ABSTRACT The small tomato fruit borer Neoleucinodes elegantalis is a pest of wild and cultivated solanaceous of economic importance, such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and scarlet eggplant. We compared the development, survival and reproduction of N. elegantalis in cultivated and wild Solanaceae as alternative hosts in the absence of tomato plants in the field. The development time was significantly affected by the host plant and was longer in larvae feeding on eggplant. Survival of the immature stages was higher in larvae fed on tomato and eggplant, although the development cycle was completed in all hosts. Fecundity was also influenced by the host plant and was lower when the larvae fed on scarlet eggplant and the wild solanaceae Solanum paniculatum (jurubeba). The net reproductive rate was lower in jurubeba and the intrinsic growth rate was higher in Solanum sp. The results show that both wild Solanum species can act as alternative hosts for N. elegantalis during the intercropping of tomato in winter and autumn and may thus act as larval reservoirs for infestations on cultivated species. The large number of hosts able to sustain the development of N. elegantalis is another factor, together with world’s climate changes, to increase the invasive potential of N. elegantalis into tomato-producing countries.

Resumo Os psilídeos são insetos pequenos que se alimentam do floema e se caracterizam por apresentarem uma pequena faixa de plantas hospedeiras em que se desenvolvem. Este trabalho teve como objetivo prospectar e identificar insetos da superfamília de Psylloidea que ocorrem associados a diferentes biomas no Mato Grosso e que resultou na coleta de 29 gêneros descritos, com 24 espécies identificadas. O Cerrado foi o bioma que apresentou a maior diversidade, seguido pela Amazônia e Pantanal. Comparando com a última lista de psilídeos publicada para o Brasil, em 2012, este artigo contribuiu significativamente para o aumento do conhecimento da biodiversidade de Mato Grosso. Além das espécies registradas para o Mato Grosso (Diaphorina citri, Heteropsylla caldwelli, Pseudophacopteron longicaudatum, Tainarys myracrodruie Trioza struthanthi), também apresentamos novos registros para outros estados brasileiros: Isogonoceraia divergipennis- no Maranhão, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro e Santa Catarina; Heteropsylla caldwelli - em Goiás e São Paulo; Euphalerus clitoriae - no Ceará, Goiás, Pará, Paraná e Santa Catarina; Trioza tabebuiae - em Minas Gerais, São Paulo e Santa Catarina; e Trioza struthanthi em São Paulo.

Abstract Psyllids or jumping plant-lice are small phloem-feeding insects characterised by narrow host ranges, i.e., the plants on which they develop. This work shows the results of a survey of the superfamily Psylloidea in different biomes of Mato Grosso state. In total, 29 described genera and 24 described species are listed. The Cerrado biome showed the highest diversity, followed by the Amazon and Pantanal. Compared with a checklist published for Brazil in 2012, the present paper increases significantly the knowledge on the biodiversity of the state of Mato Grosso. In addition to the species recorded here for the first time from Mato Grosso (Diaphorina citri, Heteropsylla caldwelli, Pseudophacopteron longicaudatum, Tainarys myracrodrui and Trioza struthanthi), we provide also new records for other Brazilian states: Isogonoceraia divergipennis - from Maranhão, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina; Heteropsylla caldwelli - from Goiás and São Paulo; Euphalerus clitoriae - from Ceará, Goiás, Pará, Paraná and Santa Catarina; Trioza tabebuiae - from Minas Gerais, São Paulo and Santa Catarina; and Trioza struthanthi from São Paulo.

ABSTRACT This is the first report of Cotesia scotti (Valerio and Whitfield) comb. nov. in Brazil, attacking larvae of the black armyworm, Spodoptera cosmioides, and the southern armyworm, S. eridania. The moth larvae were found respectively, infesting a protected cropping of organic tomato in Hidrolândia, Goiás, Brazil, and a transgenic soybean crop in São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil. Biological, molecular and morphological characters were used to confirm the identity of the specimens. Parasitoid identification presented a challenge since the species has most diagnostic characters of the genus Cotesia Cameron, but few in the poorly defined genus Parapanteles Ashmead. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, we transfer Parapanteles scotti to the genus Cotesia. The new combination is discussed by comparison with morphologically similar species and available molecular data.

