ABSTRACT The effect of a crude extract of Annona crassiflora was evaluated on larvae of the soybean looper, Chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in different stages of larval development. The extract was prepared with seeds of A. crassiflora fruits collected in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The extract was diluted in water and solubilizer agent at the concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0%; it was tested by ingestion of treated leaves and contact. The mortality rate of topically treated caterpillars of first, third, and fifth instars was significantly higher than that of the control group. For first instar caterpillars, mortality was observed within the first 24 h after application, while, for the remaining instars, it was significant after 72 h. For caterpillars fed treated leaves, no differences in mortality rates were observed within the first 120 h. These caterpillars were monitored until the end of the larval stage, during which mortality rates increased for first and third instar caterpillars. The mortality rate of fifth instar larvae was not significantly different between treatments. The treatment by ingestion was not efficient over a short period of time, but reduced the number of caterpillars that completed their development, decreasing the number of insects in the following generation. We concluded that the crude extract of A. crassiflora affected the development of C. includens and is a promising compound for the control of this pest.

Se evaluó el efecto del extracto de Annona crassiflora sobre el parasitoide de huevos Trissolcus urichi, enemigo natural de Euschistus heros, principal plaga de la soya en Brasil. Para esto, se realizaron dos bioensayos utilizando concentraciones de 0,5%, 1,0%, 2,0% y 4,0% y como controles agua y dimetilsulfóxido (10%). En el primer bioensayo, huevos de E. heros no parasitados fueron sumergidos en el extracto de A. crassiflora y ofrecidos a las hembras de T. urichi. En el segundo bioensayo, huevos previamente parasitados fueron sometidos a tratamientos en tres diferentes edades de T. urichi (huevo, larva y pupa). Las variables evaluadas fueron el número de huevos parasitados y parasitoides emergidos. El porcentaje de reducción del parasitismo fue calculado y clasificado de acuerdo con la IOBC. El extracto de A. crassiflora aplicado antes de ser ofrecido a las hembras redujo el parasitismo en concentraciones superiores al 0,5%, y cuando aplicado después del parasitismo no interfirió en las etapas de desarrollo del parasitoide. Este resultado puede ser útil tanto para una prueba de campo como para la toma de decisiones sobre las fechas de aplicación y liberación de las avispas.

The effect of the Annona crassiflora (Annonaceae) extract was evaluated on the egg parasitoid Trissolcus urichi (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), natural enemy of Euschistus heros (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), major pest of soybean in Brazil. For this two bioassays were conducted with extract concentrations 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0% and 4.0% and controls (distilled water and DMSO). In the first bioassay, unparasitized eggs of E. heros were treated with the extract of A. crassiflora and offered to T. urichi females. In second bioassay, parasitized eggs were treated in three stages in order to achieve different development stages of T. urichi (egg, larvae and pupae). The variables evaluated were the number of eggs parasitized and parasitoids emerged. The percentage of parasitism was calculated and classified according to IOBC. The extract of A. crassiflora reduced parasitism in concentrations higher than 0.5% when applied on unparasitized eggs and when applied on parasitized eggs, it did not affected the developmental stages of the parasitoid indicating the selectivity of the extract on the development of the parasitoid. This is an important result to be considered in a field test, useful as for decisions on the moment of application and the release of the wasps.

Esta pesquisa avaliou o potencial inseticida do extrato de folhas de Piper aduncum (L.) (Piperaceae) sobre o desenvolvimento do percevejo marrom, Euschistus heros (F.), a principal praga da soja no Mato Grosso. Para este estudo, foram realizados bioensaios com ovos, ninfas e adultos do percevejo, utilizando as concentrações de 0,5; 1,0; 2,0; 4,0 e 8,0%, do extrato acetônico de P. aduncum e como controle acetona P.A. Foram avaliados o número de ovos inviáveis, a mortalidade de ninfas e a longevidade, fecundidade e fertilidade dos adultos. No bioensaio de imersão dos ovos, todas as concentrações maiores que 1% tornou inviável mais de 70% dos ovos, enquanto, no bioensaio de contato, apenas 19% dos ovos foram inviabilizados na concentração 8%, diferindo do controle. No bioensaio com ninfas, as concentrações de 8% e 4% ocasionaram morte de 72% e 52%, respectivamente. No bioensaio com adultos, todas as concentrações testadas reduziram significativamente a sobrevivência dos insetos e a reprodução dos insetos. Assim, ficou evidente que P. aduncum é uma planta com potencial para o controle do percevejo marrom, pois teve ação deletéria em todas as fases de desenvolvimento de E. heros.

