El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar la eficiencia de los insecticidas metoxifenozide, teflubenzuron, piriproxifeno, clorantraniliprole y Azadirachta indica en el control del escarabajo de la cama Alphitobius diaperinus. Se realizaron dos bioensayos en el laboratorio del control microbiano de la Universidade Estadual Londrina (Brasil). En el primero, las larvas de A. diaperinus fueron alimentadas con pienso de maíz tratado con los insecticidas en siete dosis (i.e. dosis recomendada - DR y porcentajes del 50; 25; 12,5; 6,25; 3,12 y 1,65 de la misma). En el segundo bioensayo, lós diferentes tratamientos fueron aplicados en las larvas pero sólo en las tres más altas dosis. La cuantificación de la mortalidad de larvas se hizo diariamente hasta el día 30, cuando se evaluó el número de pupas y adultos. Las mayores mortalidades de larvas se presentaron en larvas alimentadas con raciones con teflubenzuron, clorantraniliprole y A. indica. Los tratamientos con metoxifenozide y piriproxifeno causaron menor mortalidad, sin embargo, con este último, las larvas no alcanzaron a formar pupas ni adultos. Teflubenzuron presentó la mayor toxicidad con menor TL50. Cuando los productos fueron aplicados directamente en las larvas, los tratamientos más eficientes fueron teflubenzuron, clorantraniliprole y A. indica, sin embargo, hubo reducción en los porcentajes de la mortalidad con teflubenzuron y clorantraniliprole. Para A. indica, el método de aplicación no interferió con los niveles de mortalidad. Piriproxifeno, que no había causado mortalidad en el consumo de ración, aumentó hasta el 30% cuando fue aplicado a la larva.

The purpose of this study was to evalúate the efficiency of the insecticides methoxyphenozide, teflubenzuron, pyriproxyfen, chlorantraniliprole and also Azadirachta indica in the control of Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The study was carried out in the Microbial Control laboratory of Universidade Estadual Londrina (Brazil) and consisted of two bioassays. In the first, A. diaperinus larvae were fed with corn feed treated with the insecticides in seven dosages. In the second bioassay, the different treatments were sprayed on the larvae only at the three highest dosages. Evaluations were performed daily, quantifying larval mortality, and on the 30th day, the number of pupae and adults were evaluated. Teflubenzuron, chlorantraniliprole and A. indica were responsible for the greatest percentage of mortalities in larvae fed with treated feed. The treatments with methoxyphenozide and pyriproxyfen caused the lowest mortalities; however, with pyriproxyfen the larvae were not transformed into pupae and adults up to the 30th day of assessment. The treatment with teflubenzuron showed the greatest toxicity, with the lowest survival time (ST50) When the products were applied directly on to the larvae, the most efficient treatments were teflubenzuron, chlorantraniliprole and A. indica; however, there was a reduction in the mortality percentages with teflubenzuron and chlorantraniliprole in relation to the feed bioassay. For A. indica, the application method did not affect the mortality levels. Pyriproxyfen, which had not led to mortality through feed ingestion, obtained an increase of up to 30% after being applied directly on to the larvae.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de pasajes sucesivos de Beauveria bassiana por Alphitobius diaperinus en relación al crecimiento vegetativo, a la producción de conidios, a la virulencia, a la sensibilidad frente a la temperatura y a la radiación UV. Fueron utilizados tres aislados inicialmente multiplicados en medio de cultivo y pasados 15 veces por los insectos. Los conidios de cada aislado, provenientes de los insectos muertos, correspondientes al primer, quinto, décimo y décimo quinto pasaje fueron multiplicados en medio de cultivo y empleados en los experimentos. Los pasajes del hongo por el huésped afectaron la calidad de los conidios, lo que varió en los diferentes aislados. De manera general, hubo reducción del crecimiento vegetativo y de la producción de conidios para los aislados Unioeste 4 y Unioeste 40 a medida que el hongo fue pasando por el huésped. En contraste, el crecimiento vegetativo y la producción de conidios del aislado CG 152 no fueron afectados. Para los tres aislados, la producción de conidios en arroz y la virulencia aumentaron después de los pasajes por el huésped, principalmente en el décimo y décimo quinto pasaje. La sensibilidad a la radiación UV fue reducida con el aumento del número de pasajes en los tres aislados, mientras que la sensibilidad a la temperatura aumentó principalmente en los décimo y décimo quinto pasajes. La calidad de los conidios de B. bassiana en relación a la producción de conidios en arroz, virulencia y sensibilidad frente a la temperatura, fue favorecida por los pasajes del hongo por el huésped.

