Population dynamics and distribution of Sitophilus zeamais in peach and apple orchards

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a flutuação populacional de Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) e determinar a distribuição deste inseto‑praga nas plantas de pessegueiro e macieira na região de Pelotas, no Rio Grande do Sul. A flutuação populacional foi avaliada nas safras 2009/2010 e 2010/2011, por meio de monitoramento semanal com armadilhas dos pomares, durante aproximadamente cinco meses. Foram usadas dez armadilhas do tipo Pet‑milho por hectare, posicionadas a 1,7 m do solo, distribuídas de maneira equidistante nas bordas e no centro do pomar. A distribuição do inseto nas plantas foi avaliada nos frutos dos terços superior, mediano e inferior das plantas, na cultivar de maçã Eva e nas cultivares de pêssego Sensação (ciclo precoce), Eldorado (ciclo tardio) e Eragil (ciclo tardio). Em macieira, o ataque de S. zeamais ocorreu por cinco a sete semanas, e, em pessegueiro, por três a quatro semanas. Foi observado maior número de S. zeamais machos no início da infestação dos pomares, principalmente nos frutos do terço superior das plantas. Nas semanas seguintes, a maior infestação de frutos se deu no terço médio. O ataque de Sitophilus zeamais ocorre tanto em cultivares precoces como em tardias de pessegueiro, com pico de ataque no período de colheita.The objective of this work was to evaluate the population dynamics of Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and to determine the distribution of this pest in plants of peach and apple orchards, in the region of Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Population dynamics was evaluated in the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 growing seasons by weekly monitoring the orchards with traps for approximately five months. Ten “Pet‑milho”‑type traps were used per hectare, positioned 1.7 m above the ground, distributed equidistantly in the borders and in the center of the orchards. Insect distribution in plants was evaluated in fruits from the top, middle, and bottom portions of the plants, in the apple cultivar Eva and in the peach cultivars Sensação (early cycle), Eldorado (late cycle), and Eragil (late cycle). In apple, S. zeamais attack occurred for five to seven weeks, and in peach, for three to four weeks. A greater number of S. zeamais males was observed at the beginning of the orchard infestation, mainly in fruits from the top portion of the plants. In the following weeks, the highest infestation of fruits occurred in the middle portion. Sitophilus zeamais attack occurs both in early and late cultivars of peach, with a peak attack at the harvesting stage

ENTOMOFAUNA ASSOCIATED TO DIFFERENT PHENOLOGICAL STAGES ON BLUEBERRY CROP

<div><p>ABSTRACT The blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade, Ericaceae) is a small fruit with great growth potential in Brazil. This research was developed in order to identify the insects found on associated to the different phenological stages of blueberry in order to implement the integrated pest management for this crop. Insect samples were collected from three orchards, in the region of Pelotas, RS, from January 2010 to June 2012. The data were analyzed based on the composition and abundance of the collected insects. In all three sites, 2,354 insects were studied and the majority belonged to Hymenoptera (72%), Coleoptera (16%), Hemiptera (6%) and Diptera (4%). Forty-one families were identified with 59% of the listed insects belonging to the Apidae family, followed by 11% for Chrysomelidae and Formicidae. Overall, 50 species of insects were identified and Trigona spinipes (Fabr.) and Apis mellifera L. were the most abundant. Of the species found, 78% were herbivores, while 22% was beneficial insects (pollinators, predators and parasitoids) belonging to the orders Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Dermaptera. The analysis of variance with the randomization test showed that the insect fauna does not differ between locations and phenological stages. The interaction of site with phenological stages was not significant for the three grade levels (order, family and species). The knowledge of the entomofauna associated with blueberry, along with the similarity in composition with the phenological stages and evaluated sites, contributes to the development of integrated pest management and establishment of production system for this new culture in southern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.</p></div

The tracks of giant theropods (<i>Jurabrontes curtedulensis</i> ichnogen. & ichnosp. nov.) from the Late Jurassic of NW Switzerland: palaeoecological & palaeogeographical implications

<p><i>Jurabrontes curtedulensis</i>, a new ichnogenus and species of Late Jurassic giant theropod dinosaur track is described based on very well-preserved and morphologically-distinct tracks, all carefully excavated along federal highway A16 (Canton Jura, NW Switzerland). All trackways were systematically documented including parameter measurements, descriptions, outline drawings, orthophotos and laserscans. <i>Jurabrontes</i> is characterised by sub-equal track length and width, a small anterior triangle, weak mesaxony, three blunt digits (dII-III-IV) with pronounced (sub)triangular claw marks, a rounded heel, and clear phalangeal pad impressions. The combination of features of <i>Jurabrontes</i> is typical for a theropod (and not ornithopod) trackmaker. <i>Jurabrontes</i> is compared to other similar ichnotaxa and unnamed tracks of large theropods from the Early Jurassic to Late Cretaceous, from which it is clearly different. The sheer size of the largest tracks, that are amongst the largest worldwide and of similar size to <i>Tyrannosauripus</i> from the Late Cretaceous, suggests a ‘megalosaurid’ or large allosaurid theropod as a trackmaker. The presence of such large theropod tracks in tidal-flat deposits of the Jura carbonate platform and associated with small to large sauropod tracks has important palaeoecological implications for the dinosaur community and for palaeoenvironmental and palaeogeographical reconstructions.</p> <p><i>Jurabrontes</i> - <a href="http://urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B482D2AF-637A-4B2D-8B0B-FEAD54CA2A26" target="_blank">urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B482D2AF-637A-4B2D-8B0B-FEAD54CA2A26</a></p> <p><i>J. curtedulensis</i>- <a href="http://urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:30D45944-5A2B-45E1-89B9-20298E475D51" target="_blank">urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:30D45944-5A2B-45E1-89B9-20298E475D51</a></p

Assessing written work by determining competence to achieve the module-specific learning outcomes.

This chapter describes lasers and other sources of coherent light that operate in a wide wavelength range. First, the general principles for the generation of coherent continuous-wave and pulsed radiation are treated including the interaction of radiation with matter, the properties of optical resonators and their modes as well as such processes as Q-switching and mode-locking. The general introduction is followed by sections on numerous types of lasers, the emphasis being on todayʼs most important sources of coherent light, in particular on solid-state lasers and several types of gas lasers. An important part of the chapter is devoted to the generation of coherent radiation by nonlinear processes with optical parametric oscillators, difference- and sum-frequency generation, and high-order harmonics. Radiation in the extended ultraviolet (EUV) and x-ray ranges can be generated by free electron lasers (FEL) and advanced x-ray sources. Ultrahigh light intensities up to 1021 W/cm2 open the door to studies of relativistic laser–matter interaction and laser particle acceleration. The chapter closes with a section on laser stabilization