The spider mite Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard can cause severe damage to tomato crops. The predatory mite Phytoseiulus longipes Evans was recently reported in association with T. evansi in Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of P. longipes on the population of T. evansi on tomatoes under screenhouse condition. The study consisted on four experiments, in each of which 80 potted plantlets were distributed in two plots of 40 plantlets each. Two weeks later, each plantlet of both plots was infested with eight adult females of T. evansi; one week after, four adult females of P. longipes were released onto each plant of one plot. The population levels of T. evansi and the damage caused by these mites were significantly lower (P < 0.05; linear mixed-effect model) in the plots where P. longipes had been released. The results indicate the potential of this predator as a candidate for classical biological control of T. evansi by inoculative releases on tomato plants.

The two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a nontarget herbivore of Bt-cotton, but acquires and accumulates higher levels of Cry toxin than that expressed by transgenic plants. This work investigated the development and reproduction of T. urticae and of the predator Phytoseiulus macropilis Banks, during three successive generations looking for potential nontarget effect. In addition, behavioral studies on feeding preference, oviposition, and predation were carried out on Bt and non-Bt cottons. The development and reproduction of T. urticae and P. macropilis was conducted using leaf discs of Bt and non-Bt cottons. Arena containing leaf discs from both cotton types connected by a slide coverslip were also used in the behavioral studies. Averages of the three generations showed that the Bt-cotton does not affect the development, survival of immature stages, and reproductive output of T. urticae and of the predator P. macropilis. Furthermore, the preference for feeding and oviposition of T. urticae and P. macropilis were similar on both cotton types. In addition, P. macropilis exhibited similar predatory behavior on T. urticae fed on both cotton types. Levels of Cry1Ac toxin in T. urticae was 3.97 times greater than that found in the Bt-cotton plants as determined using a ELISA test. Despite of the amount of toxin acquired by the prey (T. urticae), no detectable levels of Cry1Ac were found in the predatory mite P. macropilis.

The mite Tetranychus mexicanus (McGregor) is considered a pest of a variety of plant species in the Americas. Although this mite apparently causes economic damage to Annonaceae, little is known about its biology. Here we studied the biology of T. mexicanus on soursop (Annona muricata), sweetsop (Annona squamosa) and araticum (Annona coriaceae). The first two species are the most important economical Annonaceae species in northeast Brazil; araticum is commonly found in the region, but not commercially explored. The mites were collected in the field from leaves of A. muricata and maintained in the laboratory for six months on detached leaves of A. muricata, A. squamosa and A. coriaceae, respectively, before observations started. Tetranychus mexicanus developed more slowly on A. squamosa than on the two other hosts, but oviposition was considerably lower on A. coriaceae. As indicated by the calculated life table parameters, biotic potential was higher on A. muricata than on the other hosts. Despite the observed differences in the T. mexicanus biology on the different evaluated hosts, development and reproduction were satisfactory in all of the hosts used.

Among the important pests of coconut, the coconut moth Atheloca subrufella (Hulst) is a significant pest of flowers and fruits, and is found across all coconut-producing regions in Brazil. We investigated the thermal requirements of A. subrufella and estimated the number of generations for two different growing coconut regions in Pernambuco State. The developmental time of all immature stages reduced as the temperature increased. The egg to adult period ranged from 19.3 to 59.8 days from 32ºC to 18ºC, respectively. The survival of the period from egg to adult was 25% at extreme temperatures (18ºC and 32ºC), while at the intermediate temperatures it was over 72%. Based on the thermal requirements determined for A. subrufella and the average temperatures determined for "Zona da Mata" and "Sertão" of Pernambuco State, it was estimated that A. subrufella is able to complete up to 13 generations per year in both areas. These results indicate that A. subrufella exhibited development and reproduction limited by temperatures higher than 32ºC and lower than 18ºC. However, based on the thermal requirements of A. subrufella and the mean temperatures of the "Zona da Mata" and "Sertão" of Pernambuco State, this pest can develop throughout the entire year.

Ácaros do gênero Euseius são geralmente considerados especialistas na alimentação de pólen. Euseius alatus DeLeon é uma das seis espécies de ácaros fitoseídeos mais comumente encontrados em plantas de coqueiro no Nordeste do Brasil, associado com Aceria guerreronis Keifer. Apesar de a morfologia de E. alatus não favorecer a exploração da área meristemática do fruto habitada por A. guerreronis, o predador pode ter algum papel no controle do eriofídeo durante o processo de dispersão. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento e a reprodução de E. alatus nas seguintes dietas: A. guerreronis, pólen de Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae); e Tetranychus urticae Koch (Tetranychidae) + pólen de R. communis + mel a 10 %. Euseius alatus desenvolveu-se mais rapidamente e ovipositou mais quando alimentada em dieta composta por T. urticae + pólen + mel. Contudo, os parâmetros da tabela de vida foram muito semelhantes em todas as dietas, sugerindo que E. alatus pode contribuir na redução da população de A. guerreronis no campo.

Mites of the genus Euseius are generally considered specialist as pollen feeders. Euseius alatus DeLeon is one of the six species of phytoseiid mites most commonly found on coconut plants in northeast Brazil associated with Aceria guerreronis Keifer. Although the morphology of E. alatus does not favor the exploitation of the meristematic area of the fruit inhabited by A. guerreronis, the predator may have some role in the control of this eriophyid during the dispersion process. The objective of this work was to evaluate the development and reproduction of E. alatus on the following diets: A. guerreronis, Ricinus communis pollen (Euphorbiaceae), and Tetranychus urticae Koch (Tetranychidae) + R. communis pollen + honey solution 10%. Euseius alatus developed slightly faster and had slightly higher oviposition rate when feeding on the diet composed of T. urticae + pollen + honey. However, life table parameters were very similar on all diets, suggesting that E. alatus may contribute in reducing the population of A. guerreronis in the field.

