Management of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on ornamental plants

O cultivo de flores iniciou-se no Brasil como atividade econômica em maior escala a partir de 1960. Atualmente, cerca de 5.000 produtores dedicam-se à floricultura em todo país. O setor gera um faturamento estimado em U$400 milhões/ano. No varejo, o faturamento é estimado em U$ 1,3 bilhões/ano. Acredita-se que a floricultura brasileira gera atualmente entre 120 a 160 mil empregos, caso seja considerada toda a cadeia produtiva que envolve o campo, a distribuição, o comércio varejista e os segmentos de apoio. O ácaro rajado, Tetranychus urticae Koch, é uma das principais pragas em plantas ornamentais, com destaque para o cultivo de gérberas e roseiras. O uso excessivo de acaricidas para o controle desta praga tem trazido sérios problemas ao ambiente e à saúde humana. Diversos trabalhos têm mostrado o potencial dos ácaros predadores da família Phytoseiidae para o controle de T. urticae. Alguns parecem ser promissores no controle daquela praga, sendo Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) um deles. No Brasil, não há nenhuma informação sobre o potencial deste predador em cultivos comerciais de gérberas e roseiras. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi: estabelecer estratégias de manejo de T. urticae em cultivos de gérberas e roseiras; estabelecer um sistema de criação massal de N. californicus; determinar o ciclo de vida de duas espécies de ácaros predadores que pudessem ser eventualmente utilizadas em futuros estudos ou estratégias de manejo de pragas daquelas culturas. Uma metodologia para estimar a densidade populacional de T. urticae sobre Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC foi determinada (para sistemas de criação massal de ácaros predadores) através da contagem de T. urticae em 3 regiões de 1 cm2 cada (base, meio e ápice). A maior precisão na determinação do número total de ácaros na folha foi obtida através da estimativa dos ácaros na região basal e do somatório das 3 regiões [coeficiente de determinação (r2) = 0, 63 e 0,85, respectivamente]. O sistema de produção massal de N. californicus mostrou-se satisfatório. A partir de uma estrutura simples e com um custo relativamente baixo foi possível produzir até 300.000 ácaros predadores a cada 15 dias nos períodos mais quentes do ano. Em relação às tabelas de vida dos predadores estudados, Proprioseiopsis cannaensis (Muma) e Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes não completaram o desenvolvimento quando alimentados com Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead). Os valores de rm de P. cannaensis foram -0,05, -0,09 e 0,002 alimentado com Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes), T. urticae e pólen de Typha angustifolia L, respectivamente. Os valores de rm de N. barkeri foram -0,03, 0,139 e 0,141, alimentado com B. phoenicis, T. urticae e pólen, respectivamente. N. barkeri parece ter potencial no controle de ácaros Tetranychidae, embora situações de campo devam ser testadas. Em relação às liberações de N. californicus em cultivos de gérberas e roseiras, os resultados foram altamente satisfatórios. Além de menor impacto ambiental, a utilização deste predador associada às aplicações de acaricidas seletivos mostrou-se uma alternativa eficiente e economicamente viável no controle de T. urticae.Flower growing on a large scale as an economic activity in Brazil started in 1960. Currently, approximately 5.000 farmers practice floriculture in the whole country. The sector generates an estimated income of U$400,000/year. Retail income is estimated at US$ 1.3 billions/year. It is currently believed that Brazilian flower industry generates between 120 and 160 thousand employment opportunities if all the productive chains are considered which involve field work, distribution, retail sales and support segments. The two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is one of the principal pests of ornamental plants and prominently attacking gerberas and roses. The excessive use of acaricides for the control of this pest poses serious problems on the environment and human health. Several studies have demonstrated the potential of predatory mites from the family Phytoseiidae in the control of T. urticae. Some of these predators seem to be promising for the control of this pest among them Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor). In Brazil, information about the potential of this predator in commercial crops of gerberas and roses is lacking. The objective of the current work was: establish management strategies of T. urticae in gerbera and rose flowers; establish a mass rearing system for N. californicus; determine the life cycle of the two predatory mite species that could be used in future studies or management strategies for pests on these crops. A method for estimating population density of T. urticae on Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC was determined (for mass rearing system of predatory mites) through counting of T. urticae in 3 regions of 1 cm2 each (bottom, middle and apex). The highest precision in the determination of the total number of mites on leaves was obtained through mite estimates at the basal region and the summations of the 3 regions [coefficient of determination (r2) = 0. 63 and 0.85, respectively]. The mass production system of N. californicus was shown to be satisfactory. Starting with a simple structure and with a relatively low cost, it was possible to produce up to 300.000 predatory mites every 15 days during the hottest period of the year. In relation to the life tables of the studied predators, Proprioseiopsis cannaensis (Muma) and Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes did not complete their development when fed on Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead). The rm values of P. cannaensis were -0.05, -0.09 and 0.002 when fed on Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes), T. urticae and pollen of Typha angustifolia L, respectively. The rm values of N. barkeri were -0.03, 0.139 and 0.141, when fed on B. phoenicis, T. urticae and pollen, respectively. N. barkeri seem to have potential for the control of tetranychid mites, however, field conditions should be tested. In relation to release of N. californicus in gerbera and rose flowers, the results were highly satisfactory. In addition to lower environmental impact, the use of this predator in combination with selective acaricides shows an efficient and economically viable alternative for the control of T. urticae