The vegetative growth, conidial production, conidial yield on rice, virulence, and heat and UV radiation tolerances of Beauveria bassiana after successive passages through Alphitobius diaperinus were investigated. Three strains of B. bassiana were cultivated in a culture medium, and passed them up to 15 times through the host insect. The conidia of each strain, derived from dead insects, were cultivated in a culture medium. We used conidia corresponding to the first, fifth, tenth, and fifteenth passages in our experiments. Our results showed that successive passages of the fungus through the host insect affected the quality of the conidia; moreover, the effect on conidial quality varied among the strains. For strains Unioeste 4 and Unioeste 40, successive passages through the host insect resulted in reduced vegetative growth and conidial production. In contrast, vegetative growth and conidial production of strain CG 152 were unaffected by successive passages through the host insect. For all 3 strains, successive passages through the host insect resulted in a higher conidial yield on rice and increased virulence, especially after the tenth and fifteenth passages. In addition, an increase in the number of passages through the host insect led to a decrease in the UV radiation tolerance, but an increase in the heat tolerance, especially after the tenth and fifteenth passages. Our results indicate that the conidial yield on rice, virulence, and heat tolerance of B. bassiana are favored by successive passages through A. diaperinus.

El efecto de subcultivos sucesivos in vitro de Beauveria bassiana a diferentes condiciones nutricionales fue evaluado mediante el crecimiento vegetativo, la producción conidial, la virulencia, tolerancia a la radiación UV y al calor. Se usaron los medios agar dextrosa papa (PDA) y un medio basado en adultos de Alphitobius diaperinus (MAD) para la producción conidial. El hongo se inoculó en los insectos, se aisló, y subcultivó 17 veces en medios diferentes. Después de subcultivados, los hongos se inocularon en los insectos, y se aislaron nuevamente a partir de ellos. Los subcultivos sucesivos y las condiciones nutricionales influenciaron la calidad de los hongos. El medio MAD mantuvo el crecimiento vegetativo y la producción conidial en cultivo y en arroz, después de un gran número de subcultivos en PDA. Así mismo, la reducción en la producción de conidias en MAD fue poco percibida comparado con la producción en PDA. El cultivo de conidias en MAD mantuvo la virulencia luego de 17 subcultivos sucesivos. Las conidias cultivados en PDA preservaron los niveles iniciales de termotolerancia. La viabilidade de los conídios disminuyó después de recibir radiación UV, pero esta disminución no afectó los subculivos sucesivos en PDA y MAD. La virulencia, la producción conidial y la tolerancia a alta temperatura, se redujeron después de los sucesivos subcultivos in vitro, pero restauradas con el paso de los hongos a través del hospedero.

The effect of successive subculturing of Beauveria bassiana under different in vitro nutritional conditions was evaluated on vegetative growth, conidial production, virulence, tolerance to UV radiation and heat tolerance. Potato dextrose agar (PDA) and a medium based on adult Alphitobius diaperinus (MAD) were used. The fungus was inoculated on the insects, isolated, and subcultured 17 times on the different media. After subculturing, the fungus was again inoculated on the insects, and it was then re-isolated. Successive subculturing and nutritional conditions influenced fungus quality. MAD favored maintenance of vegetative growth and conidial production on culture medium and on rice after a greater number of successive subcultures than PDA. Furthermore, a decrease in conidial production in MAD was less pronounced than in conidia from the PDA medium. Conidia cultured on MAD maintained virulence after 17 successive subcultures. Conidia cultured on PDA retained initial thermotolerance levels. Conidial viability decreased after UV irradiation, but this decrease was unaffected by successive subculturing on PDA and MAD. Virulence, conidial production, and temperature tolerance, which were reduced after successive in vitro subculture, were restored with fungus passage through the host.

We first record Carcinops troglodytes (Paykull) as a predator of Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) larvae in poultry houses in North and Northwest regions of the state of Paraná. Carcinops spp. are commonly recorded as predators of dipterans, and this record in poultry houses indicates the possibility of exploiting such predator for future studies aiming the development of management strategies for A. diaperinus.

The cotton plant, Gossypium hirsutum, hosts various pests that damage different structures. Among these pests, Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker) and Spodoptera eridania (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are considered important. The objectives of this study were to characterize and to quantify the potential damage of S. eridania and S. cosmioides feeding on different structures of cotton plants. For this purpose, newly-hatched larvae were reared on the following plant parts: leaf and flower bud; leaf and boll; flower bud or boll; and leaf, flower bud and boll. The survival of S. cosmioides and S. eridania was greater than 80% and 70% for larvae fed on cotton plant parts offered separately or together, respectively. One larva of S. eridania damaged 1.7 flower buds, but did not damage bolls, while one larva of S. cosmioides damaged 5.2 flower buds and 3.0 cotton bolls. Spodoptera eridania and S. cosmioides can be considered species with potential to cause economic damage to cotton plants because they can occur throughout cotton developmental stages causing defoliation and losses of reproductive structures. Therefore, the results validate field observations that these two species of Spodoptera are potential pests for cotton.

