Large scale mass rearing of natural enemies has been a mean of improving biological control in the sugarcane intensive agriculture. Among them, Cotesia flavipes, a gregarious koinobiont endoparasitoid, was imported by Brasil to control caterpillars of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis. The C. flavipes larval development depends on its association with polydnavirus, which blocks the host defense reaction. To verify if the oviposition sequence (1st, 2nd or 3rd) and the female condition (mated or virgin) interfere in the number of C. flavipes descendents, 4th instar caterpillars of D. saccharalis were parasitized. Analysis of the data showed that: a) there is an inverse correlation between the parasitism efficiency and the host reaction (encapsulation); b) the number of caterpillars parasitized by virgin females that released parasitoid larvae in the period from 12 to 15 days was higher than that of caterpillars parasitized by mated females; c) a slight difference between mated and virgin females in relation to the parasitim success was observed; and d) the number of encapsulated parasitoid larvae was higher than that of eggs, suggesting that eggs have a better capacity to overcome the host reaction. In this study, the viability of C. flavipes eggs and larvae in the non-specific host D. saccharalis could be correlated with the oviposition sequence and the female condition.

This study was undertaken to develop an experimental protocol using insects as biological models to assay venom toxicity of the following spiders Loxosceles gaucho, Phoneutria nigriventer, Nephilengys cruentata and Tityus serrulatus scorpion. Three different insect species were bioassayed: Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera), Grillus assimilis (Orthoptera), and Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera). Venoms were injected into the hemocele of insects with a microsyringe at concentrations that caused dose/weight-dependent effects; doses causing either paralysis (ED50) or death (LD50) were recorded for each venom and insect test-species. T. serrulatus and L. gaucho venoms were lethal to all tested species, while P. nigriventer venom caused paralysis and death, and N. cruentata venom caused only paralysis at the doses assayed. A comparison between the insect test species described above revealed that A. mellifera was highly sensitive to all venoms tested; even a tiny amount of N. cruentata non-lethal venom caused a change in the walking pattern leading to transient paralysis. D. saccharalis larvae were very resistant to all four venoms.

Cotesia glomerata is a natural enemy of the vegetable plague Ascia monuste orseis and preferably parasites 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar larvae. Parasitism effects on the haemolymph protein profile of Ascia monuste orseis larvae from the 2nd to 7th days were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively by SDS-PAGE and Coomassie-Blue binding methods. Quantitative analysis showed a progressive increase in the protein content of about 6.5 and 12.5 times in parasitized and non-parasitized larvae from the 2nd to 5th days, respectively. On the 6th day, a decrease in protein content was observed in both groups, although this decrease was significantly less than the control group that continued to metamorphosis. Meanwhile, parasitized larvae had one more day (7th day) in their larval period to complete parasitoid development, justified by the fact that parasitoid is koinobiont and allows host feeding. On this day, a drastic increase in protein content was detected when the parasitoids left the host. The SDS-PAGE showed proteins of high molecular weight (>120 kDa) on the 5th day of the non-parasitized larvae when they entered pre-pupa stage and on the 7th day of parasitized larvae. Proteins with MW lower than 62 kDa and higher than 27 kDa were absent on the 5th day in control larvae (pre-pupa phase), but present in parasitized larvae. This could indicate a possible relation between these proteins and the host juvenile hormone. Therefore, the presence of C. glomerata influences Ascia monuste orseis development, but its own physiological development is apparently independent of the host, which tends to die when parasitism succeeds.

ABSTRACT The genus Pison Jurine (in Spinola), 1808 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) was revised by Menke, 1988 and three subgenera were placed in synonymy with Pison: Pisonoides F. Smith, 1858; Krombeiniellum Richards,1962 and Entomopison Menke, 1968a. The genus includes 42 native species in the Neotropical Region and more of the half of these are found in Brazil. Some of them make mud nests on diverse substrates, such as: on the underface of broad leafs, on the wall of human constructions, boxes, windows, and in the edges of roofs. The coccons of some of these species are closed cells with a fine layer of mud in a small abandoned nest (made on vegetable fibres) of Mischocyttarus de Saussure, 1853 sp. (Hymenoptera.: Vespoidea, Vespidae, Polistinae, Mischocyttarini). This is the first record of nesting behavior for this species. Male of P. duckei is still undescribed. The third specie observed was P. delicatum Menke, n sp. Spinola, Spinola , Spinola) 180 Hymenoptera (Hymenoptera Crabronidae Menke 198 F Smith 1858 Richards1962 Richards 1962 Richards,196 1968a 4 Brazil substrates as leafs constructions boxes windows roofs made fibres Saussure 185 sp Hymenoptera. (Hymenoptera. Vespoidea Vespidae Polistinae Mischocyttarini. Mischocyttarini . Mischocyttarini) P undescribed 18 19 Richards196 196 Richards,19 1 Richards19 Richards,1 Richards1 Richards,

