Abstract Cereus jamacaru is a cactus distributed in Northeastern Brazil, with high symbolic value to this region. However, the interaction, behavior and the role of pollinators remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the reproductive biology, addressing the ecological significance of floral attributes, including details about floral signaling. The study was carried at three areas of the Caatinga, in 2015, 2017 and 2021. We analyzed the floral morphometry, volume and concentration of the nectar, and characterized the colour and scent of flowers. Additionally, we described the pollinator behavior and performed controlled pollination experiments. The ‘Mandacaru’ is self-incompatible, has nocturnal anthesis and the nectar is accumulated as droplets in a long hypanthial tube. The flowers have a reflective pattern with a dark outer surface and a white inner surface. (E)-nerolidol is the major component (87.4%) of its floral perfume. We registered the sphingid moth Cocytius antaeus visiting the flowers. The floral attributes, attractants and rewards drives to a sphingophily, and the pollination treatments showed the dependence to fruit set by C. antaeus, the pollinator registered. In this case, if the apparent lack of pollinator diversity encompasses its entire range, the loss of the hawkmoth could severely impact the reproductive success of the cactus.

Abstract Insects have several types of sensilla, the characterization of which has been fundamental to understanding the mechanisms of sensory perception in different species. This study aimed to describe the ultrastructure of the sensilla present on the antennae of Alabama argillacea (Hübner, 1823) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), an important pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crops, as well as their possible variation between sexes. To do this, the antennae of males and females of A. argillacea were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Sensilla morphometry was assessed using photomicrographs, from which the lengths and basal and apical diameters of sensilla were measured using the ImageJ program. Seven types of sensilla were identified on the antennae of A. argillacea: sensilla trichodea, sensilla chaetica, sensilla auricillica, sensilla coeloconica, sensilla styloconica, sensilla basiconica, and sensilla Böhm bristles. Differences between the sensilla of males and females were found in their lengths and basal diameters in the distal and proximal regions. This suggests that sensilla functionality may not only vary from one species to another, but also between sexes within the same species. Thus, further transmission electron microscopy and single sensillum recording studies may provide more detailed information on the sensilla of A. argillacea and their functions.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos fumigante e repelente de óleos essenciais sobre adultos de Callosobruchus maculatus e identificar a composição química de dois dos óleos essenciais testados. Para o teste de fumigação, os óleos de Schinus terebinthifolius, Piper aduncum, Syzygium aromaticum, Piper hispidinervum, Cymbopogon citratus, Cinnamomum zeylanicum e do composto eugenol foram testados em diferentes concentrações sobre adultos de C. maculatus. Para o teste de repelência, foram avaliados os óleos de S. terebinthifolius, P. aduncum, P. hispidinervum, S. aromaticum, Jatropha curcas e Ricinus communis. No teste de fumigação, observou-se que P. aduncum e o eugenol mostraram maior e menor CL50, de 169,50 e 0,28 μL L-1 de ar, respectivamente. No teste de repelência, os óleos de S. aromaticum e P. hispidinervum foram repelentes a C.maculatus. A análise de cromatografia gasosa acoplada a espectrometria de massas (CG-EM) destes dois óleos identificou 42 compostos, dos quais o safrole foi o principal componente de P. hispidinervum e o eugenol de S. aromaticum. Os óleos essenciais de S. aromaticum, C.zeylanicum e do composto eugenol são os mais promissores para o controle de C.maculatus, via fumigação.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to assess the fumigant and repellent effects of essential oils on adults of Callosobruchus maculatus and to identify the chemical composition of two of the tested essential oils. For the fumigation test, the oils of Schinus terebinthifolius, Piper aduncum, Syzygium aromaticum, Piper hispidinervum, Cymbopogon citratus, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and the eugenol compound were tested at different concentrations on C. maculatus adults. For the repellency test, the oils of S. terebinthifolius, P. aduncum, P. hispidinervum, S. aromaticum, Jatropha curcas, and Ricinus communis were evaluated. In the fumigation test, it was observed that P. aduncum and eugenol showed the highest and lowest LC50s, of 169.50 and 0.28 μL L-1 air, respectively. In the repellency test, the oils of S. aromaticum and P. hispidinervum were repellent to C. maculatus. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of these two oils identified 42 compounds, of which safrole was the main component of P. hispidinervum and eugenol of S. aromaticum. The essential oils of S. aromaticum, C. zeylanicum, and the eugenol compound are the most promising to control C. maculatus, via fumigation.

