Abstract The objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of essential oils of cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) on the control of Acanthoscelides obtectus in laboratory conditions. The extraction of the oils was executed by the hydro-distillation method in a Clevenger device, for 4 hours and the design used was completely randomized, with five replications, in a 10x8 factorial arrangement (dozes and exposition time) with ten concentrations (20; 10; 5; 2.5; 1.75; 0.75; 0.5; 0.25 and 0.0% and Tween® 5.0%). Each replication was comprised by 10 unsexed insects of A. obtectus. The variables evaluated are as follows: control efficiency and CL50 through the Proc Probit analysis. The evaluations were carried out in 1, 2, 3, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after the treatment. The results demonstrate that the essential oils of cloves and thyme caused 100% of mortality after 48 and 72 hours, respectively, in the 20% concentration. The Cl50 was estimated at 30.46 µL mL-1 for the oil of cloves and 24.93 µL mL-1 for the oil of thyme. The use of essential oils of cloves and thyme represent a viable alternative for use in storehouses for the integrated management of A. obtectus.

Abstract The study was carried out on an agroecological property located in Cologne São Manoel, 8th district of Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Anochetus neglectus Emery, 1894 was collected in an area of peach orchard that has been under an agroecological system for 18 years. This record expands the area of occurrence and distribution of this rare species in the Neotropical Region.

Abstract The objective of the study was to compare the richness and diversity of ant assemblages in an agroecological system under peach orchard, conventional system under peach orchard cultivation and native vegetation in rural properties located in a Pampa Biome. The study was conducted in four samplings in 2017: 1st and 09th March (summer); 24th and 31st July (winter); and four samplings in 2018: 23rd and 30th January (summer); 31st July and 07th August (winter). Pitfall traps were used. The assemblages were characterized and compared using richness, number of occurrences of ants, Shannon diversity (H’), equitability, rarefaction analysis and Chao 1. The association of the species with the samples was evaluated by a Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The agroecological system had the highest number of occurrences, while the conventional orchard the lowest number. Richness and abundance were greatest during the summer. The conventional peach orchard obtained the lowest H’ for both seasons when compared to the agroecological orchard and native vegetation. The PCA explained 77.40% of the occurrence of ants in the environments and in the seasons. The results found demonstrated that conservationist systems tend to harbor greater wealth and diversity of ant assemblages, as well as occurring in native áreas.

Abstract Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a major fruit pest, which is basicaly controlled using insecticides, which represents a risk to beneficial arthropods, human health and food contamination. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is a potential alternative tool for the management of this pest, however, only conflicting data is found regarding the optimal dose to achieve sterility. Thus, this study evaluated the effect of gamma radiation doses (0, 40, 50, 60 and 70 Gy) on male and female reproductive sterility, gonads morphometry, emergence, flight ability, and longevity under nutritional stress of A. fraterculus. Full female sterility was achieved at 50 Gy, while full male sterility was achieved at 70 Gy. Both ovarian and testicular sizes were affected by irradiation, while no influence was observed on the quality parameters evaluated. Our results suggest that 70 Gy applied 48 h before adult emergence can be used to sterilize A. fraterculus in a SIT programme.

ABSTRACT Neotropical Annonaceae-derived bioinsecticides have shown promising control of insect pest species. In order to develop an alternative tool for control Zaprionus indianus (Gupta, 1970), an important invasive pest of Brazilian orchards, this study investigated the insecticidal activity of a formulation prepared from ethanolic seed extract of different Annona species (Annona mucosa Jacq., Annona muricata L., and Annona sylvatica A. St.-Hil.) at discriminatory concentration of 2000 mg L-1 in comparison with a limonoid-based bioinsecticide and a synthetic insecticide (spinetoram) as positive controls. In an ingestion and topical application bioassay, the formulation based on A. mucosa caused more than 95% mortality, which was equivalent to the mortality caused by the synthetic insecticide spinetoram. In a free-choice bioassay, A. mucosa (83%), bioinsecticide (88%) and synthetic insecticide (98%) produced a significant reduction in the number of eggs per fruit. In addition, formulations based on A. mucosa, A. sylvatica, A. muricata and bioinsecticide resulted in a 50% reduction in egg viability. In the field, A. mucosa and bioinsecticide negatively influenced the infestation by Z. indianus in figs, producing a significant reduction in the number of larvae per fruit (3.6 and 2.29 larvae per fruit, respectively) in relation to the control treatment (11 larvae per fruit). However, they were significantly inferior to the synthetic insecticide (0.71 larvae per fruit). Thus, A. mucosa, bioinsecticide and spinetoram have the potential to be used in the framework of Z. indianus management.