Ocorrência e diversidade de ácaros (Acari, Arachnida) associados a Tabebuia roseo-alba (Ridl.) Sand (Bignoniaceae), no município de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brasil

This study reports the mite fauna associated with Tabebuia roseo-alba, a native and ornamental tree, determining the abundance and seasonal occurrence of species and the diversity of the community. Twenty three species were found belonging to 11 families, 10 of predatory habits and five phytophagous. The food habits of the eight remaining species are not known. Besides the great richness, the diversity was small, as consequence of the dominance of Lorryia formosa Cooreman, 1958 and Aculus sp., the most abundant species. These species occurred in the same microhabitat but with seasonal segregation: L. formosa was the most abundant in the dry season, while Aculus sp. occurred only in the rainy season. In August, when the plant lost its leaves, the following species were found in the apical branch structures: Brevipalpus sp. (aff. phoenicis), Cheletogenes sp., Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma, 1970, Lorryia formosa, Pronematus sp., and diapause females of Tenuipalponychus tabebuiae Aguilar, Flechtmann & Ochoa, 1991. In September, with leaves growing again, Aceria sp. was the only species on the plant, and its abundance decreased accentuately in October. The richness and the abundance of the mite fauna were not correlated with the temperature or the precipitation. These data suggest that the plant phenology was more important than the climate in the occurrence of species.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Effect of air humidity on the egg viability of predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae) common on rubber trees in Brazil

Rubber pest mites, Calacarus heveae and Tenuipalpus heveae, reach economic damage levels at the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry season in Brazil. Therefore, low humidity adaptation might be an important characteristic for predatory mites to successfully control pest organisms. This study determined the effect of the relative humidity (RH) levels of 30-100% on the hatching of larvae of Amblyseius acalyphus, Euseius citrifolius, Iphiseiodes zuluagai, Metaseiulus camelliae, Agistemus floridanus and Zetzellia malvinae at 25 ± 0.5°C. These predatory mites are common on rubber trees in the state of São Paulo and might be used for introduction in the major rubber tree production regions in the state of Mato Grosso. At 70% RH or higher, viability was 70% or higher for all species, indicating that their performance might be higher during the rainy season than during the dry season. Eggs of E. citrifolius and M. camelliae presented higher viability at the lower relative humidity levels than those of other species, indicating that these species might have higher chance to persist in the dry season. It is suggested that M. camelliae should be further evaluated for introduction in the state of Mato Grosso, considering that this mite is not yet present in that area. © Springer 2006

Plantas de ocorrência espontânea como substratos alternativos para fitoseídeos (Acari, Phytoseiidae) em cultivos de seringueira Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) Weeds as alternative substrates to phytoseiids (Acari, Phytoseiidae) in rubber tree Hevea brasilienis, Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) cultivation

