Natural Biological Control of Lepidopteran Pests by Ants

The predatory ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidade) are social insects and important natural enemies of pests in agroecosystems. Despite the importance of these predators, little is known about their role, especially in tropical regions. Among the major Lepidopteran pests of vegetables are Ascia monuste (Pieridae), Diaphania nitidalis (Crambidae), Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Crambidae) and Tuta absoluta (Gelechiidae). Thus, this work aimed to study the natural biological control of A. monuste, D. nitidalis, N. elegantalis and T. absoluta by ants. For this, we evaluated the natural biological control of A. monuste on kale and D. nitidalis on cucumber both species in the dry season. Whilst the natural biological control of N. elegantalis and T. absoluta on tomato plants were evaluated in the rainy and dry seasons. Ants preyed on Lepidoptera in the pupa stadium. They also preyed on eggs of D. nitidalis. The activity of predatory ants occurred mainly during the night. The ants were the main causes of pupae mortality of A. monuste, D. nitidalis and T. absoluta. Beyond the ants, the physiological disturbances and birds were also important factors of pupae mortality of N. elegantalis. The ants Labidus coecus and Solenopsis sp. were observed preying on pupae whereas the Paratrechina sp. was observed preying eggs of D. nitidalis. The pupae mortality of D. nitidalis and T. absoluta by ants were higher than the pupae mortality of N. elegantalis and A. monuste. The rate of pupae predation of N. elegantalis by ants was similar in rainy and dry seasons and the same occurred with T. absoluta

Natural Biological Control of Diaphania spp. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) by Social Wasps

The social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) are important agents of biological control for agricultural pests. Diaphania hyalinata L. and Diaphania nitidalis Cramer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) are among the main pests of plants in the Cucurbitaceae family. Although the importance of social wasps is acknowledged, little is known about their activity as biological control agents in Diaphania spp. Thus, this work aimed to study the natural biological control of the caterpillars D. hyalinata and D. nitidalis by social wasps. We studied the natural biological control of caterpillars of D. hyalinata and D. nitidalis on cucumber hybrids Sprint 440 II and Vlasstar. The main predators of Diaphania caterpillars were the social wasps, followed by Diptera: Syrphidae; Hemiptera: Anthocoridae; Coleoptera: Coccinellidae, Anthicidae; Neuroptera: Chrysopidae and Arachnida: Araneae. Predation of D. hyalinata caterpillars by social wasps was high from the second to fifth instar. The predation of D. nitidalis caterpillars by social wasps was high from the second to fourth instar. There was no predation by social wasps on the first instar larvae of Diaphania spp. The cucumber hybrids did not influence the predation of Diaphania spp. by social wasps. The main social wasp predator of Diaphania spp. was Polybia ignobilis (Haliday). Also, we observed the social wasp Polybia scutellaris (White) preying on D. hyalinata but at low intensity.

Insect phitophagous and predators incidence on maize and bean cultivated in exclusive and intercropped systems

