Resumen Odontopus abdominalis fue reportado por primera vez como nueva plaga del aguacatero en huertos domésticos localizados en el estado de Alagoas, nordeste de Brasil. Los adultos se alimentan de las hojas, perforándolas y las larvas se alimentan del mesófilo foliar, formando galerías. La presencia de necrosis en las hojas reduce la cantidad de tejido fotosintético en el mesófilo. El presente estudio aporta información relevante para el registro de O. abdominalis como nueva plaga en el cultivo del aguacatero en Brasil, cuyo conocimiento es fundamental para el establecimiento de estrategias adecuadas de manejo y control.

Abstract This is the first report of Odontopus abdominalis as a novel pest in avocado orchards in the Alagoas State, in Northeastern Brazil. Adults feed and bore holes in the leaves, and larvae feed on the mesophyll tissue, boring galleries in the leaves. Leaf necrosis then reduces the photosynthetic tissue in the mesophyll. This study contributes relevant information for reporting O. abdominalis as a novel avocado pest in Brazil. This knowledge is essential for defining adequate pest management approaches.

Resumen El aumento de la frecuencia de lo escarabajo rojo de la anacardiácea Crimissa cruralis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) en poblaciones de Anacardium occidentale (Anarcardiaceae) del Brasil es motivo de preocupación. Se evaluó la mortalidad (en larvas de segundo y tercer instar) producida por la aplicación in vivo de una formulación comercial con esporas del hongo entomopatógeno, Beauveria bassiana. El tratamiento de larvas con concentraciones de 1,2 x 106, 2,5 x 106, 3,7 x 107 e 5,0 x 107 conidia/Ml resultó en 49, 56, 66 y 72 % de mortalidad dentro de ocho días, respectivamente. Se recomienda emplear la formulación de B. bassiana en las concentraciones más bajas (1,2 x 106 y 2,5 x 106 conidia/mL) con aplicación repetida para evitar la posible inactivación de lo hongo por factores abióticos ambientales. Las evaluaciones de costo-beneficio del uso de este agente biológico serán importantes para determinar la viabilidad económica de su aplicación en el campo.

Abstract The increased pest actions of the red cashew beetle Crimissa cruralis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae in Brazilian populations of cashew Anacardium occidentale (Anarcardiaceae) is a cause for concern. The entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, was evaluated as a biocontrol of larvae. The percent mortalities of second and third instar larvae produced by in vivo application of a commercial formulation containing the fungal spores were evaluated. Treatment of larvae at concentrations of 1.2 x 106, 2.5 x 106, 3.7 x 107 e 5.0 x 107 conidia/mL resulted in 49, 56, 66 and 72 % mortality within eight days, respectively. Based on the finding, it is recommended that the B. bassiana formulation should be employed at the lowest concentrations (1.2 x 106 and 2.5 x 106 conidia/mL) with repeat application to avoid possible inactivation of the fungus by abiotic environmental factors. Cost-benefit assessments of the use of this biological agent will be important for determining the economic feasibility of its application in the field.

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi registrar a ocorrência natural do parasitoide larval Digonogastra sp. em Diatraea flavipennella Box, 1931 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) em cana-de-açúcar. As coletas foram realizadas na Usina Santa Clotilde (9º25’S, 35º49’W, 127m de altitude), no município de Rio Largo, Estado de Alagoas, Brasil. Este é o primeiro registro do gênero Digonogastra parasitando lagartas de D. flavipennella no Brasil. A taxa de parasitismo verificada foi de 14,06%. A ocorrência deste parasitoide indica um potencial de regulação natural da referida praga em cana-de-açúcar.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to document the heretofore unrecorded natural occurrence of the larval parasitoid Digonogastra sp. on Diatraea flavipennella Box, 1931 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in sugarcane fields. The collections were made in the Usina Santa Clotilde area, in Rio Largo municipality, Alagoas State, Brazil. This is the first record of Digonogastra sp. parasitizing caterpillar of D. flavipennella in Brazil. The parasitism rate was found to be 14.06%. The occurrence of this parasitoid indicates potential for natural regulation of that pest in sugarcane crop.

