Résumé
ABSTRACT The replacement of natural grassland by cultivated areas might favor the increase in abundance of some root-feeding species such as the white grubs, which may become a constraint for field crop production. This research aimed to assay the population density and geographical distribution of white grubs pest and other species in natural grassland and cultivated areas throughout the Brazilian Pampa biome. White grubs were sampled in 18 locations in both landscape use types and identified. Population density (number of larvae m-2) was calculated for each recorded species and sorted within two groups (pest species and other species), compared between natural grasslands and cultivated areas, as well as among locations. A dendrogram to evaluate species similarity among locations was built based on combined data obtained from both landscape use types throughout the region. In total, 31 species were found in the Brazilian Pampa, and four of them are considered as crop pests: Diloboderus abderus (Sturm, 1826), Euetheola humilis (Burmeister, 1847), Lyogenys fusca (Blanchard, 1830), and Phyllophaga triticophaga Morón & Salvadori, 1998. The average population density of pest species in cultivated areas was less than five larvae m-2, at most of locations. Some species had a wide geographical distribution (e.g. D. abderus and Cyclocephala modesta Burmeister), while other melolontids occurred at only one location. The knowledge of which white grub species are present in a field and its population densities assist farmers to take proper management decisions.
Résumé
Esta nota tem por objetivo relatar o ataque de larvas do coró-das-pastagens, Diloboderus abderus Sturm, 1826 (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae), em mudas de eucalipto híbrido (Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla), na fazenda Bazana, município de Manoel Viana, Rio Grande do Sul. Essa praga se alimentou da casca das plantas na região do coleto, provocando anelamento das mudas. A mortalidade de mudas foi de 30 por cento em 40ha. Este é o primeiro registro dos danos desse inseto em plantas de eucalipto no Brasil.
This article aims to report the attack of larvae Diloboderus abderus Sturm, 1826 (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) on seedlings of Eucalyptus hybrid ( Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla), on the farm Bazana, in Manoel Viana, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This pest consumed the bark of the ground, which caused the 'girdling' of seedlings. The mortality rate was 30 percent, in 40ha. No previous report was found in the literature regarding the occurrence of damages of Diloboderus abderus on Eucalyptus; thus, this is the first record of the pest on Eucalyptus in Brazil.