Herbivory affects ovarian development in the zoophytophagous predator Brontocoris tabidus (Hetereoptera, Pentatomidae).

The effect of prey-based and combination prey and plant-based diets [Tenebrio molitor pupae alone; T. molitor pupae and Eucalyptus cloeziana plants; T. molitor pupae and Eucalyptus urophylla plants; and T. molitor pupae and Psidium guajava (guava) plants] on the morphometry of the ovary of Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) was analyzed in the field. Females fed on T. molitor pupae without plants presented with smaller ovarioles. The number of oocytes per ovary was higher for B. tabidus females fed on a combination diet of E. urophylla and T. molitor pupae when compared to females fed only on prey. In addition to diet, the number of oocytes in the ovariole was shown to vary with the age of B. tabidus. The 21-day-old B. tabidus females were found to have a higher number of oocytes per ovariole than the 15-day-old females in all diet conditions. The 15-day-old females exhibited more developed oocytes when fed on diets containing both prey and eucalypts plants and less developed oocytes when fed with a combination diet containing guava plants or T. molitor pupae alone. The 21-one-day-old B. tabidus females which were fed with a diet without plants had smaller oocytes than those fed with plants. Herbivory improves the morphology of the ovary of B. tabidus, affecting the size of the reproductive structures and the oogenesis of this natural enemy in the field.Publicado on-line em 28 ago. 2009

Development of antennal sensilla of Tetragonisca angustula Latreille, 1811 (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) during pupation

The antennal sensilla are sensory organs formed by a group of neurons and accessory cells, which allow perception of environmental cues, which play a role as mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors. This study describes the post-embryonic development of the antennal sensilla of the stingless Tetragonisca angustula (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) workers. The development of the antennal sensilla begins in the transition stage of the pre-pupae to white-eyed pupae. The sensilla are completely developed at the black-eyed pupae stage, but they are covered by the old cuticle. The sensilla are exposed to the environment only in newly emerged workers of T. angustula, but it is possible that environmental stimuli can be recognized due to the pores in the old cuticle.As sensilas antenais são órgãos sensoriais formados por um conjunto de neurônios que captam estímulos ambientais e células acessórias, desempenhando as funções de mecanorreceptores e quimiorrecepterores. Este trabalho descreve o desenvolvimento pós-embrionário das sensilas antenais de operárias das abelhas sem ferrão Tetragonisca angustula (Hymenoptera: Meliponini). O desenvolvimento das sensilas tem início na transição de pré-pupa para pupa de olho branco e estão completamente desenvolvidas no estágio de pupa de olho preto, mas ainda estão cobertas pela cutícula velha. As sensilas estão completamente expostas em operárias recém-emergidas de T. angustula, mas é possível que estímulos ambientais sejam percebidos em estágios anteriores devido aos poros presentes na cutícula velha

O percevejo bronzeado Thaumastocoris peregrinus: uma ameaça à eucaliptocultura mundial.

Resumo

Biological parameters, life table and thermal requirements of Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae) at different temperatures.

Temperature affects the development, population dynamics, reproduction and population size of insects. Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero et Dellape (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae) is a eucalyptus pest. The objective of this study was to determine biological and life table parameters of T. peregrinus on Eucalyptus benthamii at five temperatures (18 °C; 22 °C; 25 °C; 27 °C and 30 °C) with a relative humidity (RH) of 70 ± 10% and photoperiod of 12 hours. The duration of each instar and the longevity of this insect were inversely proportional to the temperature, regardless of sex. The nymph stage of T. peregrinus was 36.4 days at 18 °C and 16.1 days at 30 °C. The pre-oviposition period was 5.1 days at 30 °C and 13.1 days at 18 °C and that of oviposition was 7.6 days at 30 °C and 51.2 days at 22 °C. The generation time (T) of T. peregrinus was 27.11 days at 22 °C and 8.22 days at 30 °C. Lower temperatures reduced the development and increased the life stage duration of T. peregrinus. Optimum temperatures for T. peregrinus development and reproduction were 18 and 25 °C, respectively

Selitrichodes neseri (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) recovered from Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) galls after initial release on Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) in Brazil, and data on its biology.

Vespa-da-galha, Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), causa galhas danosas às espécies de Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) em várias regiões do mundo, mas tem sido efetivamente controlada por seu parasitoide primário, Selitrichodes neseri Kelly & La Salle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar a recuperação de S. neseri após sua liberação inicial em plantas de Eucalyptus no Brasil e fornecer dados sobre sua biologia. Selitrichodes neseri foi importado da África do Sul para o Brasil para o controle biológico de L. invasa em março de 2015 e recuperado de agosto de 2015 a dezembro de 2016. Recuperação com sucesso deste parasitoide mostra seu potencial para se tornar estabelecido no campo. Mudas de 2 híbridos obtidos a partir dos cruzamentos Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill. ex Maiden and Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake e entre Eucalyptus sp. e (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. × E. grandis) mostraram potencial como hospedeiro para se criar S. neseri em L. invasa em laboratório porque até a emergência do parasitoide adulto essas mudas não murcharam. Quando criado de 25,1 a 26,0 °C, o número total de parasitoides e a proporção de parasitoides machos foram maiores, relativo aos hospedeiros criados de 26,1 a 27,0 °C. O pico de emergência de S. neseri ocorreu aos 28 dias após parasitismo