Abstract: This study aimed to know the patterns of spatial distribution of Anastrepha spp. and establish a criterion for determining the appropriate time for pest control. For this, 90 McPhail traps were used as Sampling Units (SU) divided into three commercial orchards of Novo Milênio guava with a total area of 14 ha. Traps were interspersed between the rows of plants, systematically in the orchards, hung and baited with 5% hydrolyzed corn protein with weekly collections. We caught 8,170 Anastrepha spp. in 840 SU. The mean infestation index was compared to the three types of distribution: random, uniform, aggregate, and fit by the theoretical frequency distributions of Poisson, negative binomial and positive binomial. The populations of Anastrepha presented aggregate distribution according to the mean variance method (I), tested by distance from randomness. The economic damage risk potential of Anastrepha spp. was associated with the aggregate distribution behavior. The most appropriate moment for the use of control techniques is when reaching 20 flies by the negative binomial. On the other hand, number of fruit fly adults per trap per day (FTD), underestimates population index, which will allow population growth, leading to risk of crop production loss.

Abstract: Drosophila suzukii is one of the main pests of small fruits in the world. An effective monitoring is fundamental to detect the presence of the fly and to predict the infestation of fruits in new areas. We evaluated the food baits Ceratrap®, Torula®, Biofruit®, Suzukii Trap®, apple cider vinegar, and a homemade mixture comprising wine, vinegar and molasses (WVM) for D. suzukii attractiveness, and if reproductive stage affects females attraction and capture in the different baits. Bait selectivity of non-target insects was assessed. The preference of adults between ripe blackberry fruit and the food baits was also evaluated. Adults showed a higher attraction (61.97% of the captured insects) to the WVM mixture than to Ceratrap® (1.32%), Torula® (0.52%), Biofruit® (13.15%), Suzukii Trap® (17.6%), and apple vinegar (5.4%). Considering the attractiveness to D. suzukii, Suzukii Trap® and apple vinegar were the most selective to non-target insects. In general, reproductively immature females showed a preference for Biofruit®, apple vinegar, and WVM, whereas mature females did not show bait preferences. Adults preferred ripe blackberry fruit over the WVM mixture. Understanding the field behavior of D. suzukii is of foremost importance to estimate insect population density and outline pest management strategies.

Abstract To provide alternatives to the use of spraying synthetic insecticides in C. capitata management, was evaluated the effect of “attract and kill” toxic baits on population suppression of C. capitata in three commercial areas producing table grapes. Toxic baits of Gelsura™ (4.5 L ha-1) and Success™ 0.02 CB (4.0 L ha-1) resulted in lower population levels of C. capitata adults in monitoring traps after five sequential applications at weekly intervals during the maturation period of the grapes when compared with control plots with or without insecticidal spray. In addition, plots with Gelsura™ and Success™ 0.02 CB applications showed a significant reduction in damage (%) by C. capitata on grape berries and grape bunches when compared with control plots without or with insecticidal spray. However, when compared with a plot treated by conventional management with sprays of etofenprox (Safety™, 100 g c.p. (commercial product) 100 L-1) and applications of spinosad (Success™ 0.02 CB toxic bait) with a brush, only Gelsura™ (4.5 L ha-1) showed a lower level of damage of grape berries and grape bunches. Toxic baits Gelsura™ (4.5 L ha-1) and Success™ 0.02 CB (4.0 L ha-1) are promising alternatives for the population suppression of C. capitata on table grapes.

