First report of Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green, 1908) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) and the associated parasitoid Anagyrus kamali Moursi, 1948 (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), in Brazil / Primeiro registro de Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green, 1908) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) e do parasitoide associado, Anagyrus kamali Moursi, 1948 (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), no Brasil

The pink hibiscus mealybug (PHM), Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and the associated hymenopterous parasitoid, Anagyrus kamali Moursi, 1948 (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), are reported for the first time in Brazil. Specimens of the PHM were collected on nine hosts plants, Annona muricata L. (Anonnaceae), Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Fabaceae), Centrolobium paraensis Tul. (Fabaceae), Inga edulis Mart. (Fabaceae), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (Malvaceae), Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae), Averrhoa carambola L. (Oxalidaceae), Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (Rutaceae) and Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanaceae), in four municipalities in the north-northeast of the state of Roraima. The plants C. paraensis, I. edulis and C. sinensis are recorded for the first time as a hosts for PHM. Characteristic injuries observed on the host plants infested by PHM and suggestions for its management are presented.

A cochonilha rosada do hibisco (PHM), Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) e o himenóptero parasitoide associado, Anagyrus kamali Moursi (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), são registrados pela primeira vez no Brasil. Exemplares dessa cochonilha foram coletados em nove plantas hospedeiras – Annona muricata L. (Anonnaceae); Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Fabaceae); Centrolobium paraensis Tul. (Fabaceae); Inga edulis Mart. (Fabaceae); Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (Malvaceae); Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae); Averrhoa carambola L. (Oxalidaceae); Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (Rutaceae); Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanaceae) –, em quatro municípios do norte-nordeste do Estado de Roraima. As plantas C. paraensis, I. edulis e C. sinensis são registradas pela primeira vez como hospedeiras para PHM. Injúrias características apresentadas pelas plantas hospedeiras infestadas pela cochonilha rosada e sugestões para o seu manejo são apresentados.

New host-plant records for the defoliator Ormiscodes amphimone (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

Ormiscodes amphimone (Fabricius) is a phytophagous moth species known to severely defoliate woody species in Chile and Argentina. Here we document new records of O. amphimonehost associations emphasizing the role of Nothofagus pumilio as its primary host in our study area. This new record for Argentina is highly significant given the economic importance of N. pumilio as a timber resource and the potential of O. amphimone to generate extensive outbreaks.

Physico-chemical and functional characterization of a high molecular weight carboxymethylcellulase from Cuscuta reflexa.

Carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) was extracted and purified from an angiosperm parasite Cuscuta reflexa free from beta-glucosidase and other enzyme activities. The molecular mass and Stokes' radius of the purified enzyme are 144 kDa and 44 A, respectively. The diffusion coefficient and frictional ratio of the enzyme were 5.15 x 10(-7) cm2/sec and 1.27. The SDS-PAGE revealed homotetrameric nature of the enzyme with a subunit molecular mass of 35 +/- 1 kDa. Titration against DTNB and NBS revealed 19 sulfhydryl groups and 8 tryptophan groups, respectively, per mole of the enzyme. A sharp pH optimum at 5.0 was obtained. Cuscuta CMCase activity is unique amongst plant endoglucanases in being stimulated by Mg2+ and Mn2+ ions and by various thiols. Reaction product analysis, mode of enzyme action and substrate specificity test suggest the endo- nature of the purified CMCase. The enzyme showed K(m) value of 26 +/- 1 mg/ml for carboxymethylcellulose (sodium salt).