Este trabalho foi conduzido em Coimbra, MG, no ano agrícola 1996/97 e objetivou avaliar a ocorrência de insetos fitófagos e de predadores no milho e no feijoeiro cultivados em sistema exclusivo e em policultivo. Foi realizado um cultivo de milho (25/10/1996 a 24/03/1997) e dois cultivos de feijão [o primeiro de 25/10/1996 a 20/01/1997 (cultivo "das águas") e o segundo de 25/03/1997 a 21/07/1997 (cultivo "da seca")]. Realizaram-se contagens diretas das populações de insetos fitófagos e de predadores nas culturas. Menores densidades populacionais de herbívoros considerados preferenciais da cultura do milho [Dalbulus maidis (Delong & Wolcott) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) e Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)] e do feijoeiro [Diabrotica speciosa (Germ.), Cerotoma arcuata (Oliv.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) e Empoasca kraemeri (Ross & Moore) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)] estiveram associadas ao cultivo consorciado. As densidades de herbívoros generalistas como Thrips tabaci Lind. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) e Pseudoplusia includens (Walk.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) foram maiores no feijoeiro consorciado com o milho. No cultivo "das águas", o total de insetos fitófagos foi maior no feijoeiro consorciado com o milho do que no feijoeiro cultivado exclusivamente, sendo que o inverso ocorreu no cultivo "da seca". Os predadores Anthicus sp. (Coleoptera: Anthicidae) e Hymenoptera: Formicidae foram mais abundantes no milho e no feijoeiro cultivados exclusivamente do que as culturas foram consorciadas. _____________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis work was carried out in Coimbra, MG,Brazil, during the agricultural year of 1996/97 and it had the objective of evaluating the phytophagous insects and predators occurrence in maize and bean cultivated in exclusive and policultive systems. One cultivation of maize (from 10/25/1996 to 03/24/1997) and two cultivation of bean were conducted [the first one from 10/25/1996 to 01/20/1997 (rainy period cultivation) and the second one from 03/25/1997 a 07/21/1997 (drought period cultivation)]. The population of phytophagous insects and predators incident in the cultures were counted directly. Lower herbivores population density, which attacks preferentially maize [Dalbulus maidis (Delong & Wolcott) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) and Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)] and bean [Diabrotica speciosa (Germ.), Cerotoma arcuata (Oliv.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and Empoasca kraemeri (Ross & Moore) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)] were associated to the intercropped system. The generalists-insect densities as Thrips tabaci Lind. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and Pseudoplusia includens (Walk.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were higher in the bean intercropped with maize. The phytophagous-insect total number was higher in the bean intercropped with maize in the rainy period cultivation than in the bean cultivated exclusively. The opposite happened in the drought period cultivation. The predators Anthicus sp. (Coleoptera: Anthicidae) and Hymenoptera: Formicidae were more abundant in the maize and bean cultivated exclusively than when the cultures were cultivated intercropped

Sampling plan for B-biotype of Bemisia tabaci in cucumber crop

A adoção de programas de manejo integrado de pragas permite reduzir a aplicação de inseticidas e os planos convencionais de amostragem representam o ponto inicial na geração desses programas. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar plano de amostragem convencional para o biótipo B da mosca-branca Bemisia tabaci Genn. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) na cultura do pepino. Foram avaliadas as densidades de ninfas e de adultos em dez lavouras comerciais de pepino, Tocantins, MG, estudando nove sistemas amostrais formados pela combinação de três técnicas (batida de folha em bandeja de plástico branco, contagem direta dos insetos na face inferior da folha e coleta de folha em sacola de plástico) e três unidades amostrais (folha do terço apical, mediano ou basal do espaldeiramento). A contagem direta em folha do terço basal foi o sistema com maior precisão econômica na amostragem de ninfas, mas não possibilitou a geração de plano de amostragem praticável. As batidas, em bandeja, de folha dos terços apicais, medianos ou basais do espaldeiramento foram os sistemas economicamente mais precisos na amostragem de adultos. Desses, apenas a batida de folha do terço mediano em bandeja gerou plano de amostragem praticável, sendo que este plano é composto de 196 amostras/lavoura.The adoption of pest management integrated programs decreases insecticide applications, and standardized sampling plans represent the initial point in the generation of those programs. This work aimed to determine a conventional sampling plan for B-biotype of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Genn. (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in cucumber crops. The densities of nymphs and adults were evaluated in ten commercial crops in Tocantins, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Nine sampling systems compared three sampling techniques, which were the beating of leaf on white plastic trays, the direct counting of insects on abaxial leaf surface, and the leaf collection in plastic bag, and three sample units, a leaf on the apical, median, and basal thirds of the training system. The system with the largest economic precision in the nymphs sampling was the direct counting on leaf of the basal third of the training system. However, that system did not generate a practicable sampling plan. The systems with the largest economic precisions in the adults' sampling were the beating on plastic trays of a leaf from the apical, medium or basal portions of the training system. Only the sampling system of beating leaves of the third medium on plastic trays generated a practicable plan. The number of samples for the adults' sampling on the leaves of the medium portion of the training system was of 196 per field