RESUMO Piper cachimboense é registrada apenas para a região amazônica do Brasil e Colômbia, e o objetivo deste estudo foi relatar, pela primeira vez, a composição fitoquímica dos óleos essenciais (OEs) desta espécie coletada na floresta amazônica, em Novo Progresso/PA, Brasil. Amostras de folhas foram submetidas a hidrodestilação em aparelho tipo Clevenger. A identificação química foi realizada por cromatografia gasosa e o rendimento dos óleos foi de 11,03 ± 5,94% para as folhas frescas e de 1,07 ± 0,27% para as folhas secas. A análise mostrou 36 compostos voláteis para folhas frescas e 49 para folhas secas. Os constituintes principais dos OEs de folhas frescas e secas de P. cachimboense foram (E)-cariofileno, germacreno-D, γ-amorfeno, δ-cadineno e apiol.

ABSTRACT Piper cachimboense is recorded only for the Amazon region of Brazil and Colombia, and the objective of this study was to report the first phytochemical assessment of the composition of the essential oils (EOs) from this species collected in the Amazon rainforest, in Novo Progresso, Pará State, Brazil. Samples of leaves were subjected to hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The chemical identification was carried out by gas chromatography. The yield of oils was of 11.03 ± 5.94% for fresh leaves, and 1.07 ± 0.27% for dry leaves. The analysis showed 36 volatile compounds from fresh leaves and 49 from dried leaves. Main constituents in EOs of both fresh and dried leaves from P. cachimboense were (E)-caryophyllene, germacrene-D, γ-amorfene, δ-cadinene and apiole.

RESUMO A criopreservação de ovos de noctuídeos em nitrogênio líquido tem se mostrado uma ferramenta promissora para a produção massal de Trichogramma, entretanto, os estudos sobre esta técnica são incipientes. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se a resposta de diferentes densidades de fêmeas de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley ao parasitismo de ovos de Mythimna sequax estocados ou não em nitrogênio líquido e o desempenho de fêmeas criadas somente em ovos criopreservados. Para isso, avaliou-se a influência da quantidade de fêmeas de T. pretiosum (4; 8 e 12) liberadas para o parasitismo de 40 ovos de M. sequax estocados por 15 dias em nitrogênio líquido e não estocados, assim como, o desempenho de fêmeas de T. pretiosum criadas em ovos estocados por três gerações com fêmeas criadas em ovos não estocados. O parasitismo de T. pretiosum em ovos estocados foi de 84%, o dobro do número obtido em estudos anteriores. A emergência de parasitoides foi superior a 95% em ambos os experimentos. O desempenho das fêmeas criadas em ovos estocados não diferiu das fêmeas criadas em ovos não estocados. Os dados mostram que a técnica de criopreservação para os ovos de M. sequax pode ser uma alternativa viável para a produção massal de T. pretiosum.

ABSTRACT The cryopreservation of noctuid eggs in liquid nitrogen has proved be a promising tool in the mass production of Trichogramma, however studies into this technique have only just begun. This study evaluated the response of different densities of the female of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley to the parasitism of Mythimna sequax eggs stored and not stored in liquid nitrogen, and the performance of females reared only in cryopreserved eggs. The study evaluated the influence of the number of T. pretiosum females (4, 8 and 12) released to parasitise 40 M. sequax eggs, stored and not stored for 15 days in liquid nitrogen, as well as the performance of T. pretiosum females reared in eggs stored for three generations and females reared in non-stored eggs. Parasitism by T. pretiosum in stored eggs was 84%, twice the value obtained in previous studies. The emergence of parasitoids was greater than 95% in both experiments. The performance of females raised in stored eggs did not differ from that of females raised in non-stored eggs. The data show that the technique of cryopreservation of M. sequax eggs may be a viable alternative in the mass production of T. pretiosum.

