Resistance mechanisms of sugarcane cultivars to spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata

ABSTRACT The spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) is one of the most important pests of sugarcane in Brazil. Measures for population control are currently restricted to the use of chemical insecticides and fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, in part because very little information exists regarding resistance of sugarcane cultivars. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate resistance mechanisms of 12 different sugarcane cultivars to M. fimbriolata to provide information for growers for pest management. Isolated buds of each cultivar were planted in pots and kept in a greenhouse for approximately three months. The pots were then moved to climate test chambers (26 ± 1 ºC; 70 ± 10 % relative humidity; 12 h photoperiod) to carry out laboratory tests to evaluate adult feeding and female oviposition preferences (using both free-choice and no-choice tests) as well as the effects of cultivars on nymph development and cultivars tolerance to pest attack. The least attractive cultivars for adult feeding were IACSP96-2042 and IAC91-1099. Cultivars IACSP96-2042, IACSP96-3060 and IACSP94-2101 received the fewest eggs in the free-choice and no-choice oviposition tests and exhibited some level of antixenosis resistance. Cultivar IAC91-1099 showed the highest level of antibiosis resistance with a nymph survival rate in the roots of only 20 %. Finally, cultivar IACSP94-2094 appears to be tolerant to M. fimbriolata, as it did not show significant reductions in aboveground biomass weight, despite showing reduced leaf chlorophyll levels following pest attack

Ocorrência e abundância de Rynchops niger Linnaeus, no litoral de Santa Catarina, Brasil Occurrence and abundance of Rynchops niger Linnaeus in the coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil

O talha-mar Rynchops niger Linnaeus, 1758 habita os grandes rios, lagos e regiões costeiras durante as migrações, na América do Sul e do Norte. Esse trabalho tem por objetivo disponibilizar informações básicas sobre a ocorrência e abundância de talha-mar no litoral de Santa Catarina. Durante o período de abril/2002 a maio/2003 foram realizados censos sazonais (trimestrais) e mensais em Itajaí, com auxílio de binóculos 10 x 50. O talha-mar é mais freqüente no aterro da Baía Sul (Florianópolis), no verão e outono, na primavera-verão em São José e Tijucas e no outono-inverno no estuário do Saco da Fazenda (Itajaí). Neste estuário, a população apresentou flutuações acentuadas ao longo do ano, com as maiores abundâncias ocorrendo em agosto/2001, janeiro/2002 e março/2003.<br>The black skimmer inhabits the great rivers, lakes and coastal areas during the migrations, in South and North America. This work aims to make available basic information about the occurrence and abundance of the black skimmer in the coast of Santa Catarina. From April/2002 to May/2003 seasonal censuses were accomplished, and monthly in Itajaí, with aid of binoculars 10 x 50. The black skimmer is more frequent in the embankment of the South Bay (Florianópolis), in the summer and autumn, in the spring-summer in São José and Tijucas and in the autumn-winter in the estuary of the Saco da Fazenda (Itajaí). In this estuary, the population presented accentuated flotation along the year, with the largest abundances happening in August/2001, January/2002 and March/2003