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar as espécies de plantas espontâneas em áreas de cultivo de seringueira que poderiam servir com reservatório de ácaros predadores. O trabalho foi conduzido em Olímpia, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, em dois cultivos de seringueira. A cada três meses, cerca de 1.000 cm³ de folhas de cada uma das cinco espécies de plantas espontâneas dominantes em cada cultivo foi tomada para determinar os fitoseídeos. Como as plantas espontâneas dominantes variaram durante o estudo, um total de 20 espécies foi verificado. Somente Cecropia sp. foi dominante em todo estudo, em ambos os cultivos. Um total de 336 fitoseídeos pertencentes às seguintes espécies foi encontrado: Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma, 1970, E. concordis (Chant, 1959), Galendromus annectens (DeLeon, 1958), Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma, 1972, Neoseiulus anonymus (Chant & Baker, 1965) e N. tunus (DeLeon, 1967). E. citrifolius (189 espécimes) e N. tunus (138 espécimes) foram os mais abundantes. A maior abundância (231espécimes) e diversidade (5 espécies) foram observadas sobre Cecropia sp. Sobre esta planta foi encontrado o maior número de ácaros por amostra (29 espécimes), seguida por Piper duncum Linnaeus (22), Guarea sp. (18) e Ageratum conyzoides Linnaeus (12). E. citrifolius tem sido determinado como um dos ácaros predadores mais abundantes sobre seringueiras cultivadas na região onde este trabalho foi conduzido. Cecropia sp. parece ser uma das plantas espontâneas mais importantes consideradas como reservatório de E. citrifolius porque está continuamente presente nos cultivos. Estudos complementares poderiam indicar a viabilidade de se manejar esta planta nas áreas de cultivo de seringueira para permitir o controle biológico dos ácaros-praga desta cultura.<br>The objective of this study was to determine weed species of rubber tree cultivation areas that could serve as reservoirs of predatory mites. The work was conducted in Olímpia, State of São Paulo, Brazil, in two rubber tree plantations. Every three months, about 1.000 cm³ of leaves of each one of the five dominant weeds in each plantation was taken to determine the phytoseiids. As the dominant weeds varied during the study, a total of 20 species were evaluated. Only Cecropia sp. was a dominant weed throughout the study, in both plantations. A total of 336 phytoseiids of the following species were found: Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma, 1970, E. concordis (Chant, 1959), Galendromus annectens (DeLeon, 1958), Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma, 1972, Neoseiulus anonymus (Chant & Baker, 1965) and N. tunus (DeLeon, 1967). E. citrifolius (189 specimens) and N. tunus (138 specimens) were the most abundant species. The highest abundance (231 specimens) and diversity (5 species) were observed on Cecropia sp. On this plant was found the largest number of mites per sample (29 specimens), followed by Piper duncum Linnaeus (22), Guarea sp. (18) and Ageratum conyzoides Linnaeus (12). E. citrifolius has been determined as the most abundant predatory mite on rubber trees in the region where this work was conducted. Cecropia sp. seems to be the most important of the weeds considered as reservoir of E. citrifolius because it is continuously present in the plantations. Complementary studies could indicate the viability of managing this weed in or around rubber tree plantations to promote the biological control of mite pests on that crop

Multiplicity dependence of light (anti-)nuclei production in p–Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV

The measurement of the deuteron and anti-deuteron production in the rapidity range −1 < y < 0 as a function of transverse momentum and event multiplicity in p–Pb collisions at √sNN = 5.02 TeV is presented. (Anti-)deuterons are identified via their specific energy loss dE/dx and via their time-of- flight. Their production in p–Pb collisions is compared to pp and Pb–Pb collisions and is discussed within the context of thermal and coalescence models. The ratio of integrated yields of deuterons to protons (d/p) shows a significant increase as a function of the charged-particle multiplicity of the event starting from values similar to those observed in pp collisions at low multiplicities and approaching those observed in Pb–Pb collisions at high multiplicities. The mean transverse particle momenta are extracted from the deuteron spectra and the values are similar to those obtained for p and particles. Thus, deuteron spectra do not follow mass ordering. This behaviour is in contrast to the trend observed for non-composite particles in p–Pb collisions. In addition, the production of the rare 3He and 3He nuclei has been studied. The spectrum corresponding to all non-single diffractive p-Pb collisions is obtained in the rapidity window −1 < y < 0 and the pT-integrated yield dN/dy is extracted. It is found that the yields of protons, deuterons, and 3He, normalised by the spin degeneracy factor, follow an exponential decrease with mass number