This research aimed to evaluate the insecticide potential of the leaves extract of Piper aduncum (L.) (Piperaceae) on development of brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), major pest in soybean crop in Mato Grosso State. For this a bioassay was conducted with eggs, nymphs and adults of this stink bug, using the concentrations 0.5; 1.0; 2.0; 4.0 and 8.0%, of the extract acetonic of P. aduncum and acetone for control. It was evaluated the numbers of unviable eggs, nymphs death and longevity, fecundity and fertility of the adults. In the immersing eggs bioassay, all concentrations greater than 1% unviable more than 70% of the eggs, while in the contact bioassay only 19% of the eggs were unviable in 8% concentration, differing of control. In nymphs bioassay the concentrations of 8% and 4% caused death of 72% and 52%, respectively. In adults bioassay all concentrations tested reduced significantly the survival and reproduction of the insects. Thus is evidence that P. aduncum is a potential plant for stink bug control, because it had deleterious action in all development phases on E. heros.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência das formulações septo de borracha e lure do feromônio sexual do percevejo marrom Euschistus heros e compará-la ao método do pano de batida, para o monitoramento dessa praga em lavoura de soja. Os tratamentos foram: feromônio em septo de borracha, feromônio em lure e amostragem com pano de batida. As amostragens foram realizadas semanalmente durante a fase reprodutiva da soja (dez semanas). Para estimar a densidade populacional de percevejos e compará-la à captura nas armadilhas de feromônio, foram efetuados quatro panos de batida por semana em todas as parcelas; além disso, foi determinado o número de percevejos capturados nas armadilhas por semana. Os danos provocados pelos percevejos nas sementes foram analisados pelo teste de tetrazólio. As formulações do feromônio foram eficientes na captura de E. heros, e a formulação em lure capturou mais percevejos. O controle precoce da população, indicado pelo nível de controle nas armadilhas com feromônio, resultou em sementes com maior qualidade do que as provenientes das parcelas monitoradas pelo pano de batida. Assim, as armadilhas com feromônio são mais eficientes que o pano de batida para o monitoramento das populações de percevejos durante a fase crítica do ataque deste inseto nas lavouras de soja.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of rubber septum and lure formulations of the brown stink bug Euschistus heros sex pheromone and to compare it with the shake cloth method for monitoring this pest in soybean fields. The treatments were: pheromone in rubber septum, pheromone in lure, and sampling with shake cloth. Samples were taken weekly during the soybean reproductive stage (ten weeks). To estimate bug population density and compare it with the capture in pheromone traps, four shake clothes per week were carried out in all plots; in addition, the number of bugs captured in traps was determined weekly. Damage caused by bugs in seeds was evaluated using the tetrazolium test. Pheromone formulations were effective in capturing E. heros, and the lure formulation captured more bugs. Early population control, indicated by the level of control in the pheromone traps, resulted in seeds with higher quality than those from plots monitored with shake cloth. Therefore, pheromone traps are more efficient than the shake cloth for monitoring stink bug populations during the critical phase of the bug attack in soybean fields.