Abstract This study aimed to elaborate a sequential sampling plan for Anastrepha species in commercial orchards of guava Psidium guajava Novo Milênio cultivar. Samplings were carried out in three orchards in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. Fruit flies were sampled for 23 weeks. Data were subjected to the sequential probability ratio test. We adopted the mean of 0.3 Anastrepha individuals for the safety level and 0.7 for the control level and the observed frequency was adjusted to the negative binomial expected frequency (Bn) for the equation of the line. The condition of adopting a control method recommended by S1 = 6.5554 + 0.5362n was observed in the upper line. In turn, the lower line, which does not require the use of a control method, is defined by So = -2.8229 + 0.5362n. The sequential sampling plan predicted the expected maximum number of 37 sampling units to decide whether or not to use control method(s). This sequential plan was defined with mean number of 0.54 adults for each McPhail trap unit (sample). The sequential plan generated is unprecedented and will contribute to the rapid and safe decision making in the control of Anastrepha species of economic importance in guava farming.

ABSTRACT Ant diversity is influenced by the structural complexity of the environment. Ants are thus an ecologically important group due to their potential to serve as indicators of environmental quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate ant diversity in areas with different land use histories and thus, within different stages of regeneration in the Permanent Preservation Area of the Foz do Chapecó Hydroelectric Plant reservoir. Ant assemblies among sample sites were compared using rarefaction analysis, and estimated richness, frequency of occurrence, and relative abundance were calculated. Associations between species and sample sites were evaluated using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). We identified 55 species in total from 24 genera, distributed among seven subfamilies. Eight species had positive associations with sample sites. Estimates indicated that ant richness may be up to 21.4% greater than that observed. This study presents an inventory of species capable of colonizing environments undergoing natural regeneration processes, and aids our understanding of ecological recovery dynamics in protected areas near hydroelectric plant reservoirs southern Brazil.

Visando caracterizar os ecossistemas de árvores frutíferas da Região Oeste de Santa Catarina em relação às espécies de Tephritidae, realizou-se uma análise faunística em doze pomares de quatro municípios (Chapecó, Cunha Porã, São Carlos e Xanxerê). O levantamento foi feito entre outubro de 1998 e setembro de 2000, utilizando armadilhas tipo McPhail com glicose invertida a 10%. Para a caracterização dos municípios foram medidos os índices de abundância, constância, dominância e freqüência. Foram coletados 8.393 espécimes de moscas-das-frutas, pertencentes a 20 espécies e sete gêneros. No município de Chapecó foram amostradas 17 espécies de moscas-das-frutas, correspondendo ao índice de diversidade de 2,0, seguido por Cunha Porã, com dez espécies e índice de 1,5. Em Xanxerê o índice foi de 1,1 para oito espécies. O menor índice foi obtido em São Carlos (0,9), para sete espécies. Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) foi acidental na quase totalidade dos pomares onde ocorreu, com exceção apenas de um pomar de laranjeira de São Carlos, onde foi acessória. Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.) foi a espécie predominante nos quatro municípios.

In order to characterize the ecosystems of fruit trees of the West Region of Santa Catarina State in relation to the Tephritidae species from twelve different fruit species grown in orchards located in four counties (Chapecó, Cunha Porã, São Carlos and Xanxerê), McPhail traps, baited with glucose 10%, were used to sample flies, from October 1998 to September 2000. To characterize the faunistic fruit flies populations of each county, the abundance index, constancy, dominance and frequency of fruit flies population were analyzed. A total of 8,393 specimens of fruit flies were collected, belonging to 20 species in seven genera. In Chapecó, 17 fruit flies were sampled, corresponding to an index of diversity of 2.0, followed by Cunha Porã with ten species and an index of 1.5. In Xanxerê the index was 1.1 to eight species. The smallest index was found in São Carlos (0.9), to seven species. Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) was found accidental in almost all the orchards, with exception to one orange orchard in São Carlos, where it was accessory. Anastrepha fraterculus (Wied.) was the predominant species in the four counties.