Selectivity of eight insecticides to predators of citrus caterpillars

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a seletividade dos inseticidas abamectina, acefato, carbaril, deltametrina, fenitrotiom, fenpropatrina, paratiom metílico e triclorfom aos predadores Brachygastra lecheguana (Latreille), Protonectarina sylveirae (Saussure) e Protopolybia exigua (Saussure) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) em concentrações que corresponderam a 50% e 100% da dose recomendada para o controle de lagartas em citros. Os inseticidas estudados não foram seletivos em favor do predador P. sylveirae. Fenitrotiom, fenpropatrina, paratiom metílico e triclorfom não foram seletivos em favor dos predadores B. lecheguana e P. exigua. Abamectina, acefato e carbaril foram medianamente seletivos em favor de P. exigua, o mesmo foi verificado com abamectina e carbaril em favor de B. lecheguana. Acefato foi seletivo em favor de B. lecheguana e deltametrina em favor de P. exigua. As altas mortalidades causadas por deltametrina a P. sylveirae, triclorfom a B. lecheguana e acefato a P. exigua decresceram quando aplicados em subdose. B. lecheguana foi o predador mais tolerante à dose de acefato, seguido por P. exigua e P. sylveirae. O predador P. exigua foi mais tolerante à dose de deltametrina que B. lecheguana e P. sylveirae. As três espécies de predadores foram altamente suscetíveis às doses e subdoses de fenitrotiom, fenpropatrina e paratiom metílico, e à dose de triclorfom.The selectivity of abamectin, acephate, carbaryl, deltamethrin, fenitrothion, fenpropathrin, methyl parathion and trichlorfon to the predators Brachygastra lecheguana (Latreille), Protonectarina sylveirae (Saussure) and Protopolybia exigua (Saussure) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) was evaluated using insecticide concentrations corresponding to 50% and 100% of the current recommended rate for citrus caterpillars. The insecticides studied were not selective in favor of the predator P. sylveirae. Fenitrothion, fenpropathrin, methyl parathion and trichlorfon were not selective in favor of the predator B. lecheguana and P. exigua. Abamectin, acephate and carbaryl showed median selectivity in favor of P. exigua, and the same was observed with abamectin and carbaryl in favor of B. lecheguana. Acephate was selective in favor of B. lecheguana and deltamethrin in favor of P. exigua. The high mortalities caused by deltamethrin in P. sylveirae, trichlorfon in B. lecheguana and acephate in P. exigua decreased when the lower concentration was used. B. lecheguana was the most tolerant predator to the higher acephate concentration, followed by P. exigua and P. sylveirae. P. exigua was more tolerant to the higher deltamethrin concentration than B. lecheguana and P. sylveirae. The three predator species were highly susceptible to both concentrations of fenitrothion, fenpropathrin and methyl parathion, and the higher concentration of trichlorfon

Parasitismo de Campoletis flavicincta sobre Spodoptera frugiperda em plantas de milho

Parasitism by Campoletis flavicincta (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and consequent reduction of production losses were evaluated on caged corn plants in the field. Treatments consisted of plots infested with 0 (control), 15 and 30 pairs of C. flavicincta with egg masses per cage and plot infested without cage and liberation of the parasitoid. Parasitoid release was done when S. frugiperda larvae were three-day-old. Fifty corn plants (40%) per plot were collected seven days after infestation and S. frugiperda larvae present were reared in glass cups on an artificial diet. Number of S. frugiperda larvae was reduced by C. flavicincta but mortality of the pest and parasitoid sex ratio in laboratory were similar among treatments. Total progeny and female production from collected larvae were similar among densities of released parasitoid. Parasitism rate was higher on 30 than on 15 pairs of C. flavicincta.  Damage on corn plants at seven and 14 days after S. frugiperda infestation had similar grades at 0, 15 or 30 C. flavicincta pairs and higher values than the plots without cage. Damage by S. frugiperda was lower at 30 C. flavicincta pairs after 21 days of infestation. Final stand, stand reduction by plant death and corn productivity were similar among treatments.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial do parasitóide Campoletis flavicincta (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) no controle de Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) em plantas de milho protegidas por gaiolas no campo. Os tratamentos consistiram de parcelas infectadas com 0 (controle), 15 e 30 casais de C. flavicincta liberados por gaiola e parcela infestada, além de parcelas sem gaiola e sem liberação do parasitóide. C. flavicincta foi liberado quando as larvas de S. frugiperda estavam com três dias de idade. Em cada parcela, 40% das plantas foram colhidas sete dias após a infestação, e as larvas de S. frugiperda presentes foram transferidas para copos com dieta artificial. C. flavicincta reduziu o número de larvas, mas a mortalidade natural das larvas e a razão sexual do parasitóide emergido em laboratório foram semelhantes entre tratamentos. A produção de progênie e de progênie fêmea por C. flavicincta foi semelhante nas amostras de 15 e 30 casais, mas a taxa de parasitismo foi maior nas amostras de 30 casais do que nas de 15. Os danos às plantas por larvas de S. frugiperda, aos sete e 14 dias após a infestação, foram semelhantes entre as parcelas com 0, 15 ou 30 casais de C. flavicincta, maiores do que nas parcelas sem gaiola. Esses danos foram menores nas parcelas de 30 casais do parasitóide, após 21 dias da infestação. O estande final, redução no estande pela morte das plantas e a produtividade do milho foram semelhantes entre tratamentos

