da diversidade máxima teórica prevista. O padrão de abundância da comunidade foi igualmente descrito pelos padrões geométrico e logarítmico. Das três espécies de plantas estudadas, apenas Acalypha diversifolia apresentou potencial para utilização em programas de Manejo Integrado de Pragas.The diversity and seasonality of mite community on three indigenous euphorbiaceous plants from a Semidecidual forest remnant were studied by means of monthly samplings performed from May 2003 to April 2004. Diversity, dominance and equitability indexes were applied in order to verify community ecological patterns, and the Pearson correlation coefficient was used to relate mite abundance with the rainfall. About 11,515 mites belonging to 111 species of 73 genera in 25 families were recorded. Among these species, 44% of them were generalists, while 21 and 35% are phytophagous and predatory, respectively. The phytophagous mites were the most abundant, performing 45.7% of mites collected, followed by the predatory and generalist species, which represented 40.5 and 13.7% of material sampled, respectively. The Phytoseiidae family showed the highest species richness (23), followed by Tarsonemidae (18) and Tydeidae (16). The three euphorbiaceous plants studied showed great species diversity, as the results of indexes were higher than 50% of theoretical maximum diversity. The species-abundance patterns determined for mite community was equally represented by geometric and log series models. Out of three plant species studied, only Acalypha diversifolia showed potential usage in Integrated Pest Management programs.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Estadual Paulista Dept. de Zoologia e BotânicaUniversidade Estadual Paulista Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia AnimalUniversidade Estadual Paulista Dept. de Zoologia e BotânicaUniversidade Estadual Paulista Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Anima