Diversity of Social Wasps in the Campus of the “Universidade Federal de Viçosa” in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Social wasps can be used as ecological indicators. However, the diversity of species of this group in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, is poorly studied, especially in anthropized environments. The objective was to study diversity of these insects in the campus of the “Universidade Federal de Viçosa” in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, from May to June 2011 with two methodologies (attractive traps and active search). Eight hundred and eighty-nine individuals of social wasps of 10 genera and 25 species were collected. The high species richness found can be explained by the diverse environment of the area studied with greater availability of microhabitats, greater protection against predators, and high availability and diversity of food and substrates for nesting which may favor the coexistence of a greater number of species. In addition, combined use of two collecting methodologies provided a greater diversity of wasps captured.

Nidification of Polybia platycephala and Polistes versicolor (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) on Plants of Musa spp. In Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Social wasps are natural enemies of caterpillars and, therefore, they have potential to control insect pests in various crops. Three colonies of Polybia platycephala (Richards) and one of Polistes versicolor (Olivier) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) were found on plants of banana (Musa spp.) in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. These colonies were at 3.50 m high, under the leaves, which provide shelter from environmental stress

COLEÓPTEROS COLETADOS COM ARMADILHAS LUMINOSAS EM PLANTIO DE Eucalyptus urophylla NA REGIÃO AMAZÔNICA BRASILEIRA

RESUMO Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a flutuação populacional de espécies da ordem Coleoptera em plantio de Eucalyptus urophylla no município de Almerin, estado do Pará. Esses insetos foram coletados com armadilhas luminosas durante uma noite, a cada quinze dias, de setembro de 1995 a agosto de 1996 com os exemplares identificados de acordo com coleções entomológicas e com a literatura especializada, e divididos em grupos identificados em nível de espécie (INE) ou de família (INF). Foram coletados 132 espécies da ordem Coleoptera, sendo 23 identificadas por espécie e 109 por família, com 2972 e 7187 indivíduos respectivamente. As espécies mais abundantes foram Anomala sp.1, Leucothireus sp. (Scarabaeidae) e Ciclocephala lamminata (Dynastidae) com 93,4% dos indivíduos do primeiro grupo. Carabidae apresentou o maior número de indivíduos (6411) e de espécies (31) dos insetos identificados por família. Todas as coletas apresentaram indivíduos da ordem Coleoptera, com maior número de exemplares dessa ordem em janeiro de 1996

Coleópteros coletados com armadilhas luminosas em plantio de Eucalyptus urophylla na região amazônica brasileira.

The objective of this research was to study population fluctuation of Coleoptera species in a Eucalyptus urophylla plantation in the Municipality of Almerin, State of Para, Brazil. Insects were collected with light traps during one night every fifteen days from September 1995 to August 1996. They were identified based on entomological collections and specialized literature and divided in groups identified at species (INE) or family levels (INF). A total of 132 species of the Coleoptera order was collected, being 23 identified at species and 109 at family levels with 2.972 and 7,187 individuals, respectively. Anomala sp.1, Leucothireus sp. (Scarabaeidae) and Ciclocephala lamminata (Dynastidae) were the most abundant ones with 93.4% of individuals of the first group. Carabidae presented the highest number of individuals (6411) and species (31) for those insects identified at family level. Individuals of Coleoptera were trapped in all collections but with largest number of individuals of this order in January 1996.Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a flutuação populacional de espécies da ordem Coleoptera em plantio de Eucalyptus urophylla no município de Almerin, estado do Pará. Esses insetos foram coletados com armadilhas luminosas durante uma noite, a cada quinze dias, de setembro de 1995 a agosto de 1996 com os exemplares identificados de acordo com coleções entomológicas e com a literatura especializada, e divididos em grupos identificados em nível de espécie (INE) ou de família (INF). Foram coletados 132 espécies da ordem Coleoptera, sendo 23 identificadas por espécie e 109 por família, com 2972 e 7187 indivíduos respectivamente. As espécies mais abundantes foram Anomala sp.1, Leucothireus sp. (Scarabaeidae) e Ciclocephala lamminata (Dynastidae) com 93,4% dos indivíduos do primeiro grupo. Carabidae apresentou o maior número de indivíduos (6411) e de espécies (31) dos insetos identificados por família. Todas as coletas apresentaram indivíduos da ordem Coleoptera, com maior número de exemplares dessa ordem em janeiro de 1996