Biology and life table of the red spider mite Tetranychus bastosi on physic nut

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a biologia e a tabela de vida de Tetranychus bastosi em pinhão‑manso (Jatropha curcas). O experimento foi realizado em ambiente controlado a 26ºC e 75% de UR, com fotófase de 12 horas. Os ovos usados nos experimentos foram oriundos de criação estoque. As avaliações foram realizadas duas vezes ao dia, para a biologia do ácaro, e uma vez, para os parâmetros reprodutivos. O ciclo médio de vida das fêmeas foi de 9,63 dias e o dos machos, de 8,94 dias. A razão sexual foi 0,65 e a longevidade média das fêmeas foi de 16 dias, com produção média de 59 ovos por fêmea. Os parâmetros de tabela de vida obtidos foram: taxa líquida de reprodução (Ro), 45,41 indivíduos; duração média das gerações (T), 12,66 dias; taxa intrínseca de crescimento (rm), 0,0538 fêmea por fêmea por dia; razão finita de aumento (λ), 1,023 fêmea por fêmea; e tempo para duplicação da população (TD), 3,15 dias. O ácaro T. bastosi desenvolvese bem e apresenta alto potencial reprodutivo sobre folhas de pinhão‑manso.The objective of this work was to determine the biology and life table of Tetranychus bastosi on physic nut (Jatropha curcas). The experiment was carried out under controlled conditions at 26ºC and 75% RH, with photophase of 12 hours. The eggs used in the experiments were obtained from stock culture. Evaluations were performed twice a day for the biology of the mite, and once a day for reproductive parameters. The average life cycle of females was 9.63 days and that of males was 8.94 days. The sex ratio was 0.65, and the mean longevity of females was 16 days, with average production of 59 eggs per female. The life table parameters obtained were: liquid reproduction rate (Ro), 45.41 individuals; average generation length (T), 12.66 days; intrinsic growth rate (rm), 0.0538 female per female per day; finite growth rate (λ), 1.023 female per female; and time required for doubling the population (TD), 3.15 days. The spider mite T. bastosi develops well and presents a high reproductive potential on leaves of physic nut

Pyroligneous Acid Controls Aphis craccivora (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Increases Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L., Walp)] Productivity

The aphid Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a major pest of cowpea crops [Vigna unguiculata (L., Walp.)]. Adults and nymphs feed on leaves, stems, flowers, and pods, leading to a reduction in plant productivity. Botanical insecticides can be an alternative for the control of A. craccivora, but studies under field conditions are necessary to evaluate these substances. We assessed the mortality of A. craccivora in cowpea crops for two seasons (dry and wet) using pyroligneous acid in three concentrations (2, 4 and 6 mL/L). Water was used as the control. Crop productivity was also evaluated. We performed the experiment using a completely randomized block design with four replications. Pyroligneous acid at 4 and 6 mL/L caused higher mortalities (p < 0.0001) and productivity was higher in plots sprayed with pyroligneous acid at these concentrations in both experimental seasons (p < 0.0001). In summary, pyroligneous acid controls A. craccivora and increases cowpea productivity

Conteúdo e composição do óleo essencial da Artemisia annua em duas épocas de colheita

