The applicability of mitochondrial nad6 sequences to studies of DNA and population variability in Lepidoptera was tested in four species of economically important moths and one of wild butterflies. The genetic information so obtained was compared to that of cox1 sequences for two species of Lepidoptera. nad6 primers appropriately amplified all the tested DNA targets, the generated data proving to be as informative and suitable in recovering population structures as that of cox1. The proposal is that, to obtain more robust results, this mitochondrial region can be complementarily used with other molecular sequences in studies of low level phylogeny and population genetics in Lepidoptera.

As many other insects with a restricted diet, the citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, which vector the causing agent of the Huanglongbing, the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter spp., is intimately associated with symbiotic microorganisms. These mutualist symbionts play a key role on their host nutritional ecology, and are vertically transmitted to the progeny. However, despite the role symbionts play on host development and reproduction, and the growing opportunities of exploitation of the association insect-symbiont to control insect vectored-pathogens, there are very few studies on the host reproductive biology and on the symbiont transovarial transmission. Therefore, we aimed at analyzing the ovary development during D. citri adulthood, and at verifying for the mating requirement as a trigger to initiate ovary development. Newly-emerged D. citri females were grouped as virgin or mated and ovary development was observed during adulthood. Newly-emerged females have immature ovaries, and ovaries remain without any mature eggs until females mate. Once female mates, the vitellogenesis synthesis and uptake are estimulated, and oocytes are quickly developed. Oocytes maturation in ovarioles is metachronic, with only one oocyte developing at a time in each oogenic cycle. Morphological observations of the reproductive system including the ovaries and spermatheca, after the first cluster of eggs is laid, indicated D. citri is polyandrous, and may require multiple mating to develop additional oogenic maturation cycles.

This research evaluates the effect of the adult diet on the reproduction of Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, Heliothis virescens (Fabr.), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Noctuidae), Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) (Crambidae), Gymnandrosoma aurantianum Lima (Tortricidae) and Stenoma catenifer Walsingham (Elachistidae). Adults of all species were fed either water or a 10% honey solution. The egg viability for the 1st and 2nd egg masses, adult fecundity, longevity, number of mating and the ovigeny index (OI) (degree of ovarian maturation) were evaluated. Fecundity of A. gemmatalis and H. virescens was drastically reduced when females were fed only on water. Egg viability from both 1st and 2nd egg masses was variable between treatments. Females of A. gemmatalis, H. virescens and S. frugiperda, and males of some species had a reduced longevity when fed only on water. The number of matings was higher for A. gemmatalis and D. saccharalis when fed on water only. The OI was < 1.0 for all species evaluated indicating that all females may develop new oocytes as they age. Based on the OI and the reduced fecundity of A. gemmatalis and H. virescens, one observes that adult feeding is important for the reproduction of both species, and the IO is not a good parameter to indicate such condition. Spodoptera frugiperda, G. aurantianum, D. saccharalis and S. catenifer do not require any source of carbohydrates as adults to sustain their reproduction.

Cotesia flavipes (Cameron, 1891) (Hymenoptera) is a gregarious endoparasitoid used in applied biological control against Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera). In this study, we characterize the larval external morphology and the number of instars of C. flavipes. Parasitized larvae of D. saccharalis were sampled from the 1st to the 10th day after parasitism and dissected in an anticoagulant buffer for collection of C. flavipes immatures. Immatures were processed for scanning electron microscopy. Larvae of C. flavipes were prepared in NaOH solution and slide mounted to allow for mandible size measurements. Analysis of measurements of the parasitoid larval mandible size indicated that C. flavipes has three instars. Newly hatched larvae are caudate-mandibulate, assuming a hymenopteriform shape later in their development. The anal vesicle began to expand in the first instar and, once expanded, remained unchanged up to the beginning of the third instar. At the third instar, the anal vesicle decreased in volume. Herein we report the development and possible functions of the larval external structures modified during the development of C. flavipes, as for example their role in aiding newly-eclosed larvae to avoid the host immune response and to move within the host. To summarize the morphological changes during parasitoid growth, we should mention that the modifications in the anal vesicle were correlated with the feeding activity, and the maintenance of the anal vesicle indicates that this structure remained functional, probably playing a role in nutrient absorption and host regulation. On the other hand, the mandibles of early stage larvae are probably used to assist the parasitoid larvae during eclosion.

