Natural parasitism of the coffee leaf miner: climate factors, insecticide, and landscape affecting parasitoid diversity and their ecosystem services in coffee agroecosystems.

Climate factors, pesticides, and landscape in coffee agroecosystems directly affect the populations of the coffee leaf miner and its parasitoids. This study aimed to investigate the effects of climate factors, insecticide use, and landscape on natural parasitism, parasitoid diversity, and infestation of L. coffeella in coffee plantations in the Planalto region, Bahia, Brazil. Mined leaves were collected monthly in six coffee plantations with varying edge density, vegetation cover, landscape diversity in scales of 500 to 3000 m of radius, insecticide use, and climate factors. Closterocerus coffeellae, and Proacrias coffeae (Eulophidae) predominated in the pest's natural parasitism. Our record is the first for the occurrence of Stiropius reticulatus, Neochrysocharis sp. 1, Neochrysocharis sp. 2, and Zagrammosoma sp. in Bahia. Higher temperature and larger forest cover increased the coffee leaf miner infestation. Higher rainfall values, insecticide use, and landscape diversity decreased the pest infestations. Natural parasitism and species diversity are favoured by increase in temperature, forest cover, and edge density, while increase in rainfall, insecticide use, and landscape diversity lead them to decrease.The natural parasitism and diversity of parasitoid species of the coffee leaf miner have been enhancing in the areas with greater forest cover and edge density associated with low use of insecticides. The areas composed of different lands with annual croplands surrounding the coffee plantations showed less natural parasitism and parasitoid species diversity. The ecosystem services provided by C. coffeellae and P. coffeae in coffee crops areas require conservation and these species are potential bioproducts for applied biological control programmes.

Next-Generation Sequencing and Its Impacts on Entomological Research in Ecology and Evolution.

The advent of NGS-based methods has been profoundly transforming entomological research. Through continual development and improvement of different methods and sequencing platforms, NGS has promoted mass elucidation of partial or whole genetic materials associated with beneficial insects, pests (of agriculture, forestry and animal, and human health), and species of conservation concern, helping to unravel ecological and evolutionary mechanisms and characterizing survival, trophic interactions, and dispersal. It is shifting the scale of biodiversity and environmental analyses from individuals and biodiversity indicator species to the large-scale study of communities and ecosystems using bulk samples of species or a mixed "soup" of environmental DNA. As the NGS-based methods have become more affordable, complexity demystified, and specificity and sensitivity proven, their use in entomological research has spread widely. This article presents several examples on how NGS-based methods have been used in entomology to provide incentives to apply them when appropriate and to open our minds to the expected advances in entomology that are yet to come.

Influence of plants used in agricultural diversification on the nematode Heterorhabditis amazonensis / Influência de plantas utilizadas na diversificação agrícola sobre o nematoide Heterorhabditis amazonensis

In an agricultural system, to increase natural biological control, plants that attract natural enemies can be grown alongside the main crop. However, the effects of these plants on entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), important agents for controlling soil pests, and the action of their conservation are unknown. To assess the impact of these plants on EPNs, two experiments were carried out in a greenhouse. The first measured the effect of Crotalaria spectabilis, Crotalaria breviflora, and Tagetes erecta on the persistence and infectivity of Heterorhabditis amazonensis isolate RSC 5 for 27 days, compared to a control treatment without plants. The second trial evaluated the effect of C. breviflora and T. erecta on the displacement of the nematode. Additionally, the influence of predator Calosoma granulatum in this system was evaluated. The plants did not influence nematode behaviour in terms of persistence, infectivity, or displacement. However, C. spectabilis allowed the most significant persistence of nematodes in the substrate for a short time, and T. erecta caused the fastest suppression of the initial population of infectives juvenile. In the second experiment, neither the predator nor the plants affected the nematode's ability to move in the soil within 5 days. These results show that prior knowledge in agricultural diversification can help to control pests by inundative application of EPNs.(AU)

