ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The house fly, Musca domestica L., and the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), are important and harmful organisms. The cosmopolitan house fly is not parasitic, but the adults are annoying and a known vector of several pathogens. The importance of the stable fly has increased in Brazil in the last 40 years, after major changes in sugarcane cultivation practices were implemented, including the widespread application of vinasse (byproduct in sugarcane mills) and the parallel reduction of sugarcane preharvest burning. These changes have favored the development of this fly, which can reach high populations, that can negatively affect cattle and other animals. The control of these flies relies heavily on the use of chemical products, which very often do not provide adequate population reduction. Predatory mites of the family Macrochelidae have been evaluated under laboratory conditions for the biological control of these organisms, especially of the house fly. The objective of this study was to examine the predation capacity of the macrochelids Macrocheles embersoni Azevedo, Castilho & Berto and Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) on the house fly and the stable fly, under semi-field conditions (screen-houses). RESULTS: Reductions of 83 to 90% of the house fly and 66 to 73% of the stable fly populations were observed, with the release of 100 of these predators per square meter. CONCLUSIONS: The number of adults of both fly species was much lower in the units where the predators had been released than in the others. However it is suggested that provisioning and or conserving alternative food sources for these macrochelids, such as free-living nematodes, could further improve biocontrol efficacy.
Subject(s)
Diptera , Houseflies , Mites , Muscidae , Animals , Brazil , Predatory BehaviorABSTRACT
Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonnerat) is native to Southeast Asia, where most of the world cultivation of this crop is done. Its commercial cultivation in Brazil is recent and concentrated in the state of São Paulo. This crop has been severely damaged in Asia and Brazil by the litchi erineum mite, Aceria litchii (Keifer) (Eriophyidae). The objectives of this study were the adaptation of a method to estimate the density of A. litchii, an evaluation of the population dynamics of this pest and of its associated predators in the state of São Paulo, and an estimation of its injury levels to litchi trees. To estimate the density of A. litchii, an adaptation of a method commonly used to evaluate nematode densities in plant roots was performed. This method was shown to be adequate for the estimation of the number of A. litchii, and it might also be useful for similar evaluations of other erineum forming mites. Field samples to determine the pest population dynamics were collected monthly from August 2011 to July 2012. Sampled leaves were examined under a stereomicroscope for removal of predators and subsequent extraction ofA. litchii by the adapted method. A. litchii reached maximum densities in November 2011 and June 2012, being found at low densities between January and March 2012. The pattern of variation of A. litchii injury levels was similar to that of the density of A. litchii. The main predatory mite co-occurring with A. litchii was the phytoseiid Phytoseius intermedius Evans and McFarlane. However, high injury levels due toA. litchii suggest that the predator was unable to prevent visible damages to the trees, indicating that control activities should be adopted by growers.
Subject(s)
Food Chain , Litchi , Mites , Animals , Brazil , Population Density , Population DynamicsABSTRACT
O trabalho objetivou avaliar os perfis de distribuição volumétrica, o diâmetro de gotas, a tensão superficial, o ângulo de contato de gotas e a deposição de calda de pulverização sobre folhas de amendoim (Arachis hypogaea L.) submetidas à chuva artificial, em comparação à deposição sem chuva, usando-se dois modelos de pontas hidráulicas de jatos planos e caldas inseticidas com e sem adição de adjuvantes. Utilizou-se mesa de deposição para análise da distribuição volumétrica, analisador de partículas a laser para avaliar o diâmetro de gotas formadas pelas pontas SF 110015 e XR 110015 e tensiômetro para as análises de tensão e ângulo de contato de gotas. As caldas avaliadas foram: água, lambda-cialotrina, lambda-cialotrina + tributilcitrat + polidimetilsiloxano e lambda-cialotrina + óleo mineral. Os ensaios seguiram um delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância pelo teste F e as comparações das médias pelo teste de Scott-Knott a 5% de probabilidade. Concluiu-se que deve ser considerado um espaçamento máximo na barra de pulverização de 50 e 90 cm entre as pontas, para SF 110015 e XR 110015, respectivamente. O efeito dos adjuvantes no diâmetro de gotas depende da ponta de pulverização e do produto empregado, sendo que a adição dos adjuvantes à calda afetou o risco potencial de deriva; O Diâmetro Mediano Volumétrico (DMV) das gotas produzidas pelas pontas enquadraram-se na classe fina e não foram influenciados pelos adjuvantes. O tributilcitrat + polidimetilsiloxano pode ser indicado para melhorar a cobertura e deposição de gotas no alvo.
The present work aimed to evaluate the volumetric distribution profiles, droplet spectra, surface tension, contact angle of droplet and the spraying liquid deposition over the peanut leaves (Arachis hypogaea L.), under artificial rain, in comparison with deposition without rain, using two hydraulic nozzle models of plain fan and insecticide spraying liquids with and without adjuvants addition. It were used a patternator for volumetric distribution analysis, a laser particles analyzer to evaluate droplet spectra produced by SF 110015 and XR 110015 nozzles and tensiometer for droplet tension and contact angle. The spraying liquids evaluated were: water, lambda-cialotrina, lambda-cialotrina + nitrogen fertilizer and lambda-cialotrina + mineral oil. All experiments followed a completely randomized design. Data were submitted to variance analysis by F test and the means comparisons by Scott-Knott test at 5% of probability. According to the results, it must be considered the maximum spacing in spray boom usage of 50 and 90 cm between the nozzles SF110015 and XR110015, respectively. The adjuvants effects on droplet spectra have shown addicted to the nozzle and the product used, and the adjuvants addition to the spraying liquid affected the potential risk of drift; The Volumetric Median Diameter (VMD) of produced droplets by nozzles filled into thin class and were not influenced by the adjuvants. The nitrogen fertilizer adjuvant may be indicated to promote improvements on coverage and droplet deposition on target.