Este trabalho estudou a influência da temperatura na freqüência de cópula de Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner e Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith, que empregam diferentes estratégias de alocação, e a utilização de nutrientes para suas atividades reprodutivas. Os insetos foram criados em dieta artificial a 25ºC, sendo a influência da temperatura na freqüência de cópula, fecundidade, fertilidade e longevidade de adultos avaliada em cinco temperaturas (15, 20, 25, 30 e 35ºC). A temperatura afetou a freqüência de cópula de ambas as espécies, sendo o seu efeito mais evidente nas temperaturas extremas estudadas (15ºC e 35ºC), principalmente, para A. gemmatalis, que apresentou redução drástica em sua atividade de cópula. Temperaturas intermediárias (20ºC a 30ºC) permitiram o maior número de cópulas, com S. frugiperda apresentando (até oito cópulas) atividade de cópula muito superior à de A. gemmatalis (até duas cópulas). Mesmo com a variação encontrada na atividade de cópula nas diferentes temperaturas, não foi verificada correlação entre o número de cópulas e os demais parâmetros biológicos observados (fecundidade, fertilidade e longevidade), com exceção da fecundidade de S. frugiperda a 25ºC, que apresentou correlação positiva com a atividade de cópula nessa temperatura (r = 0,589; P = 0,003), indicando que as alterações na atividade reprodutiva desse inseto foram decorrentes, basicamente, de sua resposta à temperatura. Fêmeas de S. frugiperda foram mais fecundas nas temperaturas entre 20ºC e 30ºC e as de A. gemmatalis a 25ºC. A longevidade de ambos os sexos decresceu com o aumento da temperatura para as duas espécies estudadas.

This paper deals with the influence of temperature on the mating frequency of two lepidopterans, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner and Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), which use different strategies of allocation, and with the utilization of nutrients for their reproductive activities. The insects were reared on artificial diets at 25ºC, and the adults were exposed to five temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35ºC) to observe the influence of each temperature on their mating frequency, fecundity, fertility and longevity. The temperature affectedthe mating frequency of both species, being more evident at 15ºC and 35ºC, mainly for A. gemmatalis, which presented a drastic reduction on mating activities. The highest number of matings were observed from 20ºC to 30ºC, with S. frugiperda presenting mating activity (0-8) much higher than that of A. gemmatalis (0-2), but no correlation was observed among the number of matings and all other biological parameters evaluated (fecundity, fertility and longevity). However, S. frugiperda showed a positive correlation between fecundity and mating activity of females (r = 0.589; P = 0.003) at 25ºC. The highest fecundities were observed at temperatures from 20ºC to 30ºC for S. frugiperda and at 25ºC for A. gemmatalis. For both species, the longevity of males and females decreased as temperature increased.

Testou-se a qualidade nutricional de dietas artificiais contendo holotecidos pupais de Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) (Lep.: Crambidae), coletados de pupas em três estágios de desenvolvimento (1-2, 3-4 e 5-6 dias de desenvolvimento), para a criação in vitro de Trichogramma galloi Zucchi e T. pretiosum Riley (Hym.: Trichogrammatidae). Os holotecidos pupais foram adicionados aos demais componentes da dieta, gema de ovo, soro fetal bovino, hidrolisado de lactoalbumina e anticontaminantes, e oferecidos aos parasitóides em ovos artificiais. A qualidade dessas dietas para o desenvolvimento de ambos parasitóides foi avaliada através da aceitação e parasitismo dos ovos artificiais, sobrevivência larval e pupal, tamanho, capacidade de parasitismo e longevidade dos adultos emergidos dessas dietas, assim como a presença de deformações nesses adultos. A dieta composta de holotecidos de pupas com 5-6 dias de desenvolvimento não permitiu o crescimento larval de ambas as espécies, sendo que essa dieta também reduziu a aceitação e/ou parasitismo de ovos artificiais por T. galloi e T. pretiosum.