Artemisia annua is traditionally used in the treatment for malaria due to presence of the active principle artemisinin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the essential oil content and chemical composition of A. annua submitted to four doses of mineral fertilization in two harvest times. The seedlings of A. annua were cultivated in 10 L pots kept in a greenhouse. The tested doses of mineral fertilization were the following: without fertilization (D0), 50% of the recommended dose (D1), recommended dose (D2), and 150% of the recommended dose (D3). The samples for extracting the essential oils were collected at 60 and 125 days after transplantation (DAT). The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Identification and relative percentage of the compounds of the essential oil were performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The highest essential oil content obtained was 0.81% using the dose D0 at 60 DAT. The increase of the dose of mineral fertilization indicated a disadvantage with the reduction of the essential oil content in the two harvesting times. The major constituents found in the essential oil were camphor and borneol. The results indicate that A. annua could be an alternative source of borneol and camphor, active component with use in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.Artemisia annua é utilizada tradicionalmente para o tratamento da malária devido à presença do princípio ativo artemisinina. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o teor e a composição química do óleo essencial de A. annua submetida a quatro doses de adubação mineral em duas épocas de colheita. As mudas de A. annua foram cultivadas em vasos de 10 L mantidas em casa de vegetação. As doses testadas de fertilização mineral foram as seguintes: sem fertilização (D0), 50% da dose recomendada (D1), dose recomendada (D2) e 150% da dose recomendada (D3). As amostras para extração dos óleos essenciais foram coletadas aos 60 e 125 dias após o transplante (DAT). O óleo essencial foi obtido por hidrodestilação usando um aparelho do tipo Clevenger. A identificação e a porcentagem relativa dos compostos do óleo essencial foram realizadas por cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massa. O maior teor de óleo essencial obtido foi de 0,81% na dose D0 aos 60 DAT. O aumento da dose de adubação mineral indicou uma desvantagem com a redução do teor de óleo essencial nas duas épocas de colheita. Os constituintes majoritários encontrados no óleo essencial foram cânfora e borneol. Os resultados indicam que A. annua pode ser uma fonte alternative de borneol e cânfora, princípios ativos com uso na indústria química e farmacêutica

Selection of attractive food sources and toxicity of insecticides in tomato fruit borer management

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a preferência alimentar, o limiar de ingestão e o efeito tóxico de inseticidas associados a atrativos, em adultos de Neoleucinodes elegantalis. Foram testados os atrativos: melado e mel a 10%, extrato hexânico de frutos verdes de tomate a 0,4%, sacarose a 5%, suco de laranja e suco de uva a 30%, vinagre de vinho tinto a 10% e proteína hidrolisada a 5%. Com base no teste de preferência alimentar, foram selecionados os atrativos sacarose, melado, mel e suco de laranja, para determinar o limiar de concentração capaz de estimular a alimentação de adultos de N. elegantalis. Foi testado o efeito tóxico de inseticidas associados ao mel a 10%. A sacarose e o mel apresentaram o melhor resultado em relação ao número de pousos e ao tempo de pouso e de alimentação de adultos de N. elegantalis. Os inseticidas não afetaram negativamente a atração pelo alimento dos adultos de N. elegantalis. Carbaril, cartape, deltametrina, fenpropatrina, indoxacarbe, lambda-cialotrina e lufenurom provocaram 100% de mortalidade em adultos (machos + fêmeas), após 24 horas de exposição, e mostraram-se promissores para o uso em iscas tóxicas.This work aimed at evaluating the food preference, the threshold of food intake and the toxic effect of insecticides associated with attractive food sources on adults of Neoleucinodes elegantalis. The following attractive food sources were tested: molasses and honey at 10%, hexanic extract of green tomato fruits at 0.4%, sucrose at 5%, orange and grape juice at 30%, red wine vinegar at 10%, and hydrolyzed protein at 5% concentration. Based on the food preference test, sucrose, molasses, honey, and orange juice were selected to determine the threshold concentration capable of stimulating feeding in N. elegantalis adults. The toxic effect of insecticides added to honey at 10% was also tested. Sucrose and honey had the best results in terms of number of landings, landing time, and feeding time of adults of N. elegantalis. The insecticides did not affect negatively the attraction of N. elegantalis adults to the food sources. Carbaryl, cartap, deltamethrin, fenpropatrin, indoxacarb, lambda-cyhalothrin, and lufenuron caused 100% mortality of adults (males and females), after 24 hours of exposure, which suggests that they are promising for use in toxic baits