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) pesticide policy and integrated pest management in certified tropical plantations

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was the first non-governmental organization composed of multi-stakeholders to ensure the social, environmental, and economic sustainability of forest resources. FSC prohibits certain chemicals and active ingredients in certified forest plantations. A company seeking certification must discontinue use of products so listed and many face problems to comply with these constraints. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of certification on pest management from the perspective of Brazilian private forestry sector. Ninety-three percent of Brazilian FSC-certified forest companies rated leaf-cutting ants as “very important” pests. Chemical control was the most important management technique used and considered very important by 82 % of respondents. The main chemical used to control leaf-cutting ants, sulfluramid, is in the derogation process and was classified as very important by 96.5 % of the certified companies. Certified companies were generally satisfied in relation to FSC certification and the integrated management of forest pests, but 27.6 % agreed that the prohibitions of pesticides for leaf-cutting ant and termite control could be considered as a non-tariff barrier on high-productivity Brazilian forest plantations. FSC forest certification has encouraged the implementation of more sustainable techniques and decisions in pest management in forest plantations in Brazil. The prohibition on pesticides like sulfluramid and the use of alternatives without the same efficiency will result in pest mismanagement, production losses, and higher costs. This work has shown that the application of global rules for sustainable forest management needs to adapt to each local reality

Occurrence of Social Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in a Sugarcane Culture

Predation of Lepidoptera caterpillars - including agricultural pest species - is one of the main ways through which social wasps gather proteinaceous resources. The presence of social wasps was sampled through active search and bait traps through a sugarcane culture cycle, totaling 12 months. Our aim was to record the presence of these insects during the sugarcane development cycle in order to obtain data to support alternative pest control strategies. A total of 1091 individuals in seven genera and 20 species of social wasps were collected, including the swarm-founding Agelaia vicina and Polybia sericea (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Social wasp richness and abundance were not correlated with climatic variables (temperature, humidity and precipitation). However, richness was negatively correlated to the sugarcane plants’ height (r= -0.4360, p= 0.05). The presence of social wasps during the plant’s cycle shows their potential as predators in sugarcane culture pest management

Suscetibilidade de Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) a gamma-cyhalothrin sob condições de laboratório

Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) is an important biological control agent of the cotton leafworm [Alabama argillacea (Hübner)] in the cotton crops in Brazil. The use of selective products such as pyrethroids has been emphasized in this agroecosystem. Then, the susceptibility of the predatory stinkbug P. nigrispinus to the pyrethroid insecticide gamma-cyhalothrin was studied in the laboratory. Nymphs and adults of the predator were exposed to seven concentrations of the gamma-cyhalothrin via topical contact and ingestion through treated water. The concentrations studied of this insecticide via topical application were relatively harmless for adults of P. nigrispinus (females: LC50 = 143.5 ppm a.i., and males: LC50 = 145.1 ppm a.i.) and 5th-instar nymphs (LC50 = 103.9 ppm) as compared to via ingestion (females: LC50 = 1.98 ppm a.i., males: LC50 = 1.91 ppm a.i., and 5th-instar nymphs: LC50 = 2.05 ppm a.i.). The use of pyrethroids and beneficial insects in IPM programs should be better evaluated.Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) é um importante agente de controle biológico do curuquerê [Alabama argillacea (Hübner)] na cultura do algodão no Brasil. O uso de produtos seletivos tais como piretróides tem sido enfatizado no agroecosistema do algodoeiro. Portanto, estudou-se em laboratório a suscetibilidade do percevejo predador Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) ao inseticida piretróide gamma-cyhalothrin. As exposições via ingestão e aplicação tópica de ninfas de 5º ínstar, fêmeas e machos de P. nigrispinus a gamma-cyhalothrin foram feitas, usando-se sete concentrações do inseticida. Gamma-cyhalothrin via aplicação tópica foi relativamente menos tóxico às formas adultas de P. nigrispinus (fêmeas: CL50 = 143,5 ppm i.a. e machos: CL50 = 145,1 ppm i.a.) e às ninfas de 5º ínstar (CL50 = 103,9 ppm) desse predador, quando comparado a sua utilização por ingestão (fêmeas: LC50 = 1,98 ppm i.a., machos: LC50 = 1,91 ppm i.a. e ninfas de para ninfas de 5º instar: LC50 = 2,05 ppm i.a.). Os resultados dessa pesquisa sugerem que o uso de piretróides em programas de MIP deve ser avaliado com bastante cautela