Em um sistema agrícola, a fim de aumentar o controle biológico natural, plantas que atraem inimigos naturais podem ser cultivadas junto à cultura principal. Porém, os efeitos destas plantas sobre nematoidesentomopatogênicos (NEPs), importante agentes de controle de pragas de solo, e sua ação na conservação destes, são desconhecidos. Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito de algumas destas plantas sobre NEPs, foram montados dois experimentos em casa-de-vegetação. O primeiro observou o efeito das plantas Crotalaria spectabilis, Crotalaria breviflora e Tagetes erecta sobre a persistência e infectividade de Heterorhabditis amazonensis isolado RSC 5 durante 27 dias, comparadas a um tratamento-controle sem plantas. Já o segundo experimento avaliou o efeito de C. breviflora e T. erecta, com a presença ou não do adulto do predador Calosoma granulatum no deslocamento do nematoide. Os resultados indicaram que as plantas não influenciaram na persistência dos nematoides em longo prazo nem na infectividade e no deslocamento de H. amazonensis. Porém, a planta C. spectabilis possibilitou a maior persistência de nematoides no substrato em curto prazo, e T. erecta causou a supressão mais rápida da população inicial de JIs. No segundo experimento observou-se que nem a presença do predador e das plantas afetou a capacidade de deslocamento do nematoide no solo no período de 5 dias. Estes resultados mostram que o conhecimento prévio das plantas a serem utilizadas na diversificação agrícola pode auxiliar no controle inundativo de pragas por NEPs.(AU)

Riparian forest fragments in rice fields under different management: differences on hymenopteran parasitoids diversity / Fragmentos de floresta riparia em áreas de cultivo de arroz sob diferentes manejos: diferenças através diversidade de himenópteros parasitoides

Hymenopteran parasitoids are important biological control agents in agroecosystems, and their diversity can be increased with habitat heterogeneity. Thus, the purpose of the study is to evaluate the influence of distance of rice-growing areas from natural fragment, type of crop management (organic and conventional) and crop stages (vegetative and reproductive stages) on parasitoids family diversity. The work took place in two irrigated rice crops, one with organic management (O.M.) and another one with conventional management (C.M.), in the municipality of Nova Santa Rita, RS, Brazil, during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons. The parasitoids were collected with Malaise trap arranged at different distances in relation to the native vegetation surrounding the rice crop in both places. Specimens were collected twice a month from seeding until the rice harvest. Average abundance between management, distances and rice development were compared. The most abundant families were Platygastridae, Mymaridae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae and Trichogrammatidae. Parasitoid average abundance was significantly higher on OM only in the second season. There was a negative correlation between distance from native vegetation and parasitoid abundance in C.M. areas. There were differences in the composition of the parasitoid assembly between the phenological stages of rice.(AU)

Os himenópteros parasitoides são importantes agentes de controle biológico em agroecossistemas com sua diversidade variando de acordo com a heterogeneidade de habitat. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da distância de áreas com fragmentos de vegetação natural das áreas de cultivo de arroz, o tipo de manejo (orgânico ou convencional) e os estágios da cultura (vegetativo e reprodutivo) na diversidade de famílias de parasitoides. O trabalho foi conduzido em duas áreas com plantio de arroz irrigado, uma com manejo orgânico (MO) e outra com manejo convencional (CM), no município de Nova Santa Rita, RS, Brasil, durante a safra 2013/2014 e 2014/2015. Os parasitoides foram coletados com armadilha Malaise colocadas sob diferentes distâncias em relação a vegetação nativa circundante ao cultivo em ambas as áreas. Os espécimes foram coletados duas vezes ao mês da semeadura até a colheita. Foram comparadas a abundância média entre os manejos, distâncias e estágio de desenvolvimento do arroz. As famílias mais abundantes foram Platygastridae, Mymaridae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae e Trichogrammatidae com suas abundâncias variando ao longo da safra. A abundância média de parasitoides foi significativamente maior no MO somente na segunda safra. Houve uma correlação negativa entre a distância da vegetação nativa e a abundância de parasitoides. Houve diferença na composição da assembleia de parasitoides entre os estágios fenológicos do arroz.(AU)

Riparian forest fragments in rice fields under different management: differences on hymenopteran parasitoids diversity / Fragmentos de floresta riparia em áreas de cultivo de arroz sob diferentes manejos: diferenças através diversidade de himenópteros parasitoides

