Resumen Nasutitermes corniger es una termita arbórea que causa daños económicos en las zonas urbanas, y su control es mediante insecticidas químicos. Una alternativa para el control de insectos es el uso de hongos entomopatógenos y extractos de plantas, o el efecto sinérgico de la asociación de estos. Se examinó la toxicidad de los extractos acuosos e hidroetanólicos de Agave sisalana sobre los aspectos biológicos de los hongos Cordyceps farinosa, C. fumosorosea y C. javanica y la acción de los extractos y su efecto sinérgico sobre N. corniger. Se evaluó el efecto de los extractos sobre hongos por germinación, esporulación y crecimiento micelial de los hongos en medio Sabouraud mediante el estudio de aspectos biológicos bajo condiciones de laboratorio y se examinó el control de N. corniger, por ingestión de extractos y de la asociación extracto y hongo sobre papel de filtro, siendo el porcentaje de mortalidad de soldados y obreras de la termita diaria. En general, los extractos resultaron inofensivos para los hongos a concentraciones de 10, 25, 50, 100 y 200 mg.mL-1. Los extractos demostraron acciones termiticidas a las concentraciones ensayadas, provocando la mortalidad de alrededor del 100% de los trabajadores después del tercer y sexto día (LC50: 0.778 a 0.803 mg.mL-1) y del 100% de los soldados entre el cuarto y séptimo días (LC50: 0.146 a 0.956 mg.mL-1). La asociación de los extractos con C. farinosa ESALQ1355 fue más eficiente para inducir la mortalidad en N. corniger. Estos resultados demostraron la eficiencia in vitro de los extractos de sisal en el control de las termitas de N. corniger, solas o en combinación con hongos, lo que sugiere su potencial utilidad conjunta en el control biológico de plagas de insectos.

Abstract Nasutitermes corniger is an arboreal termite that causes economic damage in urban areas, and its control is for chemical insecticides. An alternative for insect control is the use of entomopathogenic fungi and plant extracts, or the synergistic effect of the association of these. The toxicity of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of Agave sisalana on the biological aspects of the fungal Cordyceps farinosa, C. fumosorosea and C. javanica and the action of the extracts and their synergistic effect on N. corniger was examined. The effect of the extracts on fungi was evaluated by germination, sporulation and mycelial growth of fungi in Sabouraud medium through the study of biological aspects under laboratory conditions; and control of N. corniger were examined, by ingestion of extracts and of the association extract plus fungus on filter paper, being the percentage of mortality of soldiers and workers of the termite daily. In general, the extracts were inoffensive to the fungi at concentrations 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg.mL-1. The extracts demonstrated termiticidal actions at concentrations tested, causing the mortalities about 100% of the workers after the third and sixth days (LC50: 0.778 to 0.803 mg.mL-1) and 100% of the soldiers between the fourth and seventh days (LC50:0.146 to 0.956 mg.mL-1). The association of the extracts with C. farinosa ESALQ1355 was more efficient in inducing the mortality in N. corniger. These results demonstrated the efficiency in vitro of the sisal extracts in controlling N. corniger termites, alone or in combination with fungi, suggesting their potential joint usefulness in the biological control of insect pests.

Abstract We analyzed the activity of the entomopathogenic fungi Isaria farinosa, I. fumosorosea and I. javanica against the cochineal Dactylopius opuntiae, as well as the effects of the insecticides clorpirifos, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam and lambda-cyhalothrin on the conidia germination, mycelium growth and a sporulation of the fungi. These fungi were not pathogenic to cochineal. This the first report of the efficiency of Isaria spp. against this the insect. The bioassays of the compatibility of the insecticides acetamiprid and thiametoxam with species of Isaria indicate the possibility of the joint use of these products in studies on the control of D. opuntiae.

Resumen El trabajo analizó las acciones de los hongos entomopatógenos Isaria farinosa, I. fumosorosea y I. javanica contra la cochonilla Dactylopius opuntiae, así como el efecto de los insecticidas clorpirifos, acetamiprid, tiametoxam y lambda-cialotrina sobre la germinación, el crecimiento micelial y esporulación del mismo. Los hongos no fueron patógenos a D. opuntiae, siendo éste el primer reporte de la eficiencia de Isaria spp., sobre este insecto. Los bioensayos de la compatibilidad de los insecticidas acetamiprid y thiametoxam con especies de Isaria indican la posibilidad de uso conjunto de estos productos en estudios para el control de D. opuntiae.

A mosca do figo, Zaprionus indianus, vem se disseminando no Brasil e causou nos últimos anos perdas de até 50% na produção de figos. Uma alternativa viável de controle desta mosca pode ser a utilização de fungos entomopatogênicos. Este trabalho foi conduzido em laboratório (27±1°C, UR 70±10% e fotoperíodo de 12h) para avaliar a suscetibilidade dos estágios de larva e adulto de Z. indianus a cinco concentrações (10(8) a 10(4) conídios mL-1) de B. bassiana (URM2915; ESALQ447) e M. anisopliae (URM3349; URM4403). Não houve mortalidade larval e o período de pré-pupa não sofreu alteração em relação ao grupo controle, já o estágio de pupa foi aumentado em até três dias quando se utilizou B. bassiana. A emergência de adultos diminuiu em relação ao grupo controle: 10,6% quando as larvas foram tratadas com a maior concentração de B. bassiana URM2916 e 2,0% com M. anisopliae URM4403. No bioensaio com adultos, a mortalidade máxima atingiu 98,7% com B. bassiana e 100,0% com M. anisopliae. Os menores valores da CL50 foram de 1,09x10(5) conídios mL-1 para B. bassiana URM2916 e de 1,94x10(4) conídios mL-1 para M. anisopliae URM4403. O tempo letal médio (TL50) variou de 4,5 a 6,12 dias. Os resultados demonstraram que ambos os fungos são eficientes e mostram ser promissores agentes biocontroladores da mosca do figo, com destaque para M. anisopliae URM4403.

The "fig fly", Zaprionus indianus, has spread by in Brazil and in recent years and has caused losses of up to 50% in the production of figs. A viable alternative to control this fly may be the use of entomopathogenic fungi such. The present study was developed in laboratory (27±1°C, RH 70±10% and 12h photoperiod), to assess the susceptibility of larval and adult stages of Z. indianus to five concentrations (10(8) to 10(4) conidia mL-1) of B. bassiana (URM2915; ESALQ447) and M. anisopliae (URM3349; URM4403). There was no larval mortality and the pre-pupal period did not change compared with the control group, whereas the pupal stage was increased by up to three days when we used B. bassiana URM2916. The emergence of adults decreased compared to the control group and was 10.6% when the larvae were treated with the highest concentration of B. bassiana URM2916 and 2.0% for M. anisopliae URM4403. In the adult's bioassay, the maximum mortality reached 98.7% with B. bassiana and 100.0% with M. anisopliae. The lowest LC50 values were 1.09x10(5) conidia mL-1 for B. bassiana URM2916 and 1.94x10(4) conidia mL-1 for M. anisopliae URM4403. The medium lethal time (LT50) ranged from 4.5 to 6.12 days. The results showed that both fungi are efficient and promising biocontrol agents of fig fly, mainly M. anisopliae URM4403.