Trap monitoring squash vine borers in cucurbits

Populations of the squash vine borer, Melittia cucurbitae (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), were monitored using pheromone-baited traps in cucurbit fields at Clemson University, Clemson, SC, and at the United States Vegetable Laboratory (USVL), Charleston, SC, from 1997-2004. Male squash vine borer moths were first captured from mid May to early June at both locations. Adults were captured for the next 4-5 months until mid September at Clemson, and until late September to mid October at the USVL. There appears to be two widely overlapping generations of squash vine borers per year in South Carolina. Nine types of pheromone-baited traps were tested at the USVL, 2003-2004. A commercially available, small wire mesh Heliothis trap was the most effective trap for capturing male squash vine borer moths. A large (50-75 cm) Heliothis trap (Harstack trap) and a commercially available, collapsible nylon Heliothis trap were the second and third most effective traps. The universal moth trap (yellow funnel, white bottom, green top) also caught a significant number of male squash vine borer moths. The Multipher 3 trap, Pherocon 1C sticky trap, Japanese beetle trap, and boll weevil trap were not effective for monitoring male squash vine borer moths. The commercially available, small wire-cone trap baited with squash vine borer pheromone lure offers a practical monitoring technique for this pest species

Effects of temperature on development and reproduction of a predatory beetle, Nephus includens Kirsch (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The effect of different temperatures on some biological properties of Nephus includens Kirsch (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) was investigated. This species is one of the most important predators of Planococcus citri Risso (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). The development time, mortality and fecundity were determined at constant temperatures of 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35°C and at the variable temperatures, 25-35°C (12 hours 25°C, 12 hours 35°C). Life tables were also constructed for 25, 30, 35, and 25-35°C. The mortality was lower and the mean generation time was shorter at 30°C than at all other temperatures except 35°C. The intrinsic rate of increase was the highest at 30°C (0.081), followed by 0.076 at 25-35°C. The net reproductive rate was higher at 25-35°C than at 30°C. From biological data and population growth parameters calculated from the life tables, 30°C and 25-35°C were determined to be the most suitable temperatures for mass rearing of Nephus includens. However, mass rearing at a temperature as high as 35°C could cause deterioration of sprouted potatoes on which the citrus mealybug is reared. Therefore, 30°C would be better than 25-35°C

Controle da lagarta-da-soja com aplicações de seu vírus de poliedrose nuclear por vias aérea e terrestre Control of the velvetbean caterpillar through air and land applications of its nuclear polyhedrosis virus

De 1983 a 1988 foram conduzidos, na região de Dourados, MS, seis experimentos e três campos-piloto, objetivando controlar a lagarta Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, 1818, com aplicações aérea e terrestre de seu vírus de poliedrose nuclear (VPN Ag). Cem lagartas equivalentes (LE) de VPN Ag associadas a óleo de soja, melaço de cana-de-açúcar e água, foram aplicadas com avião agrícola equipado com Micronair. Os preparados oleosos (5,5 e 5 L ha-1) e com melaço (10 L ha-1) controlaram 75-89% e 79-96% das lagartas, respectivamente. A suspensão aquosa de 3 L ha-1 foi ineficaz, porém as de 15, 20 e 25 L ha-1 controlaram de 81% a 90% das lagartas. Cinqüenta LE, aplicadas com avião agrícola (3 L ha-1) ou atomizador (15 L ha-1), foram ineficientes. Aplicações da mesma dose com pulverizador de barra (134 e 150 L ha-1) proporcionaram controle de 87% e 90%, respectivamente, e com avião (15, 20 e 25 L ha-1), entre 93% e 98%. Aplicações aéreas de 50 LE com óleo de soja (5 L ha-1) ou melaço (10 L ha-1) foram eficientes (86-88% e 99%, respectivamente). Aplicações aéreas de suspensões aquosas e formulado oleoso, em campos-piloto, confirmaram os resultados experimentais.<br>From 1983 to 1988 six experiments and three pilot fields were carried out at Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, aimed at controlling Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, 1818 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae through air and land applications of its nuclear polyhedrosis virus (Ag NPV). One hundred larval equivalents (LE) of NPV were applied, with soybean oil, sugar cane molasses and water, with an Ipanema spraying plane equipped with Micronair nozzles. The oil (5.5 and 5 L ha-1) and molasses (10 L ha-1) preparations yielded 75-89% and 79-96% control, respectively. The use of aqueous formulation (3 L ha-1) didn't provide good control, but 15, 20 and 25 L ha-1 were effective (81-90%). Fifty LE applied by plane at 3 L ha-1 or by a tractor propelled atomizer (15 L ha-1) was inefficient. Fifty LE applied with a bar sprayer (134 and 150 L ha-1) provided 87-90% control. When applied by plane (15, 20 and 25 L ha-1) the control was 93-98%. Air applications of 50 LE using soybean oil (5 L ha-1) and sugar cane molasses (10 L ha-1) were efficient, providing 86-88% and 99% control, respectively. The results obtained from the pilot fields were similar to the ones obtained with the experiments

PATOGENICIDADE DE BEAUVERIA BASSIANA (BALS.) VUILL. AO ÁCARO Tetranychus urticae KOCH PATHOGENICITY OF BEAUVERIA BASSIANA (BALS.) VUILL. AGAINST Tetranychus urticae KOCH

O estudo da patogenicidade de Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. ao ácaro Tetranychus urticae Koch foi desenvolvido a 25 ± 2°C, 70 ± 5% UR e 12 horas de fotofase, utilizando-se fêmeas recém-emergidas. Os ácaros foram mantidos durante seis dias em discos de folha de Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. inoculadas com B. bassiana, isolado 447, nas concentrações: 5x106, 1x107, 5x107, 1x108, 5x108 e 1x109 conídios/ml. Este isolado mostrou-se patogênico a T. urticae, apresentando aumento nos valores das mortalidades acumuladas (total, corrigida e confirmada) à medida que a suspensão de conídios se tornou mais concentrada. Nas seis concentrações testadas, os valores de mortalidade corrigida ao sexto dia, foram inferiores a 50%, sendo observada apenas na concentração de 1x109 conídios/ml, mortalidade total superior a 50%.<br>The pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. for Tetranychus urticae Koch was studied at 25 ± 2oC, 70 ± 5% RH and 12 h photophase, using recently emerged females. Mites were maintained for 6 days on leaf disks of Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC. inoculated with B. bassiana, isolate 447, at concentrations of 5x106, 1x107, 5x107, 1x108, 5x108 and 1x109 conidia/ml. Progressively higher values of accumulated mortality (total, corrected and confirmed) were observed with increasing concentrations of conidia. At all concentrations, corrected mortality was lower than 50% on the sixth day. Total mortality higher than 50% was observed only at concentration of 1x109 conidia/ml