Este trabalho descreve os imaturos de Caligo teucer (Linnaeus, 1758). O material criado é proveniente do nordeste do Brasil. As larvas se alimentam de folhas de bananeira Musa spp. (Musaceae), Heliconia bihai (Heliconiaceae), Canna indica (Cannaceae) e Alpinia purpurata (Zingiberaceae).

This paper describes the immatures of Caligo teucer teucer (Linnaeus,1758), from material reared in northeast Brazil. The larva feed on leaves of Musa spp. (Musaceae), Heliconia bihai (Heliconiaceae), Canna indica (Cannaceae) and Alpinia purpurata (Zingiberaceae).

O ácaro Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) constitui uma das principais pragas da videira no Submédio do Vale do São Francisco. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a biologia, determinar as exigências térmicas e a tabela de vida de fertilidade de P. latus em videira (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. Itália. Foram utilizadas câmaras climatizadas (BOD), ajustadas para as temperaturas de 18, 22, 25, 28 e 32°C, umidade relativa de 65 ± 10% e fotofase de 12h. O período ovo-adulto foi de 3,4 e de 6,8 dias para machos e de 3,5 e de 7,4 dias para fêmeas, respectivamente a 32 e 18ºC. Nas temperaturas de 18, 25 e 32ºC cada fêmea depositou, respectivamente, 16,5; 44,3 e 13,3 ovos. Os estágios de ovo, larva e pupa e o período ovo-adulto apresentaram, respectivamente, limiar térmico inferior de 11,23; 9,45; 12,19 e 9,71°C e constantes térmicas de 28,51; 14,59; 8,33 e 62,73 graus-dia. A duração média da geração (T) foi igual a 25,6; 10,8 e 8,2 dias, respectivamente, nas temperaturas de 18, 25 e 32°C. A taxa líquida de reprodução (R0) foi maior na temperatura de 25°C, correspondendo a um aumento de 30,12 vezes a cada geração. A taxa intrínseca de crescimento populacional (r m) foi de 0,10 (18°C); 0,31 (25°C) e 0,12 (32°C) e a razão finita de aumento populacional (lambda) 1,10 (18°C); 1,36 (25°C) e 1,13 (32°C). De acordo com as normais térmicas, P. latus pode desenvolver 95 e 99 gerações/ano, respectivamente, para os municípios de Petrolina, PE e Juazeiro, BA.

The mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) constitutes one of the main pest of grape crop at the Submédio São Francisco Valley. The objective of this work was to study the biology of the broad mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks), to determine its thermal requirements and its fertility life table in grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. Italy. Acclimatized chambers (BOD) were used, adjusted to the temperatures of 18, 22, 25, 28 and 32°C, relative humidity of 65 ± 10% and alternated light of 12h. Egg-adult period was 3.4 and 6.8 days for males and 3.5 and 7.4 days for females, respectively at 32ºC and 18ºC. At the temperatures of 18, 25 and 32ºC, each female deposited, respectively, 16.5, 44.3 and 13.3 eggs. The stages of egg, larva and pupa and egg-adult period presented, respectively, thermal thresholds of 11.23, 9.45, 12.19, and 9.71°C and thermal constant of 28.51, 14.59, 8.33, and 62.73 degrees-day. The mean duration of one generation (T) was 25.6, 10.8 and 8.2 days, respectively, at the temperatures of 18, 25 and 32°C. The net reproductive rate (R0) at the temperature of 25°C was the highest, corresponding to an increase of 30.12 times at each generation. The intrinsic rate of population increase (r m) was 0.10 (18°C), 0.31 (25°C) and 0.12 (32°C) and the finite ratio of population increase (lambda) was 1.10 (18°C), 1.36 (25°C) and 1.13 (32°C). According to the mean temperature values, P. latus can have 95 and 99 generations/year, respectively, for the municipal districts of Petrolina, PE and Juazeiro, BA.

Estudou-se em laboratório a biologia do ácaro branco, Polypha-gotorsonemus latus (Banks) em, pimentão (Capsicum annuum) a 20, 25 e 30 °C. Observou-se relação inversa entre a duração do desenvolvimento de P. latus e a temperatura em todas as fases do ciclo de vida do ácaro. A duração do período de ovo a adulto foi maior a 20 °C (5,7 dias para machos e 6,2 dias para fêmea). A oviposição foi mais baixa a 20 °C. A temperatura de 25 °C foi a mais adequada para a fertilidade (27,9 ovos). Os parâmetros obtidos na tabela de vida de fertilidade foram progressivamente maiores com o aumento da temperatura. O oposto ocorreu com a duração média de uma geração.

The biology of Polyphagotarsonemuslatus (Banks) was studied in sweet pepper, Capsicum annuum at 20, 25, and 30 ºC. An inverse relationship between P. latus developmental period and temperature was observed for all stages of the white mite life cycle. Duration of eggs-adults period was the greatest at 20 ºC (5.7 d for males and 6.2 d for females). Oviposition was lower at 20 ºC. The most suitable temperature for fertility was 25 °C (27.9 eggs). The parameters obtained from fertility life table were progressively higher with the increase in temperature, but the opposite ocurred with the mean duration of a generation.