Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a newly recorded parasitoid of the tomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), in Argentina.

We report the first record of Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood) parasitizing larvae of the tomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), in tomato crops in Northern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Tomato moth larvae were sampled during four consecutive growing cycles, between 2003 and 2005, in 10 sites. Neochrysocharis formosa was present only in organic outdoor and protected crops, and predominantly during the late season. Parasitism rates varied from 1.5% to 5%. The finding of this species is a new record for Argentina and South America, and T. absoluta is a new host record.

Effects of the herbicide glyphosate on biological attributes of Alpaida veniliae (Araneae, Araneidae), in laboratory.

In the past decades there has been increasing interest in the study of arthropod predators as effective potential natural enemies to be used in the biological control of agricultural pests. In Argentina, transgenic soybean crops (Round-up Ready, RR) are inhabit by many spider species, some of them in high abundance, being indicative of an import potential for pest predation. This crop is associated with the use of glyphosate, a broad-spectrum herbicide, with low environmental impact, even though since the 80's, several negative effects have been deeply documented on mammals, fishes, amphibians, snails, earthworms, insects, etc. Nowadays, the effects on arthropod physiology, behavior and life history traits as end-points in ecotoxicological evaluations are being recognized. In transgenic soybean crops of Buenos Aires province (Argentina), Alpaida veniliae (Araneae, Araneidae) is one of the most abundant orb web weaver spiders. The purpose of this study was to address the effects of glyphosate on some biological attributes of A. veniliae, in laboratory. Results of this study showed no lethal direct effects of Glifoglex on this spider, but it is the first report in literature about sublethal effects of this herbicide on a spider's biological attributes. Negative effects on prey consumption, web building, fecundity, fertility and developmental time of progeny were observed. Although sublethal effects have received less attention than direct lethal effects, they are relevant from an ecological point of view, since the reduction of the arthropod performance may create risks to arthropod biodiversity conservation in agroecosystems.

Sublethal effects of two neurotoxican insecticides on Araneus pratensis (Araneae: Araneidae).

Spiders are important predators of several agricultural pests and they play an important role as indicators of ecosystem disturb. In Argentina, soybean crop has increased from the introduction of transgenic soybean resistant to glyphosate. This expansion produced an increase in the use of conventional and non-selective pesticides to control soybean pests. The objective of this work was to evaluate the side effects of subletal concentrations of two neurotoxican insecticides with a different mode of action: endosulfan (Glex, 35%, 25 mg/l a.i.) and spinosad (Tracer, 48%, 30 and 3 mg/l a.i) on Araneus pratensis. The insecticides were applied by ingestion of the treated prey (Musca domestica), and the effects on mortality, prey consumption, web building, mating, ootheca construction and fecundity were determined. Spinosad (30 mg/l a.i.) produced higher mortality than endosulfan (25 mg/l a.i.). Tremors and non-coordinated movements were observed in this treatment. The prey consumption was significantly reduced by the two insecticides (approximately 40% lower than control). The spider web building was significantly affected by the two insecticides, but spinosad had a greater effect. Though mating was not affected by both pesticides, abnormal oothecas and dehydrated eggs were observed. This work reports that sublethal concentrations representing approximately from 25 to 2.5% of the maximum field recommended concentrations (105 and 120 mg/l a.i., respectively) showed negative effects on A. pratensis. The consequences of these effects on role of A. pratensis as a natural mortality factor of soybean pests are discussed.

Comparación del remifentanil con el fentanil en el control hemodinámico durante la laringoscopia en el paciente hipertenso en tratamiento: análisis interino de un estudio experimental / A comparison of the remifentanyl with fentanyl in the hemodynamic control during laringoscopy in the hypertense patient: interine analysis of the experimental study

A las dosis utilizadas el remifentanil comparativamente con el fentanil ofrece una mayor protección en el control hemodinámico del aumento en la tensión arterial sistólica, durante el primer minuto post-intubación en la inducción anestésica del paciente hipertenso en tratamiento. Sinembargo con el uso del remifentanil a estas dosis existe diferencia clinicamente significativas en hipotensión tanto en la post-inducción como en la post-intubación que generan riesgo en el paciente hipertenso en tratamiento.

Effect of tomato leaf hairiness on functional and numerical response of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

The objective of this study was to determine whether differences in hairiness of tomato plants affect the functional and numerical response of the predator Neoseiulus californicus McGregor attacking the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. Two tomato hybrids with different density of glandular hairs were used. The functional response was measured by offering eggs and adults of T urticae at densities ranging from 4 to 64 items per tomato leaflet (surface ca. 6.3 cm2); eggs were offered to predator protonymphs and deutonymphs, adult spider mites to adult predators. The number of spider mites eaten as a function of initial density was fitted to the disc equation. Predator densities were regressed against initial prey densities to analyze the numerical response. The number of eggs and adults of T. urticae eaten by N. californicus was extremely low in both hybrids. The nymphal stage of N. californicus and prey density had a significant effect on the number of T urticae eggs eaten by the predator, while hybrid had no effect. The functional response fitted reasonably well to the Holling model. The handling time (Th) and the attack rate (a) were very similar among the two hybrids. The numerical response indicated that the absolute density of predators increased with changes in spider mite densities but the relative predator/prey density decreased in both hybrids. Tomato hairiness prevented N. californicus from exhibiting a strong numerical response and the predator functional response was much lower than observed in other host plants and other phytoseiids. This result shows the need to consider plant attributes as an essential and interactive component of biological control practices.