RESUMO. A toxicidade dos óleos essenciais (OEs) de 18 espécies de Piperaceae brasileiras foi avaliada sobre ovos da lagarta da soja, Anticarsia gemmatalis. Os óleos foram extraídos por destilação de arraste de vapor d´água e as diluições foram feitas para os bioensaios em concentrações de 0,25; 0,5; 1,0; 2,0 e 4,0%. Todos os OEs reduzidam a eclosão larval. As menores concentrações letais foram observadas em Piper fuligineum (SP), Piper mollicomum “quimiotipo 1” (SP), Piper mosenii (PR), Piper aduncum (PA) e Piper marginatum (PA). A atividade ovicida observada está relacionado com a toxicidade potencial de alguns compostos, especialmente o dilapiol, a miristicina, a asaricina, o espatulenol e a piperitona. De acordo com nossos resultados, os OEs de 16 espécies de Piper brasileiras têm potencial para uso como inseticidas vegetais bioracionais.

ABSTRACT. The toxicities of essential oils (EOs) from 18 species of Brazilian Piperaceae were assessed on eggs of the velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis. Oils were extracted using steam distillation, and dilutions were made for bioassays at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0%. All EOs reduced larval hatching. The lowest lethal concentrations were obtained from Piper fuligineum (SP), Piper mollicomum “chemotype 1” (SP), Piper mosenii (PR), Piper aduncum (PA) and Piper marginatum (PA). Ovicidal activity is related to the potential toxicity of several compounds, especially dilapiolle, myristicin, asaricine, spathulenol and piperitone. According to our results, EOs from 16 Brazilian Piper species have potential for use as biorational botanical insecticides.

RESUMO Oebalus poecilus (Dallas 1851) é uma das espécies de percevejos de grande importância econômica para os produtores de arroz no Brasil em sistemas de cultivo irrigados, de inundação ou de terras altas. Estes pentatomídeos são conhecidos como percevejos das panículas, porque ninfas e adultos alimentam-se principalmente dessas estruturas. O ataque deste percevejo resulta em grãos manchados, massa inferior, redução germinativa e grãos deformados. Considerando isso, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as perdas quantitativas e qualitativas na cultivar comercial de arroz de terras altas (variedade Cambará), submetidas a diferentes níveis de infestação de percevejos de panículas, O. poecilus, em diferentes estágios de crescimento reprodutivo das plantas de arroz. Os resultados mostram que em arroz de terras altas (variedade Cambará), os grãos de arroz são suscetíveis a danos quantitativos (número e peso) e qualitativos (grãos manchados, atrofiados, gessados e quebrados), durante todo o desenvolvimento da panícula. No entanto, quando os insetos se alimentam durante os estágios de antese/cariopse e leitosa causam percentual significativamente maior de grãos vazios (até 83%) do que quando se alimentam de grãos durante as fases posteriores do desenvolvimento da panícula. Esta característica foi também observada para a redução de peso dos grãos. Esta informação pode beneficiar os produtores e outros pesquisadores, permitindo que concentrem os esforços de monitoramento de O. poecilus em fases mais suscetíveis ao ataque deste inseto. Também serve de base para a tomada de decisão sobre quando e quais medidas de controle devem ser realizadas, a fim de controlar os percevejos das panículas.

ABSTRACT Oebalus poecilus (Dallas 1851) is one of the stink bug species of great economic importance for rice producers in Brazil of irrigated, flood and upland cropping systems. These pentatomids are known as stink bugs of panicles, because both nymphs and adults feed mainly on panicles. Stink bug attacks result in pecky (spots) seeds, lower mass, germinative reduction and deformed grains. Bearing these factors in mind, the aim of this study was to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative losses in commercial cultivars of upland rice (Cambará variety), submitted to different population levels of stink bugs of panicles, O. poecilus, at different reproductive growth stages. The results show that in upland rice (Cambará variety), the rice grains are susceptible to quantitative (number and weight) and qualitative (pecky, atrophy, chalky and broken grains) damage during all panicle development. However, when the insects feed during anthesis/caryopsis and milky stage cause significantly greater percentage of empty grains (up to 83%) than when they feed of grains during later phases of panicle development. This characteristic was also observed for the reduction in grain weight. This information may benefit producers and other researchers, allowing them to focus on the monitoring efforts of O. poecilus in most susceptible phases of the attack of this insect. This will enable decision-making about what control measures should be taken, and when, in order to control stink bugs of panicles.

