Registro de lonqueidos (Diptera: Lochaeidae) en municipios del estado de Alagoas, Brasil.

Los estudios de moscas frugívoras en el estado de Alagoas, Brasil, se concentran en las especies denominadas moscas de las frutas (Tephritidae). Este reporte se refiere al registro de las especies de Neosilba en cinco municipios del estado de Alagoas: Neosilba bella, N. certa, N. glaberrima, N. inesperata, N. pendula y N. zadolicha

Odontopus abdominalis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): a new avocado pest in northeastern Brazil.

This is the first report of Odontopus abdominalis as a novel pest in avocado orchards in the Alagoas State, in Northeastern Brazil. Adults feed and bore holes in the leaves, and larvae feed on the mesophyll tissue, boring galleries in the leaves. Leaf necrosis then reduces the photosynthetic tissue in the mesophyll. This study contributes relevant information for reporting O. abdominalis as a novel avocado pest in Brazil. This knowledge is essential for defining adequate pest management approaches

Nuevos registros de moscas de la fruta (Diptera: Tephritidae) en el Estado de Alagoas, Brasil

The aim of this study was to determine the diversity of fruit flies, their hosts and parasitoids in the State of Alagoas, Brazil. A total of 17,394 specimens of frugivore insects where recorded, of which 14,993 (86.2 %) belonged to the genus Anastrepha (7,224 females and 7,769 males) and 2,401 (13.8 %) belonged to Ceratitis (1,196 females and 1,205 males). In Maceió, a new species of Anastrepha, which so far has been referred to as “morpho-species of Anastrepha sp.”, has been collected. Besides showing the highest number of females collected during this study, Anastrepha obliqua was associated with the highest number of host species (eight species). Parasitoid emergence was associated with only 9 of the 19 fruit species infested with fruit flies. From all pupae of Anastrepha obtained in this study (26,724), 6,125 parasitoid specimens have emerged, with 5,870 corresponding to Braconidae, 169 to Pteromalidae, 78 to Figitidae and 8 to Torymidae. In this study the emergence of parasitoids from puparia of Ceratitis was not recorded.El presente trabajo propone como objetivo conocer la diversidad de moscas de las frutas, sus hospederos y parasitoides en los municipios del Estado de Alagoas, Brasil. En los meses de colecta se recolectaron un total de 17.394 especímenes de insectos frugívoros, de estos, 14.993 (86,2 %) pertenecían al género Anastrepha (7.224 hembras y 7.769 machos) y 2.401 (13,8 %) a Ceratitis (1.196 hembras y 1.205 machos). En Maceió se recolectó una nueva especie que, hasta el momento, se la denomina como la morfo-especie Anastrepha sp. El mayor número de hembras pertenecían a Anastrepha obliqua la especie asociada al mayor número de plantas hospederas (ocho especies). De las 19 especies de frutales infestadas por moscas frugívoras, solo en nueve se registraron parasitoides. Del total de puparios de Anastrepha (26.724) emergieron 6.125 especímenes, 5.870 a pertenecían a la familia Braconidae, 169 a Pteromalidae, a 78 Figitidae y 8 a Torymidae. En este trabajo no se registró emergencia de parasitoides de los puparios de Ceratitis

New records of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the Alagoas State, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to determine the diversity of fruit flies, their hosts and parasitoids in the State of Alagoas, Brazil. A total of 17,394 specimens of frugivore insects where recorded, of which 14,993 (86.2 %) belonged to the genus Anastrepha (7,224 females and 7,769 males) and 2,401 (13.8 %) belonged to Ceratitis (1,196 females and 1,205 males). In Maceió, a new species of Anastrepha, which so far has been referred to as “morpho-species of Anastrepha sp.”, has been collected. Besides showing the highest number of females collected during this study, Anastrepha obliqua was associated with the highest number of host species (eight species). Parasitoid emergence was associated with only 9 of the 19 fruit species infested with fruit flies. From all pupae of Anastrepha obtained in this study (26,724), 6,125 parasitoid specimens have emerged, with 5,870 corresponding to Braconidae, 169 to Pteromalidae, 78 to Figitidae and 8 to Torymidae. In this study the emergence of parasitoids from puparia of Ceratitis was not recorded

Biological characteristics of Telenomus alecto and Trichogramma galloi reared on eggs of the sugarcane borer Diatraea flavipennella Características biológicas de Telenomus alecto e Trichogramma galloi em ovos da broca da cana-de-açúcar Diatraea flavipennella

