Attractiveness and oviposition preference of Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore in Eucalyptus spp.

The red gum lerp psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) was first recorded in Brazil in 2003 and since then has caused serious damage in Eucalyptus forests. The damage is mainly due to defoliation, sooty mold and dieback, thus requiring the development of efficient management strategies. The settling and ovipositional preference of G. brimblecombei by species and clones of Eucalyptus were evaluated in free- and no-choice tests. Preliminary tests were done to determine the density of psyllid couples that produced the greatest densities of eggs, leaf position selection for oviposition, and whether oviposition was affected by preimaginal conditioning. Apical leaves were used more frequently for oviposition by the psyllid, and the number of eggs decreased from the apex to the base. The densities of 10 and 15 psyllid couples per seedling produced the highest oviposition. There was no evidence of preimaginal conditioning. In the free-choice test, E. grandis, E. urophylla, VM-1, I-144, C-219 and H-13 were less attractive to G. brimblecombei adults, with H-13, E. grandis and E. urophylla having the least oviposition. In the no-choice test, E. urophylla, GG-100 and E. grandis also demonstrated a lower oviposition, but E. camaldulensis and 3025 were highly susceptible. The low preference for the genotypes E. grandis and E. urophylla suggests the occurrence of a non-preference type resistance against the red gum lerp psyllid. Our results can be utilized for the development of management programs for G. brimblecombei in Eucalyptus forests.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichospilus diatraeae</Emphasis> Cherian &; Margabandhu, 1942 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a new parasitoidof <Emphasis Type="Italic">Melanolophia consimilaria</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

First report on the parasitoid Trichospilus diatraeae of the genus in Eulophidae found in the field parasitizing pupae of the eucalyptus defoliating looper Melanolophia consimilaria. This opens new perspectives for the use of this parasitoid in biological control programs against caterpillars of forestry importance.     

Reserpine: effect on structure of heart muscle

We examined the ultrastructure of hearts from dogs given reserpine intramuscularly for 4 days, and from untreated dogs. Sections of the myocardium from treated dogs invariably revealed mitochondrial abnormalities at the 5th and 14th days. These included fragmentation and loss of structure of the cristae, and cyst formation. The appearance at 25 days in the treated as well as in all the untreated dogs was normal. We concluded that reserpine in the dose used produces marked structural changes in the mitochondria of heart muscle, and that these changes are reversible. These changes may account for the myocardial depression sometimes seen after administration of reserpine.     

Resistance to root-knot nematodes on passion fruit genotypes in Brazil

With the expansion of passion fruit cultivation in Brazil, phytosanitary problems have increased, among them, the occurrence of root-knot nematodes. This research aimed to study the response of passion fruit genotypes to Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica and M. enterolobii in addition to evaluating the life cycle of M. enterolobii in the passion fruit genotype ‘FB 200’. The genotype response was carried out in a greenhouse. Each pot’s soil was inoculated with 5000 eggs. Gall index, egg mass index and nematode reproduction factors were evaluated at 120 days after inoculation. All genotypes studied were resistant to M. incognita, M. javanica and M. enterolobii, except ‘Roxinho do Kênia’, which was susceptible to the three nematode species. The life cycle of M. enterolobii in “FB 200” passion fruit was studied in a growth chamber at 26 °C with a photoperiod of 12 h. Seven days after transplantation, each plant was inoculated with approximately 400 second-stage juveniles. Evaluations were done at 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 days post inoculation. The nematode did not complete its life cycle.     

Susceptibility of eucalypt taxa to a natural infestation by Leptocybe invasa

New Forests - Recently, pest occurrence in forest plantations has been increasing influenced by genotypes and environmental conditions such as climate change, thus impacting production negatively....     

Courtship,Mating Behavior,and Ovary Histology of the Nymph Parasitoid Psyllaephagus bliteus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

The potential of the parasitoid Psyllaephagus bliteus Riek for the biological control of the eucalyptus pest Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) nymphs is high. This research sought to analyze the courtship, male competition, and mating behavior of P. bliteus at the proportions of 1:1 and 2:1 males to female in a Petri dish (5 cm diameter), and to describe the ovary histology of virgin and mated females of this parasitoid. At 1:1, males touch the antennae and thorax–abdomen of females during courtship, but females avoid mate attempts before they are 48 h old. At 2:1, the competition between male parasitoids inhibits mating. The histology of ovaries of virgin and mated P. bliteus females is similar, with two well-defined germarium and vitellarium regions, with oocytes at different developmental stages, including mature ones rich in yolk and with eggshell. A clearer understanding of the reproductive behavior and histology of P. bliteus aids in the use of this parasitoid for the biological control of G. brimblecombei.     

Occurrence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Atopozelus opsimus</Emphasis> preying on nymphs and adults of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycaspis brimblecombei</Emphasis>

The stink bugs genus Atopozelus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is native in the Americas, with five described species of which only three have been recorded in Brazil. In August 2007, Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves infested by lerp psyllid were collected and taken to the Forest Pest Biological Control Laboratory situated at São Paulo State University. A small green stink bug, identified as Atopozelus opsimus Elkins (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) that fed on nymphs and adult psyllids, was found on the leaves. These stink bugs presented phytophagy, omnivory and ability in opening the lerp (shell) that protect the psyllid. A. opsimus has demonstrated unusual particularities, different from many biological control agents found in nature; this predator thus deserves more attention for its potential to be evaluated.     

Biology of Thaumastocoris peregrinus in different eucalyptus species and hybrids

The bronze bug Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae), originating in Australia, has been rapidly spreading in eucalyptus plantations in the Southern Hemisphere, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile. In Brazil, it was detected in 2008 in the states of Sao Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul. Due to incomplete knowledge about the biology of this pest, the present study evaluated the bioecology of T. peregrinus in different eucalyptus species and hybrids. The genetic materials utilized were: Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. urophylla, E. grandis, ??1277?? (Hybrid E. grandis x camaldulensis??HGC), ??VM-1?? (Hybrid E. urophylla x camaldulensis??HUC) and ??H-13?? (Hybrid E. urophylla x grandis??HUG). The experiment was conducted in a climate-controlled chamber at a temperature of 26?±?1°C, r.h. = 70%?±?10% and 12?h photophase. The biology of different genotypes indicated that the species E. urophylla and E. grandis are the most suitable for the development and reproduction of T. peregrinus, although all treatments enabled the bronze bug to develop and produce descendants. T. peregrinus developed and reproduced in the principal vegetal materials planted in the southern, central-west and northeastern regions of Brazil, constituting a potentially damaging insect pest to eucalyptus plantations.