Abstract Hymenopteran parasitoids are important biological control agents in agroecosystems, and their diversity can be increased with habitat heterogeneity. Thus, the purpose of the study is to evaluate the influence of distance of rice-growing areas from natural fragment, type of crop management (organic and conventional) and crop stages (vegetative and reproductive stages) on parasitoids family diversity. The work took place in two irrigated rice crops, one with organic management (O.M.) and another one with conventional management (C.M.), in the municipality of Nova Santa Rita, RS, Brazil, during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons. The parasitoids were collected with Malaise trap arranged at different distances in relation to the native vegetation surrounding the rice crop in both places. Specimens were collected twice a month from seeding until the rice harvest. Average abundance between management, distances and rice development were compared. The most abundant families were Platygastridae, Mymaridae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae and Trichogrammatidae. Parasitoid average abundance was significantly higher on OM only in the second season. There was a negative correlation between distance from native vegetation and parasitoid abundance in C.M. areas. There were differences in the composition of the parasitoid assembly between the phenological stages of rice.

Resumo Os himenópteros parasitoides são importantes agentes de controle biológico em agroecossistemas com sua diversidade variando de acordo com a heterogeneidade de habitat. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da distância de áreas com fragmentos de vegetação natural das áreas de cultivo de arroz, o tipo de manejo (orgânico ou convencional) e os estágios da cultura (vegetativo e reprodutivo) na diversidade de famílias de parasitoides. O trabalho foi conduzido em duas áreas com plantio de arroz irrigado, uma com manejo orgânico (MO) e outra com manejo convencional (CM), no município de Nova Santa Rita, RS, Brasil, durante a safra 2013/2014 e 2014/2015. Os parasitoides foram coletados com armadilha Malaise colocadas sob diferentes distâncias em relação a vegetação nativa circundante ao cultivo em ambas as áreas. Os espécimes foram coletados duas vezes ao mês da semeadura até a colheita. Foram comparadas a abundância média entre os manejos, distâncias e estágio de desenvolvimento do arroz. As famílias mais abundantes foram Platygastridae, Mymaridae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae e Trichogrammatidae com suas abundâncias variando ao longo da safra. A abundância média de parasitoides foi significativamente maior no MO somente na segunda safra. Houve uma correlação negativa entre a distância da vegetação nativa e a abundância de parasitoides. Houve diferença na composição da assembleia de parasitoides entre os estágios fenológicos do arroz.

Riparian forest fragments in rice fields under different management: differences on hymenopteran parasitoids diversity

Abstract Hymenopteran parasitoids are important biological control agents in agroecosystems, and their diversity can be increased with habitat heterogeneity. Thus, the purpose of the study is to evaluate the influence of distance of rice-growing areas from natural fragment, type of crop management (organic and conventional) and crop stages (vegetative and reproductive stages) on parasitoids family diversity. The work took place in two irrigated rice crops, one with organic management (O.M.) and another one with conventional management (C.M.), in the municipality of Nova Santa Rita, RS, Brazil, during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons. The parasitoids were collected with Malaise trap arranged at different distances in relation to the native vegetation surrounding the rice crop in both places. Specimens were collected twice a month from seeding until the rice harvest. Average abundance between management, distances and rice development were compared. The most abundant families were Platygastridae, Mymaridae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae and Trichogrammatidae. Parasitoid average abundance was significantly higher on OM only in the second season. There was a negative correlation between distance from native vegetation and parasitoid abundance in C.M. areas. There were differences in the composition of the parasitoid assembly between the phenological stages of rice.

Resumo Os himenópteros parasitoides são importantes agentes de controle biológico em agroecossistemas com sua diversidade variando de acordo com a heterogeneidade de habitat. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da distância de áreas com fragmentos de vegetação natural das áreas de cultivo de arroz, o tipo de manejo (orgânico ou convencional) e os estágios da cultura (vegetativo e reprodutivo) na diversidade de famílias de parasitoides. O trabalho foi conduzido em duas áreas com plantio de arroz irrigado, uma com manejo orgânico (MO) e outra com manejo convencional (CM), no município de Nova Santa Rita, RS, Brasil, durante a safra 2013/2014 e 2014/2015. Os parasitoides foram coletados com armadilha Malaise colocadas sob diferentes distâncias em relação a vegetação nativa circundante ao cultivo em ambas as áreas. Os espécimes foram coletados duas vezes ao mês da semeadura até a colheita. Foram comparadas a abundância média entre os manejos, distâncias e estágio de desenvolvimento do arroz. As famílias mais abundantes foram Platygastridae, Mymaridae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae e Trichogrammatidae com suas abundâncias variando ao longo da safra. A abundância média de parasitoides foi significativamente maior no MO somente na segunda safra. Houve uma correlação negativa entre a distância da vegetação nativa e a abundância de parasitoides. Houve diferença na composição da assembleia de parasitoides entre os estágios fenológicos do arroz.

