Production of Honeydew by Scale Insects Associated with Bracatinga (Mimosa scabrella Benth) in Serra Catarinense, Southern Brazil

ABSTRACT Scale insects Stigmacoccus paranaensis (Foldi, 2006) associated with bracatinga trees (Mimosa scabrella) in Santa Catarina, Brazil, can play an important economic role and guarantee the production of "bracatinga honeydew honey". This scale insect has the ability to excrete large amounts of honeydew, of economic importance for beekeepers, especially due to the natural occurrence of host plants at high density, known as "bracatingais". In this sense, the objective of this study was to evaluate the honeydew produced by scale insects associated with M. scabrella in the Bom Retiro, Santa Catarina, Brazil. We determined the density of the host plant in the studied area, the intensity of infestation by scale insects, and the volume and sugar concentration of excreted honeydew. The average density of bracatinga was 437.5 individuals ha-1, and the average density of scale insects per plant was 8,287. During 10 minutes, the average rate of honeydew excretion by scale insects was 0.45 µl and 0.34 µl, respectively, in 2002 and 2004. The estimated volume of honeydew production was 0.54 L in 2002 and 0.41 L in 2004 tree-1 day-1. The highest sugar concentration was observed in 2004 (28.13%). The excretion rate was affected by climatological factors and the size of the insects. This is the first study presenting a systematic evaluation of honeydew production by scale insects in Southern Brazil. The results of the present study support production of honeydew honey in the Serra Catarinense region as an important sustainable economic and traditional activity.

Triplaris americana L. (Polygonaceae), a New Host Plant For Aethalion reticulatum (Linnaeus, 1767) (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae)

Triplaris americana is a plant that has been applied as ornamental specie and also as natural medicine. Adults and immature stages of Aethalion reticulatum were observed colonizing specimens of this plant in Sinop, MT, Brazil, which represent the first record of this leafhopper colonizing this specie.

A fly larva (Syrphidae: Ocyptamus) that preys on adult flies

Predatory syrphid larvae feed on relatively immobile prey, but here we report the first case (as far as we are aware) of obligatory predation on very mobile prey. Larvae of an undescribed species of Ocyptamus (Diptera: Syrphidae) were found in whitefly (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) aggregations on the undersides of citrus leaves. However, instead of preying on the whitefly nymphs (as would be expected), the larvae preyed on adult flies (Diptera) that were attracted to the honeydew. In the laboratory, larvae captured significantly more flies on whitefly infested leaves than on washed leaves, and generally abandoned leaves that lacked whiteflies. Most cases of successful prey capture involved flies that probed the anterior part of the larva’s body with its proboscis (as if it were honeydew). The syrphid larva lashed out at the fly and entangled it in sticky oral secretion. The prey did not recover when they were removed from the larva, suggesting that this new predatory species also employs venom to subdue its prey. Although the larvae consumed some honeydew, they were unable to complete their development on this diet. Two parasitoids were reared from Ocyptamus puparia, Proaspicera sp. (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and Paracarotomus sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), both of which are endoparasitic koinobionts. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (4): 1157-1163. Epub 2010 December 01.

Las larvas depredadoras de Syrphidae se alimentan de presas relativamente inmóviles, pero aquí reportamos el primer caso (hasta ahora conocido) de la depredación obligatoria en presas muy móviles. Se encontraron las larvas de una especie no descrita de Ocyptamus (Diptera: Syrphidae) juntas con ninfas de mosca blanca (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) en el envés de las hojas de cítricos. Sin embargo, en vez de alimentarse de las ninfas de mosca blanca (como debería esperarse), las larvas se alimentaron de moscas adultas (Diptera) que fueron atraídas a las excreciones azucaradas de la mosca blanca. En el laboratorio, las larvas capturaron más moscas cuando estaban en hojas con mosca blanca que cuando estaban en hojas lavadas, y generalmente abandonaron las hojas sin mosca blanca. La mayoría de las capturas exitosas de presas ocurrieron cuando la mosca extendió su proboscis y tocó la parte anterior de la larva del sírfido. La larva regurgita hilos pegajosos en el momento de capturar una presa y presas removidas de la larva no recuperaron su movibilidad, lo cual sugiere que el depredador utiliza un veneno para inmovilizar la presa. Aunque las larvas se alimentaron de excreciones azucaradas de mosca blanca, no pudieron completar su desarrollo en esta dieta. Se obtuvieron dos parasitoides de los puparios del sírfido, Proaspicera sp. (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) Paracarotomus sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), ambos son koinobiontes endoparasíticos.