RESUMO O gênero Pison Jurine (in Spinola), 1808 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) foi revisado por Menke, 1988 e três subgêneros foram colocados em sinonímia com Pison: Pisonoides F. Smith, 1858; Krombeiniellum Richards, 1962 e Entomopison Menke, 1968a. O gênero contém 42 espécies nativas na Região Neotropical e mais da metade dessas espécies são encontradas no Brasil. Algumas delas constróem ninhos de barro em diferentes substratos: na face inferior de largas folhas, em paredes de alvenaria, caixas, janelas, beirais de telhado. Os casulos de algumas dessas espécies são constituídos de minúsculos grãos de areia perfeitamente encaixados e fixados pela larva da vespa antes de empupar, como os observados em P. aureofaciale Strand,1910. Foram encontrados exemplares de P. duckei Menke,1968b, um macho e uma fêmea, em células fechadas com fina camada de barro em pequeno ninho abandonado (feito de fibras vegetais) de Mischocyttarus de Saussure, 1853 sp. (Hymenoptera : Vespoidea, Vespidae, Polistinae, Mischocyttarini) sendo este o primeiro relato do hábito de nidificação e descrição do casulo para a espécie. Macho desta espécie ainda não foi descrito. A terceira espécie observada foi de P. delicatum, Menke, n.sp. in Spinola, Spinola , Spinola) 180 Hymenoptera Crabronidae Menke 198 F Smith 1858 Richards 196 1968a 4 Brasil substratos folhas alvenaria caixas janelas telhado empupar P Strand1910 Strand 1910 Strand,1910 Menke1968b Menkeb 1968b b Menke,1968b fêmea feito vegetais Saussure 185 sp Vespoidea Vespidae Polistinae Mischocyttarini descrito delicatum nsp n n.sp 18 19 Strand191 191 Strand,191 1 Strand19 Strand,19 Strand1 Strand,1 Strand,

ABSTRACT Twenty one nests of Pison (Hym.: Sphecidae, Crabroninae, Trypoxylini) were found and collected since 1998 in the Campus of UNESP, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil, and the species was identified as Pison aureofaciale Strand, 1910. The nests, cells, cocoons and hymenopterous occurrence, such as chrysidids, chalcidids, mutillids, and ants were listed. The construction of three cells in one of these nests was described. So far it is known that spiders are the prey of Pison and four families of these were reported to the nests. Hym. Hym (Hym. Sphecidae Crabroninae Trypoxylini 199 UNESP Vista Claro SP Brazil Strand 1910 occurrence chrysidids chalcidids mutillids listed described (Hym 19 191 1

RESUMO Vinte e um ninhos de Pison (Hym.: Sphecidae, Crabroninae, Trypoxylini) foram coletados desde 1998 no Campus da UNESP, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP e identificados como Pison aureofaciale. Os ninhos, células, casulos e os himenópteros encontrados, tais como crisidídeos, calcidídeos, mutilídeos e formigas, foram relatados. Observações de um destes ninhos, durante a construção de três células, também foram descritas. Tanto quanto é conhecido, aranhas são usadas como presas por Pison e quatro famílias destas foram relatadas para os ninhos. Hym. Hym (Hym. Sphecidae Crabroninae Trypoxylini 199 UNESP Vista Claro aureofaciale células encontrados crisidídeos calcidídeos formigas relatados descritas conhecido (Hym 19 1