Chemical composition of heartwood and sapwood of Tectona grandis characterized by CG/MS‑PY

Teak wood has chemical compounds that can be used for pharmaceutical and textile industries, in addition, this compounds are related to resistance to biodeterioration, color and modification processes. Heartwood and sapwood of T. grandis (teak), 15 years-old, were characterized by Py-CG/MS analysis and syringyl (S)/guaiacyl (G) ratio was evaluated. Heartwood and sapwood were pyrolyzed at 550 °C and 62 and 51 compounds were identified from them, respectively. The acetic acid (10%) and levoglucosan (26.65%) were the most abundant compound in the sapwood and heartwood, respectively. The high acetic acid content enhances the use of teak wood to production of artificial essences for perfumery, paints, dyes. While levoglucosan can be used in the manufacture of epoxy resins, antiparasitic and insecticides. The organic compounds identified include 2-methylanthraquinone as one of the main component responsible for the resistance of the teak wood to biological factors (fungi and termites). The syringyl (S)/guaiacyl (G) ratio of heartwood and sapwood was 0.51 and 0.50, respectivelyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influência da idade da muda de Eucalyptus grandis no desenvolvimento da lagarta-rosca Nomophila sp.(1)

The influence of the age of Eucalyptus grandis (Myrtaceae) seedlings in the development of Nomophila sp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was studied. The insect was fed in laboratory at 24±2OC, 80±15% of RH and photophase of 12 hours with 20-30 days or 50-60 days old E. grandis leaves. Observed parameters were: number, duration and characterization of each instar, width of head capsule, length of the body, duration of the larval stage, relationship between number of instars and sex of adults, viability and behavior of Nomophila sp. caterpillars. This insect showed better development with 20-30 days old E. grandis seedlings than those with 50-60 days old E. grandis seedlings, which have harder stems. This reinforces the need to grow Eucalyptus seedlings in good fertility conditions aiming to increase their development which could reduce damage level by Nomophila sp.O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a influência da idade das mudas de Eucalyptus grandis (Myrtaceae) no desenvolvimento da lagarta-rosca Nomophila sp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Esse inseto foi alimentado em laboratório (24±2OC, 80±15% de UR e fotofase de 12 horas) com folhas de eucalipto com 20-30 dias ou com 50-60 dias de idade. Os parâmetros observados foram: número, duração e caracterização dos estádios, largura da cápsula cefálica, comprimento do corpo, duração da fase larval, relação entre número de estádios e o sexo, viabilidade e comportamento das lagartas de Nomophila sp. Esse inseto mostrou melhor desenvolvimento em todos os parâmetros observados, em mudas de eucalipto com 20-30 dias do que em mudas com 50-60 dias de idade, quando o caule está mais enrijecido. Isto reforça a necessidade de se realizar uma adubação balanceada nas mudas de E. grandis, como forma de acelerar seu desenvolvimento, e torná-las morfologicamente menos favoráveis ao desenvolvimento das lagartas de Nomophila sp