The nutritional quality of artificial diets composed of pupal holotissues of Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) (Lep.: Crambidae) from three different age classes (1-2, 3-4 and 5-6 days old) were tested for rearing Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and T. pretiosum Riley (Hym.: Trichogrammatidae) in vitro. Pupal holotissues were added to egg yolk, bovine fetal serum, lactoalbumine hydrolysate and preservatives, and offered to the parasitoids into artificial eggs. The quality of these diets in supporting the development of both parasitoids was evaluated by assessing the acceptance and parasitism of the artificial host eggs, larval and pupal survival, size, parasitism capacity and longevity of the in vitro-reared females, and the presence of deformed adults. Diets composed of 5-6 d old pupal holotissues did not support the larval development of both parasitoids as well as reduced the acceptance and/or parasitism of artificial eggs by T. galloi and T. pretiosum. The factors affecting the nutritional quality of pupal holotissues collected from different developmental stages are discussed.

Estudou-se a biologia de Dysdercus peruvianus Guérin-Méneville, percevejo manchador do algodoeiro, em sete temperaturas (18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30 e 32ºC), visando a determinação das suas exigências térmicas para programas de manejo de pragas do algodoeiro. O desenvolvimento embrionário de D. peruvianus não se completou a 32ºC. Nas demais temperaturas, embora tenha ocorrido uma variação do período ovo-adulto de 25,1 dias (30ºC) a 68,5 dias (18ºC), os insetos apresentaram sempre cinco ínstares. A maior mortalidade na fase ninfal foi registrada nas temperaturas mais altas, evidenciando a adaptação de D. peruvianus às baixas temperaturas, embora a mortalidade em todas as temperaturas tenha sido elevada nos dois primeiros ínstares. O limiar térmico inferior de desenvolvimento de D. peruvianus (temperatura base) foi de 12,86ºC para o ciclo total, com exigências térmicas de 419,66 graus dias. O limiar inferior de desenvolvimento foi de 10,46ºC para a fase de ovo, sendo crescente do 1º ao 4º ínstar ninfal (respectivamente, 9,98, 12,58, 13,73 e 13,93ºC), diminuindo no último ínstar (11,91ºC).

The biology of the cotton stainer, Dysdercus peruvianus Guérin-Méneville, was studied at seven temperatures (18, 20, 22, 25,28, 30 and 32ºC) in order to determine the thermal requirements. Bugs did not develop at 32ºC. On the other six temperatures they showed five instars. The life cycle ranged from 25.1 to 68.5 days when reared at 30ºC and 18ºC, respectively. Although the mortality during the two first nymphal instars at all temperatures did not differ, D. peruvianus showed higher mortality for the entire nymphal stage at higher temperatures. The lower threshold temperature for the development from egg to adult of D. peruvianus was 12.86ºC and its thermal requirements was 419.66 degree-days (DD). The lower threshold temperature for eggs of D. peruvianus was 10.46ºC and for nymphal stages 9.98ºC, 12.58ºC, 13.73ºC, 13.93ºC and 11.91°C (for the 1°, 2°, 3°, 4°and 5° instars, respectively).

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade de diferentes linhagens de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley em parasitar e se desenvolver em ovos artificiais. Ovos artificiais foram produzidos utilizando-se um sistema térmico para a deformação de películas de polietileno de alta densidade, obtendo-se 64 depressões semi-esféricas (ovos artificiais) por película plástica. Os ovos foram preenchidos com dieta artificial composta por holotecidos pupais de Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.), gema de ovo, soro fetal bovino, hidrolisado de lactoalbumina e antibióticos. Cada ovo artificial foi oferecido a seis fêmeas recém-emergidas de T. pretiosum, durante 24 h. A aceitação dos ovos artificiais (medida pelo número de ovos do parasitóide/ovo artificial) foi bastante distinta entre as diferentes linhagens observadas. A sobrevivência dos estágios imaturos em meio artificial também foi variável entre as linhagens. As implicações dos resultados para o desenvolvimento de técnicas de criação in vitro para diferentes espécies e/ou linhagens são discutidas.