RESUMO Tibraca limbativentris é uma importante praga do arroz e ocorre em todas as regiões de cultivo de arroz da América Latina. O controle destes inseto é realizado com inseticidas químicos sintéticos, no entanto, novas abordagens são necessárias para reduzir os riscos para o ambiente, inimigos naturais, e também para evitar o aparecimento da resistência aos inseticidas. Este estudo foi concebido para avaliar a toxicidade dos óleos essenciais (OEs) das folhas de Piper aduncum, P. gaudichaudianum, P. malacophyllum, P. marginatum e P. tuberculatum (Piperaceae) sobre ovos do percevejo do colmo do arroz, T. limbativentris. Os OEs foram extraídos por arraste de vapor d´agua e a partir destes foram feitas diluições nas concentrações de 0,25; 0,5; 1,0; 2,0 e 4,0% para os bioensaios. Os OEs de todas as espécies de Piperaceae apresentaram atividade ovicida. Os valores de CL50 indicaram que tanto os ovos mais jovens quantos os mais velhos foram suscetíveis aos diferentes óleos. Esta atividade ovicida pode estar relacionada com a toxicidade dos vários compostos encontrados em cada OE, como o dilapiol, miristicina, cubebeno, α-guaieno, longifoleno, prezizano, espatulenol, sabineno e δ-2-careno. Assim, os OEs testados mostraram resultados promissores para serem utilizados como inseticidas vegetais.

ABSTRACT Tibraca limbativentris to is an important rice pest and occurs in all rice-growing regions of Latin America. The control this insect is accomplished with synthetic chemical insecticides, however, new approaches are needed to reduce risks to the environment, to the natural enemies and also to avoid the onset of insecticides resistance. This study was designed to assess the toxicity of essential oils (EOs) from leaves of Piper aduncum, P. gaudichaudianum, P. malacophyllum, P. marginatum and P. tuberculatum (Piperaceae) on rice stalk stink bug eggs, T. limbativentris. Essential oils were extracted with steam distillation and dilutions were made for bioassays at concentrations of 0.25; 0.5; 1.0; 2.0 and 4.0%. Essential oils from all species of Piperaceae displayed ovicidal activity. The LC50 values indicated that both younger and older eggs were susceptible to these oils. Ovicidal activity is related to the potential toxicity of several compounds, especially dilapiolle, myristicin, cubebene, α-guaiene, longifolene, prezizane, spathulenol, sabinene and δ-2-carene. Thus, EOs tested showed promising results for use as biorational botanical insecticides.

ABSTRACT The serious economic loss caused Plutella xylostella L., 1758 in several regions of the world has prompted a demand for alternative management strategies. In this context, understanding the key factors governing the population dynamics of the pest is important for development of management strategies. This study aimed to identify the larval parasitoids associated with P. xylostella and investigate the biotic (crop subspecies, plant age and parasitism) and abiotic factors (minimum and maximum temperatures, rainfall, relative humidity and planting season) affecting the population dynamics of the pest in organic crops located in Southern Paraná State, Brazil. Despite the continuous and abundant availability of host plants throughout the year, P. xylostella occurred between June and November, and the largest peaks of abundance were observed between August and September, when low temperatures and rainfall were recorded. According to the stepwise regression analysis, P. xylostella was more abundant in broccoli during winter. Neither temperature, nor rainfall significantly influenced pest abundance. Four species of larval parasitoids were identified associated with the pest, of which Diadegma leontiniae (Brèthes) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Apanteles piceotrichosus Blanchard (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Siphona sp. Meigen (Diptera: Tachinidae) were abundant, while Oomyzus sokolowskii (Kurdjumov) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) was rarely found. Parasitism was the major factor influencing population dynamics of P. xylostella, contributing to 48% of the variation in pest abundance. These results show the importance of larval parasitoids complex in regulating P. xylostella population and that the temperature and rainfall recorded during field experiments did not influenced pest abundance.