Riparian forest fragments in rice fields under different management: differences on hymenopteran parasitoids diversity

Abstract Hymenopteran parasitoids are important biological control agents in agroecosystems, and their diversity can be increased with habitat heterogeneity. Thus, the purpose of the study is to evaluate the influence of distance of rice-growing areas from natural fragment, type of crop management (organic and conventional) and crop stages (vegetative and reproductive stages) on parasitoids family diversity. The work took place in two irrigated rice crops, one with organic management (O.M.) and another one with conventional management (C.M.), in the municipality of Nova Santa Rita, RS, Brazil, during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons. The parasitoids were collected with Malaise trap arranged at different distances in relation to the native vegetation surrounding the rice crop in both places. Specimens were collected twice a month from seeding until the rice harvest. Average abundance between management, distances and rice development were compared. The most abundant families were Platygastridae, Mymaridae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae and Trichogrammatidae. Parasitoid average abundance was significantly higher on OM only in the second season. There was a negative correlation between distance from native vegetation and parasitoid abundance in C.M. areas. There were differences in the composition of the parasitoid assembly between the phenological stages of rice.

Resumo Os himenópteros parasitoides são importantes agentes de controle biológico em agroecossistemas com sua diversidade variando de acordo com a heterogeneidade de habitat. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da distância de áreas com fragmentos de vegetação natural das áreas de cultivo de arroz, o tipo de manejo (orgânico ou convencional) e os estágios da cultura (vegetativo e reprodutivo) na diversidade de famílias de parasitoides. O trabalho foi conduzido em duas áreas com plantio de arroz irrigado, uma com manejo orgânico (MO) e outra com manejo convencional (CM), no município de Nova Santa Rita, RS, Brasil, durante a safra 2013/2014 e 2014/2015. Os parasitoides foram coletados com armadilha Malaise colocadas sob diferentes distâncias em relação a vegetação nativa circundante ao cultivo em ambas as áreas. Os espécimes foram coletados duas vezes ao mês da semeadura até a colheita. Foram comparadas a abundância média entre os manejos, distâncias e estágio de desenvolvimento do arroz. As famílias mais abundantes foram Platygastridae, Mymaridae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae e Trichogrammatidae com suas abundâncias variando ao longo da safra. A abundância média de parasitoides foi significativamente maior no MO somente na segunda safra. Houve uma correlação negativa entre a distância da vegetação nativa e a abundância de parasitoides. Houve diferença na composição da assembleia de parasitoides entre os estágios fenológicos do arroz.

The effects of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) on the arthropod fauna of wheat fields in Chile

The role of carabid beetles in reducing populations of phytophagous insects has been an elusive subject. A field experiment was established on a commercial wheat crop (cv. Otto) with an area of 4.5 ha in Valdivia, Chile, during the spring and summer of 1996-1997. The field had been under a prairie system for two years, before wheat sowing (fertilization and a pesticide had been applied during crop development). Samples were taken at approximately monthly intervals. Carabid beetles were sampled with a grid of pitfall traps and other insects were sampled with a vacuum insect net and soil cores. The genera of the carabids found are of neotropical origin. Exclusion by polythene barriers, together with removal of carabid beetles using traps, was an effective technique for controlling carabid populations in a commercial wheat crop. A reduction in the number of carabid beetles was associated with an increase in the number of springtails and arachnids, and a decrease of agromyzid adults. Phytophagous insects, such as homopterans and lepidopterous larvae, were not affected by carabid exclusion and removal. The action of carabid beetles on the arthropod fauna can be extremely complex, due to its predatory activity at multitrophic levels.