La enfermedad de Chagas se convirtió en un problema de salud debido a su importancia epidemiológica, es producida por el protista Trypanosoma cruzi, cuyos insectos vectores son del género Triatoma y Panstrongylus. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la actividad biocida del extracto de Annona coriacea en las ninfas de Rhodnius neglectus y en sus adultos. Se evaluaron 14 concentraciones de 25, 50, 100 y 200mg/ml del extracto etanólico, así como el control, en este caso agua de DMSO (20%). Se utilizo un diseño completamente aleatorizado con tres repeticiones para el bioensayo con 10 ninfas y 10 adultos (cinco machos y cinco hembras) para cada tratamiento. La acción del extracto se observo durante 28 días en ambos bioensayos. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que el extracto de A. coriacea fue capaz de interrumpir el desarrollo de las ninfas y adultos de R. neglectus, con una mortalidad de más del 90%, 36% y 100%, correspondiendo a las concentraciones más altas. También hubo inhibición de la muda de las ninfas, una menor capacidad reproductiva de las hembras, disuasión alimentaria y cambios morfológicos en las ninfas y adultos. Se concluye que el extracto de A. coriacea presentó acción insecticida en ninfas y adultos de R. neglectus.

The use of synthetic insecticides for insect control may lead to different kind of problems, such as vector resistance to insecticides. To avoid these problems, a new research area to study botanical products as possible disease vectors controls, has become a feasible alternative. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the biocide activity of the ethanol extract of seeds of Annona coriacea on Rhodnius neglectus (Chagas disease vector) nymphs and adults. For this, different concentrations extracts were evaluated: 25, 50, 100 and 200mg/ mL, and water in DMSO (20%) was used as control. The experimental design was completely randomized and we conducted the bioassay with nymphs and adults, with 10 nymphs and 10 adults (five males and five females) per treatment. Extract action was evaluated in both bioassays, in order to identify possible effects of mortality and life cycle interruption of nymphs and adults during a 28-day-period. The results obtained showed that the extract of A. coriacea was able to disrupt the development of nymphs and adults of R. neglectus, with a mortality rate of more than 90%, 36% and 100%, at the highest concentrations, respectively. There was also molting inhibition in nymphs, lower reproductive capacity in females, feeding deterrence and morphological changes in nymphs and adults. We concluded that the extract of A. coriacea has insecticide action on nymphs and adults of R. neglectus.

Este estudo objetivou caracterizar plantas e frutos de araticum (Annona crassiflora), avaliar a frequência de consumo, predação e dispersão de suas sementes por animais e seus efeitos na germinação, em área de Cerrado, entre fevereiro de 2007 a junho de 2008. Baseado em armadilhas de pegadas, registrou-se a frequência de visitação (FV) e o consumo de frutos por animais, além da ação de insetos em frutos caídos no solo, sob as plantas. Estrumes de antas, Tapirus terrestris, foram amostrados para verificar a frequência de ocorrência (FO) e os danos causados por elas e por insetos. Para analisar a dispersão por antas, foram inseridas miçangas coloridas em frutos maduros caídos sob plantas-mãe. Posteriormente, foi medida a distância entre o local das fezes com miçanga até a planta-mãe da cor específica da miçanga. Realizou-se teste de germinação com sementes de amostras fecais e de frutos intactos. Dentre os animais que se alimentaram dos frutos, antas contribuíram com maior frequência de visitação e consumo de frutos de araticum, o qual representou 54% de frequência de ocorrência nas amostras fecais e as sementes não foram significativamente danificadas. Besouros (Scarabaeidae) se alimentaram da polpa de frutos e enterraram sementes de araticum próximo da planta-mãe. Insetos curculionídeos e euritomídeos predaram as sementes de araticum nos frutos. Os danos causados nas sementes por esses insetos foram significativamente maiores que aqueles provocados pelas antas. Foram encontradas duas fezes com miçangas distantes 1,7km e 1,8km das plantas-mãe, respectivamente. A germinação das sementes foi baixa neste período de estudo, no entanto, as antas podem proteger as sementes de insetos predadores, defecando-as intactas para longas distâncias. Assim, T. terrestris é um possível dispersor, enquanto que curculionídeos e euritomídeos são possíveis predadores de sementes de araticum. Essas relações provavelmente contribuem para o controle da população de araticum no Cerrado brasileiro.