Mieles checas categorizadas según su actividad antioxidante / Czech honey categorized according to their antioxidant activity

La bioactividad de la miel de abejas ha sido aplicada en apiterapia tradicional y moderna. El origen botánico ocasiona variaciones en los principios activos y en el color de este producto, desde incoloro y blanquecino hasta marrón oscuro en la escala ámbar. Se evaluó la actividad antioxidante total (AAT) de 50 mieles enviadas al servicio de Análisis Químico del Instituto de Investigaciones Apícolas en Dol, República Checa, con el método del catión radical ABTS·+. Se encontraron las siguientes variaciones de AAT (µmoles equivalentes Trolox) para 22 mieles florales (60,12-287,55), 15 mieles de mielada (53,71-280,04) y 13 mieles mixtas (43,55-290,35). La AAT no varió significativamente según el origen botánico de las mieles, pero fue directamente proporcional al color y al contenido de flavonoides y de polifenoles. Se sugiere una clasificación de mieles según su contenido bajo, medio o alto de AAT.

The bioactivity of honey has been used in traditional and modern apitherapy. The botanical origin of honey causes variations in this product's active principles and color, from almost colorless whitish to dark brown in the amber scale. The total antioxidant activity (TAA) of 50 honeys sent to the service of Chemical Analysis of the Institute of Apicultural Investigations in Dol, Czech Republic, was evaluated by the method of the radical cation ABTS·+. The following variations of AAT (µmols Trolox equivalent) were found for 22 floral honeys (60.12-287.55), 15 honeydew honeys (53.71-280.04) and 13 mixed honeys (43.55-290.35). The TAA did not vary significantly according to the botanical origin but was directly proportional to color and content of flavonoids and polyphenols. A classification of honey according to its low, medium and high TAA is suggested.

Ocorrência de Cryptoblabes gnidiella (Millière) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) relacionada à fenologia da videira em Bento Gonçalves, RS / Ocurrence of Cryptoblabes gnidiella (Millière) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) associated with grape phenology in Bento Gonçalves, RS

O objetivo deste estudo foi registrar e comparar a ocorrência de adultos e imaturos da traça-dos-cachos, Cryptoblabes gnidiella (Millière), em dois vinhedos, nos diferentes estágios fenológicos de Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Noir, em Bento Gonçalves (29°10'S 51°32'O), RS, no período de 2004-2005. Quinzenalmente a população de imaturos foi monitorada em cachos e ramos de videira, enquanto os adultos, em armadilhas com feromônio sexual sintético. Houve diferença significativa entre o número de indivíduos coletados nos diferentes estágios fenológicos da videira. No período de cachos secos registrou-se o maior número de C. gnidiella. A permanência de cachos secos nos vinhedos após a colheita permite o refúgio dos imaturos de C. gnidiella no período de entressafra.

The aim of this study was to record and compare the occurrence of adults and immature stages of honeydew moth, Cryptoblabes gnidiella (Millière), related with grape phenology in two Pinot Noir (Vitis vinifera) vineyards in Bento Gonçalves (29°10'S 51°32'O), RS, during 2004-2005. Fortnightly, immature stages were monitored in the clusters and grapevine branches, while the adults, in delta traps baited with synthetic sex pheromone. There were significant differences in the number of individuals in different phenologic stages of vineyards. The highest catches of honeydew moth were registered in the period of dry clusters. The permanence of dry cluster after harvest, could serve as refuge for C. gnidiella immatures between seasons.

