Predation of Coffee Berry Borer by a Green Lacewing.

We report here for the first time, the predation of coffee berry borer (CBB) Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) by a green lacewing species, Chrysoperla externa (Hagen). We showed in laboratory the predator ability to access CBB galleries, remove pest immature stages, and prey on them. We also observed predation by third instar larvae on CBB adults. With this note, we add a new predator to the reported list of species still little explored of CBB control.

Toxicity of Varronia curassavica Jacq. Essential Oil to Two Arthropod Pests and Their Natural Enemy.

This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of the Varronia curassavica Jacq. essential oil to two cosmopolitan and polyphagous pest species, the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) and the green aphid (Myzus persicae Sulzer). Additionally, we tested the essential oil toxicity to a generalist predatory insect, the green lacewing Ceraeochrysa cubana Hagen. The treatments consisted of four essential oil concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0%) and one control (Tween® 80 + water). At 0.75% concentration, the V. curassavica essential oil caused the highest mortalities for both pests. The concentration of 1.0% of the essential oil interfered mainly in the rates of oviposition and egg hatching and caused a decrease in the instantaneous population growth rate (ri) of T. urticae. Survival of the C. cubana was not affected by the highest tested concentration of the essential oil (1%). Tested concentrations V. curassavica essential oil were toxic to T. urticae and M. persicae, but not to the predator C. cubana.

Preference of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) for volatiles of Bt maize induced by multiple herbivory

ABSTRACT Plant indirect induced defenses against herbivores are characterized by the production of plant volatiles that to attract natural enemies. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the attack of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae or the multiple herbivory of T. urticae together with the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda are able to elicit indirect induced defense in conventional and Bt maize plants. The experiment was carried out in the laboratory using Y-tube olfactometer, evaluating the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus olfactory preference for plant volatiles. The treatments involved: Clean Conventional Plant; Conventional Plant Infested with T. urticae; Clean Bt Plant; Bt Plant Infested with T. urticae; Conventional Plant Infested with T. urticae + fall armyworm; Bt Plant Infested with T. urticae + fall armyworm. For the chemical analyzes the Trace GC Ultra gas chromatograph was used, paired with the Polaris Q mass spectrometer, GC - MS system. Neoseiulus californicus was also unable to distinguish between volatiles from both conventional and Bt infested maize plants. Moreover, there was no discrimination of the predator mite between plants under single and multiple infestations, both in conventional and Bt maize. When comparing conventional and Bt plants, both with multiple infestation, the predator mite N. californicus had no preference among these sources of odors. However, there was observed chemical changes of the volatiles among the groups of plants studied. Thus, it is suggested that the groups of plants under study have chemical modifications, but they are not able to attract N. californicus. In addition, Bt plants response was similar to conventional plants on attracting N. californicus.

Controle alternativo de Planococcus citri (Risso, 1813) com extratos aquosos de pinhão-manso / Alternative control Planococcus citri (Risso, 1813) with aqueous extracts of Jatropha

A cochonilha-da-roseta, Planococcus citri (Risso, 1813) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), constitui um problema fitossanitário na cultura do café. O controle mais usual dessa praga é o químico, o que pode acarretar, além de problemas socioambientais, a seleção de indivíduos resistentes. Com isso, torna-se necessário o controle alternativo. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar, em condições de laboratório, o potencial inseticida de diferentes partes da planta de Jatropha curcas , em variadas concentrações, sobre P. citri . Discos de folhas de café conilon com 10 cochonilhas (ninfas e adultos) foram pulverizados direta e indiretamente com auxílio da torre de Potter, com pressão de 15 Lb/pol2, aplicando 6 mL de solução por repetição. Testaram-se sete concentrações do óleo e de extratos, tanto na aplicação direta quanto na indireta, com 10 repetições por tratamento, sendo avaliada a mortalidade em função do tempo. Todas as estruturas de pinhão-manso, em ambas as vias de aplicação, apresentaram índices de mortalidade satisfatórios de P. citri , alcançando 91,6% de mortalidade nas concentrações de 1,5, 2,0 e 3,0% do óleo na aplicação direta.(AU)

The Planococcus citri (Risso, 1813) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is a phytosanitary problem in the coffee's cultivation. The most used type of control for this pest is the chemical one, which leads to the selection of resistant individuals, as well as social and environmental problems. Therefore, it is necessary to control the alternative. Thus, this paper had the aim of studying the potential insecticide in different parts of the plant Jatropha curcas , in some concentrations, over the P. citri . Dices of leaf containing 10 P. citri (nymphs and adults) were directly and indirectly sprayed with the Potter Tower's assistance, on the pressure at 15 Lb/pol2, applying 6 mL of solution per repetition. Seven concentrations of oil and extracts were tested, and the mortality was evaluated in function of time. All physic nut's structures in both routes of administration showed satisfactory mortality P. citri , reaching 91.6% mortality at the concentrations of 1.5, 2.0 e 3.0% oil in the direct application.(AU)