This study aimed to evaluate the development, survival and reproductive capacity of Spodoptera eridania in four soybean cultivars. The experiment was conducted in the laboratory, in a climatic chamber at 25 °C ± 1 °C, 70 ± 10% relative humidity and 12 h photophase. The cultivars used were: FMT Tabarana, BRS/MT Pintado, FMT Tucunaré and Monsoy 8757, all conventional cultivars with medium cycles. All cultivars tested allowed the development of S. eridania. However, Monsoy 8757 was the cultivar that most affected the prolonged in the duration larval, pupal and total cycle, showed lower pupal weight as well as reduction in the intrinsic rate increase. These results contribute to the management of this species in regions of outbreaks in soybean areas.

This study reports for the first time the occurrence of Hypatropis inermis on upland rice crops (variety Cambará), in Novo Progresso, state of Pará, Brazil (7°07'45.71"S 55°23'21.13"W). The inventory of insect pests was conducted between November 2010 and March 2011 with entomological sweep nets and visual search on stems of rice plants. This record indicates that rice crops may represent important feeding and mating sites for this species.

Thrips tabaci Lindeman é a principal praga da cultura da cebola e o controle químico é o principal método adotado pelos agricultores. Métodos alternativos de controle devem ser priorizados, visando diminuir a quantidade de inseticidas utilizada. Cultivares resistentes representam um método eficiente de controle de tripes no campo. Nosso objetivo foi verificar a influencia de características morfológicas e químicas de sete cultivares de cebola conferindo resistência a T. tabaci. O número de tripes, características morfológicas e químicas das plantas foram avaliadas. Dentre as cultivares avaliadas, Alfa São Francisco RT, BR 29 e Sirius mostraram-se resistentes a T. tabaci, uma vez que apresentaram um baixo número de tripes observados durante o ciclo (64, 87 e 74 tripes respectivamente). Características morfológicas e químicas estão associadas à resistência de plantas de cebola a T. tabaci. Para a cultivar Alfa São Francisco RT, um maior ângulo central (16,4˚), uma menor espessura de cutícula, e uma maior concentração de ceras epicuticulares e estômatos na superfície das folhas conferem resistência. Para as cultivares BR 29 e Sirius, a resistência provavelmente esta relacionada à presença de substâncias ou de quantidades elevadas de algum componente na composição química das plantas.

Thrips tabaci Lindeman is the main pest of onion crops, and chemical control is the main method adopted by farmers. Alternative control methods should be prioritised to reduce the amount of insecticides used. Resistant cultivars are one efficient way to control thrips in the field. Our aim was to assess the influence of morphological and chemical characteristics of seven onion cultivars and their resistance to T. tabaci. The number of thrips and the morphological and chemical characteristics of the plants were assessed. Among the evaluated cultivars, Alfa São Francisco RT, BR 29 and Sirius showed resistance to T. tabaci, as indicated by the lower number of thrips observed during the cycle (64, 87, and 74 thrips, respectively). Morphological and chemical characteristics were associated with onion's resistance to T. tabaci. For the cultivar Alfa São Francisco RT, a wider central angle (16.4°), a thinner cuticle, a larger amount of epicuticular waxes, and stomata on the surface of leaves accounted for resistance. For the cultivars BR 29 and Sirius, the resistance was likely due to the presence of resistance-conferring substances or high amounts of some component in the chemical composition of plants.