Variaçäo de alguns parâmetros do mel de melato em relaçäo ao mel floral / Comparison of some components between floral honey and honeydew honey

O mel de melato é produzido a partir de secreçöes de partes vivas das plantas difere do mel floral em vários aspectos. Foram analisadas 14 amostras de mel floral e 11 amostras de mel de melato provenientes de Minas Gerais e de Santa Catarina, assim classificadas de acordo com os métodos de Kirkood e de White. Foram realizadas as determinaçöes de pH, reaçäo de Lund, viscosidade e condutividade. Foi aplicado o teste exato de Fisher que demonstrou haver associaçäo entre mel de melato e pH acima de 4,2, reaçäo de Lund abaixo de 0,6 e viscosidade acima de 19,4. Foram analisadas misturas contendo diferentes proporçöes de mel de melato em mel floral e determinados valores para polarimetria, condutividade, pH, resíduo mineral fixo, açúcares redutores de viscosidade. Á medida que aumentou a concentraçäo do mel de melato houve uma alteraçäo significativa nos valores das variáveis analisadas, verificada pelo coeficiente de regressäo b. Foi demonstrado que algumas medidas como pH e viscosidade podem ser aplicadas como critério de diferenciaçäo entre estes dois tipos de mel. (AU)

Honeydew honey differs of the floral honey in many aspects. In order to check that eleven honeydew honey and fourteen floral honey were analysed for pH, Lund reaction, conductivity and viscosity. The Fisher test was applied to check if there was any association between the kind of honey and the quantitative aspects of this study. It was demonstrated that there is association between honeydew honey and the pH above 4,2, Lund reaction below 0,6 mL and viscosity above 19,4. In order to study the effects of a gradative addition of honeydew honey on floral honey and its characteristics such as polarimetry, conductivity, pH, ashes, reducing sugars and viscosity, a linear regression analysis of these characteristics, was done using a blend of both kind of honey. It was observed by the regression coefficient b that the floral honey mixed with honeydew honey showed a significative modification of variables studied when the concentration of honeydew honey was increased. (AU)

Diferenças sensoriais entre mel floral e mel de melato / Sensorial differences between floral honey and honeydew honey

Com a finalidade de verificar diferenças sensoriais entre mel floral e, identificar a presença do mel de melato misturado ao mel floral, foi aplicado o teste de diferença pareado e a determinaçäo instrumantal de cor e tubidez em várias amostras de mel. Foi tomada uma amostra de mel floral puro e uma amostra de mel de melato puro como referências. Foram elaboradas no laboratório misturas de mel floral com quantidades variadas de mel de melato para a aplicaçäo dos testes. Na caracterizaçäo sensorial foi observado que o mel floral apresentou aroma e sabor mais caracteristico, menor viscosidade e gosto doce mais acentuado que o mel de melato puro. Em relaçäo às misturas, nos testes definitivos, foi observado que, entre 10 e 15(por cento), a mistura começou a perder aroma e sabor característicos, ficou mais viscosa e mais doce. No entanto, ficou demonstrado que as amostras mostraram varibilidade sensorial. A medida de cor foi afetada pela presença de mel de melato. As medidas de turbidez e luminosidade näo mostraram resultados significativos. (AU)

The paired comparison test and the instrumental determination of colour and turbidity wereapplied to identify the presence of honeydew honey in various honey samples. The references used were apure floral honey and a pure honeydew honey. Mixtures containing both of them were made at the laboratoryto run the tests. The sensorial characterization showed the floral honey presented a more characteristicflavor, less viscosity and it was sweeter than honeydew honey. The definitive test indicated that between 10and 15% the mixture started to lose its characteristic flavor, became more viscous and sweeter than the floralhoney. In fact samples showed sensorial variability. The measure of colour was affected by the presence ofhoneydew honey. Turbidity and luminosity did not show significant results. (AU)