ABSTRACT We evaluated whether Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) females are able to discriminate between parasitized and unparasitized fifth instar larvae of Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius. Three types of larvae were offered to the female endoparasitoid: unparasitized, recently parasitized and parasitized 24, 48 and 72 hours before exposure. At first, females of C. flavipes could recognize parasitized larvae only until 24 hours after previous parasitism. However, the sex ratio analysis indicated that the females laid more eggs than produced males in superparasitized hosts, suggesting that they can also distinguish parasitized larvae few days after the first parasitism. There was no significant difference on the mean number of eggs per host, considering the larvae parasitized only once and larvae superparasitized. The developmental periods of the parasitoids which emerged from the hosts of those two experimental groups did not differ. The viability of the parasitoids which developed in superparasitized hosts was lower than that recorded for the parasitoids which emerged from hosts parasitized only once. Cameron (Cameron Fabricius endoparasitoid 4 7 exposure C 2 parasitism However host differ

RESUMO Lagartas de 5o ínstar de Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius não parasitadas, recém-parasitadas e parasitadas 24, 48 e 72 horas após o primeiro parasitismo por Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) foram oferecidas a fêmeas fecundadas deste endoparasitóide que não haviam ovipositado anteriormente, com o objetivo de avaliar se estas discriminam entre lagartas parasitadas e não parasitadas. À primeira vista, as fêmeas de C. flavipes discriminam hospedeiros parasitados até 24 horas após o parasitismo. No entanto, a análise da razão sexual da prole originada de lagartas superparasitadas indicou que as fêmeas depositaram mais ovos que deram origem a machos, o que sugere a habilidade desta espécie em identificar hospedeiros anteriormente parasitados por fêmeas intraespecíficas, até mesmo alguns dias após o primeiro parasitismo. Não houve diferença significativa no número médio de ovos/hospedeiro, considerando as lagartas parasitadas somente uma vez e lagartas superparasitadas. Os tempos de desenvolvimento dos parasitóides que emergiram de lagartas desses dois grupos experimentais também não diferiram entre si. A viabilidade dos parasitóides que se desenvolveram em lagartas superparasitadas foi menor do que a registrada para os parasitóides que emergiram de hospedeiros parasitados apenas uma vez. recémparasitadas recém 4 7 Cameron (Cameron vista C 2 entanto machos intraespecíficas ovoshospedeiro hospedeiro ovos/hospedeiro si

Field bioassays were used to demonstrate that aggressive behavior of Polybia paulista (Ihering) workers is elicited by alarm pheromones present in the venom reservoirs of nest defenders and that the brood care pheromone (pupal odor) produced by the young inside the nest also plays an important defensive role. Pupal odor was extracted from the surface of pupa bodies with methanol. When bioassayed alone, the pupal odor elicited only attractiveness of workers towards the odor source, but no stinging attacks were observed. However, in the presence of alarm pheromones, the brood care pheromone potentiated the effect caused by the pupal odors, increasing the number of stinging attacks during an action of colony defense. Thus, the presence of pupae within the nest evidently not only releases brood care but also enhances the aggressiveness of workers in P. paulista colonies.

The profiles of high-performance gel filtration of venoms from Polybia paulista, Polybia ignobilis and Polybia occidentalis occidentalis showed 13 peaks distributed among the three species. These profiles presented similarities that permitted the chromatographic characterization of the genus Polybia and differences that permitted the identification of each species studied. Thus, the comparative analysis of chromatographic profiles of high-performance gel filtration of venoms may be used as an auxiliary tool in taxonomic studies of Polybia wasps.

The present paper aimed at testing the action of non-lyophilized venom of Africanized bees Apis mellifera through topical applications on Diatraea saccharalis egg masses. The CL50, DL50 and the most susceptible age of eggs to the venom topic application were also determined. Three-day-old eggs were the most susceptible to the venom action with CL50 equal to 8.6 mg/ml and DL50 equal to 0.173 mg/mass. The venom loses its action after being stored for 15 days.

The presence of a polydnavirus in the ovary of the microhymenoptera Apanteles galleriae was detected. This wasp parasites the larvae of the wax moth Galleria mellonella. To study the possible viral effects on the total protein of G.mellonella, hemolymph extracts of the ovary calyxes of parasitized A. galleriae were injected into 6th and 7th instar cells of G.mellonella larvae. Protein profiles on polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE) of host cell extracts showed a suppression of several protein bands when infection occurred in the 6th instar. However, in the 7th instar, parasitism caused an amplification in the synthesis of most proteins with some changes in the electrophoretic profile.