Abstract Precision agriculture is an alternative for reducing costs. This study evaluated and economically compared three sampling methods used in precision agriculture with respect to the acquisition of inputs and machines and equipment. The sampling methods used were zone management by elevation (ZME), grid sampling (GS) and sampling guided by apparent electrical conductivity of the soil (OS). Soil samples for the ZME were collected after the definition of zones according to the elevations of the plots. The sample mesh was in a georeferenced mesh of 100 x 100 m. The targeted sampling was performed after a ground proximity sensor was used to identify the apparent electrical conductivity of the soil to define the management areas. From the results of the laboratory tests, the application costs were calculated for lime, phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen to allow a comparison between the methods, volumes and costs. This approach considered the costs of depreciation, insurance, interest, operating costs, labor, maintenance and fuel. With this study, it was possible to compare the volumes of the recommended fertilizers and estimate the overall economic cost of using the technology via sensor. Taking the GS as a reference, the ZME presented as the best alternative compared to other methods.

As criações de Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) são freqüentemente infestadas pelo ácaro Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross e Krantz) (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae). O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar doses de enxofre, acaricida eficaz contra A. lacunatus, não-prejudiciais ao desenvolvimento de R. dominica. As unidades experimentais foram constituídas de placas de Petri contendo 30 g de grãos de trigo infestados com 30 adultos de R. dominica. Os tratamentos consistiram na utilização de doses de enxofre sobre os grãos, correspondentes a 0,0; 0,6; 0,9; 1,2; 1,5; 3,0; 6,0; 12,0; 24,0 e 48,0mg i a g-1, em dez repetições. As unidades experimentais foram armazenadas por 60 dias a 30±1°C, 60±5% UR e escotofase de 24h. O desenvolvimento de R. dominica foi afetado pela utilização de doses de enxofre maiores que 3,0mg i a g-1.

The laboratory rearing of Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) is frequently infested by the parasite mite Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross and Krantz) (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae). This study was aimed at evaluating the sulfur doses, an effective acaricide against A. lacunatus, not harmful to the development of with R. dominica. The experimental units were Petri dishes containing 30g of whole wheat grains powdered with the different doses of the sulfur (0.0, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12.0, 24.0 and 48.0mg a i g-1) infested with 30 adults of R. dominica, in ten replicates. All treatments were maintained under controlled conditions (30±1°C, 60±5% r h and 24h scotophase) for 60 days after the insect infestation. Sulfur doses higher than 3.0mg a i g-1 negatively affected R. dominica development.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a associação do inseticida deltametrina, aplicado em grãos de trigo, com o ácaro parasita Acarophenax lacunatus e seu impacto sobre o desenvolvimento de Rhyzopertha dominica. Grãos de trigo (13% de teor de água) foram tratados com diferentes doses de deltametrina (0,00, 0,125, 0,25, 0,375, 0,50, 0,625, 0,75, 0,875 e 1,00 mg i.a. kg-1). As unidades experimentais consistiram de placas de Petri contendo 30 g de grãos tratados, ou não, com o inseticida, infestados com 30 adultos de R. dominica. Cinco dias depois da infestação, foram inoculados cinco ácaros parasitas por unidade experimental, em sete repetições. As unidades experimentais foram armazenadas por 60 dias depois da infestação em câmara climatizada ajustada a 30±1°C, 60±5% UR e escotofase de 24 horas. A taxa instantânea de crescimento de R. dominica apresentou índices negativos para as doses de deltametrina maiores que 0,25 mg i.a. kg-1. A. lacunatus associado a doses de deltametrina menores que 0,5 mg i.a. kg-1 reduz as fases imaturas de R. dominica.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the development of Rhyzopertha dominica on wheat grain treated with the insecticide deltamethrin and infested with the mite Acarophenax lacunatus. The experimental units were Petri dishes containing 30 g of wheat grain (13% moisture content) sprayed with different doses of deltamethrin (0.00, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, 0.50, 0.625, 0.75, 0.875 and 1.00 mg a.i. kg-1) infested with 30 adults of R. dominica. Five days after the infestation, five mites were inoculated on each experimental unit, in seven replicates. All treatments were maintained under controlled conditions (30±1°C, 60±5% r.h. and 24 hours scotophase) for 60 days after the infestation. The instantaneous rate of increase of R. dominica was negative under doses higher than 0.25 mg a.i. kg-1. The lowest number of immature R. dominica was observed with the interaction between deltamethrin doses smaller than 0.5 mg a.i. kg-1 and A. lacunatus.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial de parasitismo do ácaro Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz) sobre Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). As unidades experimentais consistiram de placas de Petri contendo 25 g de grãos de trigo infestados com 20 adultos desse coleóptero. Depois de sete dias da infestação, os ácaros foram introduzidos em diferentes densidades (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 e 10 fêmeas) nas placas de Petri. O aumento da densidade do ácaro acarretou aumento linear do parasitismo, com conseqüente redução das populações desse inseto. É possível utilizar esse ácaro no controle biológico de T. castaneum.

The objective of this work was to assess the parasitism potential of Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz) on Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). The experimental units encompassed Petri dishes containing 25 g of wheat infested with 20 adults of this beetle species. After seven days of infestation, different mite densities (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 females) were inoculated into the Petri dishes. The increase in mite density led to a linear increase in parasitism, and a consequent reduction in populations of this insect. It is possible to use this mite species in the biological control of T. castaneum.

Avaliaram-se as características biológicas de cinco linhagens de T. pretiosum Riley (Hym.:Trichogrammatidae), coletadas em plantios comerciais de tomate, e criados em ovos de A. kuehniella (Zeller) e S. cerealella (Olivier). A taxa de parasitismo das cinco linhagens variou de 56,1 a 68,6%, quando o hospedeiro foi A. kuehniella, sendo superior à do hospedeiro S. cerealella. A viabilidade de todas as linhagens, quando criadas em ovos de S. cerealella, foi superior a 90%; no entanto, somente nas linhagens provenientes de Afonso Cláudio e Venda Nova do Imigrante é que a viabilidade das linhagens de Trichogramma criadas em ovos de S. cerealella, foram significativamente maiores que as criadas sobre A. kuehniella. A longevidade dos descendentes submetidos ao parasitismo foi superior para todas as linhagens quando criadas em ovos de A. kuehniella. Ambos os hospedeiros podem ser empregados na criação massal das cinco linhagens estudadas. Contudo, tomando-se por base a taxa de parasitismo e a qualidade da progênie, o hospedeiro A. kuehniella demonstrou ser superior a S. cerealella.

The biological characteristics of five lineages of T. pretiosum Riley (Hym.: Trichogrammatidae), collected from tomato crops, and reared in A. kuehniella (Zeller) and S. cerealella (Olivier) eggs were evaluated. The parasitism rate of the lineages, varied from 56,1 to 68.6%, when the host was A. kuehniella, being higher than for S. cerealella. The viability of all lineages, when reared in S. cerealella eggs, was superior to 90%; however, only those lineages reared in S. cerealella eggs and collected in Afonso Cláudio and Venda Nova dos Imigrantes (Espirito Santo State, Brazil) were significantly higher than those reared on A. kuehniella. The longevity of the offspring submitted to the parasitism, was higher in all the lineages reared in A. kuehniella eggs. All five lineages can be mass reared using both hosts. However, considering the parasitism rate and the quality of the progeny, the host A. kuehniella seems to be superior than S. cerealella