O parasitóide Trichogramma pretiosum Riley e os fungos entomopatogênicos Beauveria bassiana e Metarhizium anisopliae são considerados eficientes agentes de controle biológico e podem ser empregados concomitantemente em algumas situações. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar quais os efeitos desses entomopatógenos sobre T. pretiosum. Foram usadas cartelas de 1 × 8 cm contendo ovos esterilizados de Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) pulverizadas com 0,2 ml de B. bassiana ou M. anisopliae (1,0 × 10(9) conídios/ml) e mantidas individualmente com uma fêmea de T. pretiosum por 24h, totalizando 30 cartelas para cada fungo. Posteriormente, as fêmeas foram individualizadas em tubos de vidro. A testemunha consistiu na pulverização de água destilada estéril + Tween 80 (0,01%). Paralelamente, 60 cartelas contendo ovos esterilizados de A. kuehniella foram submetidas ao parasitismo por fêmeas de T. pretiosum por 24h. Destas, 30 cartelas foram pulverizadas com B. bassiana ou M. anisopliae e 30 com água destilada estéril + 0,01%, Tween 80, sendo os ovos observados diariamente até a emergência do parasitóide. Metarhizium anisopliae provocou diminuição na emergência de T. pretiosum e causou mortalidade confirmada. Assim, experimentos de campo e de semi-campo devem ser conduzidos para a avaliação final dos efeitos nocivos desses entomopatógenos a Trichogramma, para que estratégias de controle conjuntas possam ser desenvolvidas para esses agentes de controle.

Trichogramma pretiosum Riley and the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are efficient biological control agents and are thought to be used jointly. In here, we investigated if these entomopathogens could have any side-effects on T. pretiosum. Therefore, 1 x 8 cards containing sterilized eggs of Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) that were sprayed with 0.2 ml of B. bassiana or M. anisopliae (1.0 × 10(9) conidia/ml) were offered to a T. pretiosum female for 24h (30 cards/fungus = 30 replicates). Afterwards, females were isolated in glass tubes. The control group was sprayed with sterile distillated water + Tween 80 (0.01%). In addition, 60 cards with sterilized eggs of A. kuehniella were submitted to parasitism by females of T. pretiosum for 24h. Of these cards, 30 were sprayed with B. bassiana or M. anisopliae and 30 with distillated water + Tween 80 (0.01%), and observed daily until parasitoid emergence. Metarhizium anisopliae decreased parasitoid emergence and caused confirmed mortality. Therefore, field and semi-field experiments should be conducted for a final assessment of the side-effects of these entomopathogens on Trichogramma as a ways to develop a control strategy in which both can be used.

Verificou-se o efeito fungitóxico in vitro de três biofertilizantes: E.M.-4, Multibion<FONT FACE=Symbol>â</FONT>, Supermagro e do óleo de nim (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), utilizados na agricultura orgânica, sobre os fungos entomopatogênicos Metarhizium anisopliae e Beauveria bassiana. Estes produtos foram misturados em meio de cultura, onde os dois fungos estavam inoculados. Avaliou-se germinação, crescimento vegetativo e conidiogênese. Os produtos Supermagro e E.M.-4 foram os menos tóxicos para os dois fungos, Multibion<FONT FACE=Symbol>â</FONT> causou maior inibição em M. anisopliae, com reduções na germinação (-37,74%), diâmetro de colônias (-30,26%) e conidiogênese (-42,62%) enquanto que o óleo de nim. provocou maior efeito negativo sobre B. bassiana, inibindo a germinação (-45,27%), diâmetro de colônias (-36,62%) e conidiogênese (-84,93%).

The in vitro fungitoxic effect of three biofertilizers, E.M.-4, Multibion <FONT FACE=Symbol>Ô</FONT> and Supermagro used in organic agriculture and the neem oil (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) on the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana was studied. These products were mixed in a medium where the two fungi were inoculated, and germination, vegetative growth and conidiogenesis were assessed. The biofertilizers Supermagro and E.M.- 4 showed to be less toxic for the two fungi whereas Multibion<FONT FACE=Symbol>Ô</FONT> caused major inhibition on M. anisopliae, with reductions in germination (-37.74%), colony diameter (-30.26%) and conidiogenesis (-42.62%). Neem oil promoted a larger negative effect on B. bassiana, inhibiting germination (-45.27%), colony diameter (-36.62%) and conidiogenesis (-84.93%).