El pequeño barrenador del tomate Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) es una de las plagas más destructivas de las solanáceas en Brasil y otros países suramericanos. Debido al conocimiento limitado acerca de la influencia de los cultivares de tomate sobre la biología, se evaluó el desarrollo y la reproducción de N. elegantalis en tres cultivares de tomate. En el híbrido Giuliana el desarrollo de la oviposición hasta la emergencia del adulto fue más larga (56,2 días) en comparación con el cultivar Santa Clara (50,2 días) y el híbrido Paronset (50,7 días). El peso pupal fue significativamente menor en Giuliana. La fecundidad media de hembras alimentadas con Giuliana, Paronset y Santa Clara durante la etapa larval fue de 88,6; 82,3 y 37,0 huevos por hembra, respectivamente. Sin embargo, la viabilidad de los huevos fue mayor para las hembras alimentadas durante la etapa larval en Santa Clara (79,0%). El híbrido de tomate Giuliana tuvo el mayor impacto en el desarrollo y la reproducción de N. elegantalis. Estos hallazgos pueden ser útiles como un factor de resistencia de la planta en el campo para reducir el número de generaciones de la plaga y para favorecer la acción de los enemigos naturales por la disminución del “fitness” de la plaga.

The small tomato borer Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is one of the most representative pests of Solanaceae in Brazil and other South American countries. Due to the restricted knowledge about the influence of tomato cultivars on the biology of the species, the development and reproduction of N. elegantalis was evaluated on three tomato cultivars. In the hybrid Giuliana the development from oviposition to adult emergence was longest (56.2 days) in comparison to the cultivar Santa Clara (50.2 days) and the hybrid Paronset (50.7 days). Pupal weight was significantly lower in Giuliana. The mean fecundity of females fed on Giuliana during the larval stage was 88.6 eggs per female, 82.3 in Paronset and 37.0 on Santa Clara, but egg viability was higher for females fed during the larval stage on Santa Clara (79.0%). The hybrid tomato Giuliana had the highest impact on the development and reproduction of N. elegantalis. These findings can be useful as a plant resistance factor in the field to reduce the number of generations of the pest and to favour the action of natural enemies by decreasing the fitness of the pest.

Pupas de Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) e Telenomus podisi Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) armazenadas a 12ºC e 15ºC por 120 a 210 dias, após diferentes períodos de parasitismo a 18ºC, foram avaliadas quanto à emergência, longevidade e capacidade de parasitismo dos adultos. Não houve emergência de adultos a 12ºC. Os índices de emergência de parasitóides transferidos a 15ºC no início do estágio pupal foram 1,5% e 26,3%, em T. basalis e T. podisi, respectivamente, enquanto os transferidos um dia antes da data prevista para a emergência dos adultos a 18ºC apresentaram índices de emergência de 86,4% em T. basalis e 59,9% em T. podisi. De forma semelhante, a longevidade média dos adultos foi significativamente menor quando a transferência para 15ºC foi realizada no início do estágio pupal. Fêmeas emergidas após estocagem das pupas e mantidas por 120 a 210 dias a 15ºC parasitaram ovos hospedeiros após transferência para 25ºC; no entanto, a fecundidade de T. podisi foi reduzida em cerca de 80% quando mantida em baixa temperatura.

Pupae of Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) and Telenomus podisi Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) were stored at 12ºC and 15ºC for 120-210 days, after different periods of parasitism at 18ºC in order to evaluate adult emergence, longevity and ovipositional capacity. There was no emergence of adults at 12ºC. The rate of emergence of parasitoids transferred to 15ºC at the beginning of the pupal stage was 1.5% and 26.3%, for T. basalis and T. podisi respectively, whereas those parasitoids transferred one day before the expected date of emergence at 18ºC showed 86.4% of emergence for T. basalis and 59.9% for T. podisi. Mean adult longevity was also significantly lower when pupae were transferred to 15ºC at the beginning of the pupal stage. Females emerged after storage and maintained for 120 to 210 days at 15ºC parasitized host eggs after transference to 25ºC; however, fecundity of T. podisi was reduced in about 80% after cold storage.