This study aimed to characterize araticum (Annona crassiflora) plants and fruits, and evaluate the frequency of consumption, predation and dispersal of the seeds by animals and its effect on germination, in Cerrado vegetation area, between February 2007 and June 2008. Using track traps installed on araticum plants, the frequency of visitation (FV) and the fruit consumption by the animals was assessed, as well as, the action of insects in fallen fruits under the trees was registered. Sample of tapirs excrement Tapirus terrestris were analyzed to verify the occurrence frequency (FO) and the damage caused on the seeds by tapirs and insects. To analyze the dispersal by tapirs, colored beads were inserted in fallen mature fruits under the parent trees. Then, the distance between the location of the excrements with beads to the parent tree in the specific color of the bead was measured. Germination test was performed with excrement samples and unbroken fruit seeds. Among the animals that fed on fruits, tapirs contributed with the largest frequency of visitation and consumption of araticum fruits, representing 54% of the frequency occurrence in excrement samples, and the seeds were not damaged significantly. Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) fed the pulp of the fruit and buried araticum seeds next to the parent tree. Curculionid and eurytomid insects predated the araticum seeds on the fruits. The damage caused by these insects in the seeds was significantly higher than those caused by tapirs. Two excrements with beads were found at 1,7 and 1,8km distant from the parent trees, respectively. The seeds had low germinability in this period of study, however the tapirs can protect the seeds of predator insects, defecating the intact seeds for long distances. Thus, T. terrestris is a possible disperser of seeds, whereas curculionids and eurytomids can be considered predators of araticum seeds. These relations probably contribute with the control of araticum population in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Cerconota anonella é a principal praga das Annonaceae em toda região Neotropical. Os prejuízos causados pela lagarta, podem reduzir de 60 a 100% da produção de frutos. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram estudar a biologia da broca-do-fruto Cerconota anonella em diferentes temperaturas, determinar suas exigências térmicas e estimar o número de gerações para os municípios produtores do estado de São Paulo. Para determinar a duração, viabilidade e exigências térmicas criaram-se insetos em frutos de pinha, em diferentes temperaturas (18, 21, 25, 28, 30 e 32°C), umidade relativa 90,0±5,0 % e fotoperíodo de 14 horas. A duração das fases de desenvolvimento e do ciclo biológico (ovo-adulto) foi afetada pela temperatura, tendo sido maior nas temperaturas mais baixas; a viabilidade foi maior na faixa térmica de 21 a 30°C. O limiar térmico inferior de desenvolvimento (Tb) e a constante térmica (K) para as fases de ovo, lagarta, pupa e ciclo de vida foram de 10,20°C e 83,33GD; 11,72°C e de 249,71GD; 8,69°C e 161,33GD; 11,05°C e 478,14GD, respectivamente. Com base nas normais climáticas, o número de gerações anuais de C. anonella variou de 9 a 10 e de 7 a 8 se considerar apenas a época de frutificação. Esses resultados demonstram o alto potencial de infestação desta praga no campo.

Cerconota anonella is the most important pest of the Annonaceae in the Neotropical region. Larval damage can result in 60 to 100% losses in fruit production. The objectives of this research were to study the biology of the Annona fruit borer C. anonella in different temperatures, to determine their thermal requirements and estimate the number of generations to the cities producers of Sao Paulo state. To determine the duration, viability and thermal requirements insects were reared in sugar apple, at different temperatures (18, 21, 25, 28, 30 and 32°C), relative humidity and 90.0±5.0 photoperiod of 14 hours. The duration of the stages development and the biological cycle (egg-adult) were affected by temperature and were higher in lower temperatures; the viability was higher in the temperature range from 21 to 30°C. The lowest temperature threshold development (Tb) and thermal constant (K) for the egg, caterpillar, pupal and life cycle were 10.20°C and 83.33 GD; 11.72°C and 249.71 GD, 8,69°C and 161.33 GD; 11.05°C e 478.14 GD, respectively. Based on normal climatic l, the number of annual generations of C. anonella ranged from 9 to 10 and from 7 to 8 if it was considered the only fruiting time . These results demonstrate the high potential of this pest in the field.