Abstract: The essential oils from leaves, stems and roots of Piper caldense were analyzed by GC-MS. The antibacterial potential of the oils was evaluated against gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive bacteria. The major chemical constituents that were identified from various parts of this plant were α-cardinal, α-muurolol, tujopsan-2-β-ol and δ-cadiene in the leaves, valencene, pentadecane, elina-3,7-11-dieno α-terpineol in the roots and terpine-4-ol, α-terpineol, α-cadinol 2-β-ol in the stems. Tissue oils showed antibacterial activity against the bacteria tested except for Enterococcus faecalis. This is the first report of the biological activity and chemical composition essential oil of P. caldense.

Resumen: Los aceites esenciales de hojas, tallos y raíces de Piper Caldense se analizaron mediante CG-EM. El potencial antibacteriano de los aceites se evaluó frente a bacterias gram-negativas y bacterias gram-positivas. Los principales componentes químicos que fueron identificados de varias partes de esta planta fueron a-cardenal, α-muurolol, tujopsan-2-β-ol y δ-cadiene en las hojas, valenceno, pentadecano, elina-3,7-11-dieno α-terpineol en las raíces y terpina-4-ol, α-terpineol, α-cadinol 2-β-ol en los tallos. Aceites del tejido mostraron actividad antibacteriana contra las bacterias analizadas excepto por Enterococcus faecalis. Este es el primer informe de la actividad biológica y la composición química del aceite esencial de P. caldense.

Electrocatalytic hydrogenation (HEC) may be compared to catalytic hydrogenation (HC). The difference between these methods is the hydrogen source: HC needs a hydrogen gas supply; HEC needs a source of protons (solvent) to be reduced at a cathode surface. HEC has presented interesting advances in the last decades due to investigation of the influence of the supporting electrolyte, co-solvent, surfactant, presence of inert gas and the composition of the electrode on the reaction. Several classes of organic compounds have been hydrogenated through HEC: olefins, ketones, aldehydes, aromatics, polyaromatics and nitro-compounds. This paper shows some details about the HEC which may be regarded as a promising technique for the hydrogenation of organic compounds both in industrial processes and in laboratories.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar os índices de captura de Rhynchophorus palmarum em armadilhas iscadas com o feromônio de agregação, 6-metil-2(E)-hepten-4-ol (rincoforol), associado a toletes de cana-de-açúcar, a pedaços de frutos do abacaxi e a seis compostos voláteis isolados de frutos do abacaxi. Os compostos voláteis do abacaxi são caracterizados por uma mistura de ésteres metílicos e etílicos, sendo o octanoato de metila e o octanoato de etila os mais abundantes. As armadilhas iscadas com o rincoforol associado a toletes de cana-de-açúcar e as iscas com rincoforol associado a pedaços de abacaxi não apresentaram diferenças significativas no número de besouros capturados. No entanto, ambas apresentaram índices de captura superiores àquelas em que o rincoforol foi utilizado em associação com voláteis do abacaxi. Não se observaram efeitos significativos do local e época de captura, nem no número de machos e de fêmeas capturados.

The aim of this work was to investigate the capture of Rhynchophorus palmarum in traps baited with its aggregation pheromone, 6-methyl-2(E)-hepten-4-ol (rhynchophorol), in association with sugar cane, pieces of pineapple fruit, and six volatile compounds from pineapple. A mixture of methyl and ethyl esters, being methyl octanoate and ethyl octanoate the most abundant, characterizes the volatile compounds from pineapple fruits. Traps baited with rhynchophorol in association with sugar cane and those baited with rhynchophorol in association with pieces of pineapple, showed no significant differences in the number of trapped weevils. However, both traps caught significantly more weevils, than those baited with rhynchophorol in association with pineapple volatiles. There were no significant effects from place and time or in the number of male and female weevils trapped.

Rhynchophorol (6-Methyl-2-hepten-4-ol) is the major constituent of the aggregation pheromone of Rhynchophorus palmarum L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), which is released by males of this species. The racemic mixture has been produced in one step-simplified preparation. The pheromone is placed into ampoules and furnished to coconut farmers. In the field, traps baited with Rhynchophorol and pieces of sugarcane attract both males and females, reducing the population of R. palmarum. The best conditions for field application are showed.