Diatraea flavipennella (Box) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) is one of the most destructive pests in sugarcane plantations in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Developmental characteristics and parasitism potential of the egg parasitoids Telenomus alecto Crawford (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) and Trichogramma galloi Zucchi (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) were compared with the aim of selecting a suitable species for biological control of D. flavipennella. Both T. alecto and T. galloi developed well and were readily adapted to D. flavipennella eggs as host. Although, T. galloi presented higher viability, with more adults emerging per host egg and higher sex ratio, the developmental period (egg-adult) was shorter in T. alecto and female longevity was extended. In addition, T. alecto exhibited significant higher levels of parasitism during the first three days after emergence than T. galloi. Thus, both parasitoids studied here offer considerable potential for the control of D. flavipennella in sugarcane.Diatraea flavipennella (Box) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) é considerada uma das principais pragas da cana-de-açúcar nos canaviais da região nordeste do Brasil. As características biológicas e o potencial de parasitismo dos parasitoides de ovos Telenomus alecto Crawford (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) e Trichogramma galloi Zucchi (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) foram comparados com o objetivo de selecionar aespécie mais adequada para utilização no controle biológico de D. flavipennella. Tanto T. alecto como T. galloi desenvolveram-se e mostraram-se adaptadas aos ovos de D. flavipennella. Embora T. galloi tenha apresentado maior viabilidade, com maior número de adultos emergidos/ovo do hospedeiro e maior predominância de fêmeas, a duração do período de desenvolvimento (ovo-adulto) foi menor em T. Alecto, e suas fêmeas foram mais longevas. Além disso, T. alecto apresentou taxas de parasitismo mais elevadas durante os primeiros três dias após a emergência, em comparação com T. galloi. Ambos os parasitoides estudados apresentam potencial para o controle de D. flavipennella em cana de açúcar

Record of lonchaeids (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) in municipalities of Alagoas State, Brazil

Los estudios de moscas frugívoras en el estado de Alagoas, Brasil, se concentran en las especies denominadas moscas de las frutas (Tephritidae). Este reporte se refiere al registro de las especies de Neosilba en cinco municipios del estado de Alagoas: Neosilba bella, N. certa, N. glaberrima, N. inesperata, N. pendula y N. zadolicha.Studies on frugivorous flies in Alagoas State, Brazil, have been limited to species of fruit flies (Tephritidae). This paper reports six species of Neosilba (Lonchaeidae) in five municipalities of Alagoas State: Neosilba bella, N. certa, N. glaberrima, N. inesperata, N. pendula and N. zadolicha

Biological characteristics of Telenomus alecto and Trichogramma galloi reared on eggs of the sugarcane borer Diatraea flavipennella

Diatraea flavipennella (Box) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) is one of the most destructive pests in sugarcane plantations in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Developmental characteristics and parasitism potential of the egg parasitoids Telenomus alecto Crawford (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) and Trichogramma galloi Zucchi (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) were compared with the aim of selecting a suitable species for biological control of D. flavipennella. Both T. alecto and T. galloi developed well and were readily adapted to D. flavipennella eggs as host. Although, T. galloi presented higher viability, with more adults emerging per host egg and higher sex ratio, the developmental period (egg-adult) was shorter in T. alecto and female longevity was extended. In addition, T. alecto exhibited significant higher levels of parasitism during the first three days after emergence than T. galloi. Thus, both parasitoids studied here offer considerable potential for the control of D. flavipennella in sugarcane

Frugivorous flies and their parasitoids associated with Surinam cherry fruits

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to know and assess natural infestation of frugivorous flies (Diptera: Tephritidae and Lonchaeidae) and their parasitoids in Surinam cherry fruits. The survey was conducted in an organic orchard, located in the municipality of Maceió, Alagoas. From October 2010 to January 2011, mature green, half-ripe and ripe Surinam cherry were collected. Infestation index was higher for mature green and half-ripe fruits. Five species of frugivorous flies were identified: Anastrepha fraterculus , Anastrepha obliqua , Anastrepha sororcul , Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), and Neosilba pendula (Diptera: Lonchaeidae). It were identified the parasitoids: Doryctobracon areolatus , Opius bellus, Utetes anastrephae and Asobara anastrephae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), being D. areolatus with highest percentage of parasitism in all maturation stages. N . pendula was recorded in Brasil associated to Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae). O . bellus , U . anastrephae and A . anastrephae were also recorded for the first time in the State of Alagoas. Mature green and half-ripe Surinam cherries are the most fruit fly infested, and the parasitism rate is higher in half-ripe and ripe fruits

RECORD OF Digonogastra sp. (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE) PARASITIZING Diatraea flavipennella (LEPIDOPTERA: CRAMBIDAE) IN ALAGOAS, BRAZIL

The aim of this study is to document the heretofore unrecorded natural occurrence of the larval parasitoid Digonogastra sp. on Diatraea flavipennella Box, 1931 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in sugarcane fields. The collections were made in the Usina Santa Clotilde area, in Rio Largo municipality, Alagoas State, Brazil. This is the first record of Digonogastra sp. parasitizing caterpillar of D. flavipennella in Brazil. The parasitism rate was found to be 14.06%. The occurrence of this parasitoid indicates potential for natural regulation of that pest in sugarcane crop

Stingless bees damage broccoli inflorescences when collecting fibers for nest building

The stingless bee Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is an important pollinator for various crops, but constitutes an occasional pest of other plant species since it causes injury to leaves, stems, flowers and fruits while collecting nest materials. The aim of the present study was to determine the damage caused by T. spinipes to a broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica, Brassicaceae) growing on an organic farm. A significant number of plants (72.5 %) presented damaged inflorescences, while 39% of all of the inflorescences suffered some degree of injury. The activities of T. spinipes caused scarifications on the stems of the inflorescences, and these typically evolved to epidermal cicatrices up to 10 mm wide. In some cases, the lesions were sufficiently deep to cause partial destruction of the vascular tissues, and this lead to thinner (< 5 mm diameter) floral stems that may collapse. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the attack of broccoli plants by T. spinipes. The results obtained should serve to highlight the possibility that stingless bees could be responsible for direct and/or indirect damage to vegetable crops, and to stimulate the development of control strategies for these incidental pests