ABSTRACT First records of parasitoids attacking the Asian citrus psyllid in Ecuador. The objective of the current study was to investigate the presence of natural enemies of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) (the Asian citrus psyllid) in Ecuador. Incidence of parasitoid Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) was assessed between November 2015 and March 2016, in Letamendi, Febres-Cordero and Tarqui, urban districts of Guayaquil. Highest incidence of parasitism occurred in those regions and seasons of the year with the highest temperatures commensurate with increase of citrus plant shoots. Similar to their host, these parasitoids appear to have established in Ecuador by accident, and were not the result of purposeful introduction. This fortuitous introduction is a potentially helpful tool in controlling the Asian citrus psyllid, and potentially Huanglongbing.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi conhecer e avaliar a infestação natural por moscas frugívoras (Diptera: Tephritidae e Lonchaeidae) e seus parasitoides em frutos de pitanga. O levantamento foi conduzido em pomar orgânico, localizado no município de Maceió, Alagoas. Nos meses de outubro de 2010 a janeiro de 2011, coletaram-se frutos de pitanga verdes, "de vez" e maduros. O índice de infestação foi maior nos frutos verdes e "de vez". Foram identificadas cinco espécies de moscas frugívoras: Anastrepha fraterculus , Anastrepha obliqua , Anastrepha sororcula , Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) e Neosilba pendula (Diptera: Lonchaeidae). Identificaram-se as espécies de parasitoides: Doryctobracon areolatus , Opius bellus, Utetes anastrephae e Asobara anastrephae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), sendo D. areolatus com maior porcentagem de parasitismo em todos os estágios de maturação. Registra-se no Brasil a associação entre N. pendula e Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae). Relatam-se também pela primeira vez as ocorrências de O. bellus , U. anastrephae e A. anastrephae no estado de Alagoas. Em pitanga, os frutos verdes e "de vez" foram mais infestados por moscas-das-frutas, e a porcentagem de parasitismo foi maior em frutos "de vez" e maduros.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to know and assess natural infestation of frugivorous flies (Diptera: Tephritidae and Lonchaeidae) and their parasitoids in Surinam cherry fruits. The survey was conducted in an organic orchard, located in the municipality of Maceió, Alagoas. From October 2010 to January 2011, mature green, half-ripe and ripe Surinam cherry were collected. Infestation index was higher for mature green and half-ripe fruits. Five species of frugivorous flies were identified: Anastrepha fraterculus , Anastrepha obliqua , Anastrepha sororcul , Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), and Neosilba pendula (Diptera: Lonchaeidae). It were identified the parasitoids: Doryctobracon areolatus , Opius bellus, Utetes anastrephae and Asobara anastrephae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), being D. areolatus with highest percentage of parasitism in all maturation stages. N . pendula was recorded in Brasil associated to Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae). O . bellus , U . anastrephae and A . anastrephae were also recorded for the first time in the State of Alagoas. Mature green and half-ripe Surinam cherries are the most fruit fly infested, and the parasitism rate is higher in half-ripe and ripe fruits.

Diatraea flavipennella (Box) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) é considerada uma das principais pragas da cana-de-açúcar nos canaviais da região nordeste do Brasil. As características biológicas e o potencial de parasitismo dos parasitoides de ovos Telenomus alecto Crawford (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) e Trichogramma galloi Zucchi (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) foram comparados com o objetivo de selecionar aespécie mais adequada para utilização no controle biológico de D. flavipennella. Tanto T. alecto como T. galloi desenvolveram-se e mostraram-se adaptadas aos ovos de D. flavipennella. Embora T. galloi tenha apresentado maior viabilidade, com maior número de adultos emergidos/ovo do hospedeiro e maior predominância de fêmeas, a duração do período de desenvolvimento (ovo-adulto) foi menor em T. Alecto, e suas fêmeas foram mais longevas. Além disso, T. alecto apresentou taxas de parasitismo mais elevadas durante os primeiros três dias após a emergência, em comparação com T. galloi. Ambos os parasitoides estudados apresentam potencial para o controle de D. flavipennella em cana de açúcar.

Diatraea flavipennella (Box) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) is one of the most destructive pests in sugarcane plantations in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Developmental characteristics and parasitism potential of the egg parasitoids Telenomus alecto Crawford (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) and Trichogramma galloi Zucchi (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) were compared with the aim of selecting a suitable species for biological control of D. flavipennella. Both T. alecto and T. galloi developed well and were readily adapted to D. flavipennella eggs as host. Although, T. galloi presented higher viability, with more adults emerging per host egg and higher sex ratio, the developmental period (egg-adult) was shorter in T. alecto and female longevity was extended. In addition, T. alecto exhibited significant higher levels of parasitism during the first three days after emergence than T. galloi. Thus, both parasitoids studied here offer considerable potential for the control of D. flavipennella in sugarcane.

The stingless bee Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is an important pollinator for various crops, but constitutes an occasional pest of other plant species since it causes injury to leaves, stems, flowers and fruits while collecting nest materials. The aim of the present study was to determine the damage caused by T. spinipes to a broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica, Brassicaceae) growing on an organic farm. A significant number of plants (72.5 %) presented damaged inflorescences, while 39% of all of the inflorescences suffered some degree of injury. The activities of T. spinipes caused scarifications on the stems of the inflorescences, and these typically evolved to epidermal cicatrices up to 10 mm wide. In some cases, the lesions were sufficiently deep to cause partial destruction of the vascular tissues, and this lead to thinner (< 5 mm diameter) floral stems that may collapse. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the attack of broccoli plants by T. spinipes. The results obtained should serve to highlight the possibility that stingless bees could be responsible for direct and/or indirect damage to vegetable crops, and to stimulate the development of control strategies for these incidental pests.