Papers by Ana Paula Albano Araújo
Natural biological control is a key factor that ensures the regulation of insect pest populations... more Natural biological control is a key factor that ensures the regulation of insect pest populations in agroecosystems. However, the indiscriminate use of pesticides has compromised this environmental service. Thus, the search for environmentally safe pesticides is an increasing requirement for sustainable food production. In this study, we analyzed the toxicity of essential oils from two accessions (CGR112 and CGR126) of Croton grewioides and its major compounds, methyl eugenol and eugenol, on the soybean pest Chrysodeixis includens. In addition, we investigated the sublethal effects of these compounds on the predatory bug Podisus nigrispinus, analyzing its developmental, reproduction and life table parameters. Essential oils and their major compounds were toxic to C. includens and P. nigrispinus. In general, the presence of eugenol made the essential oil more toxic to the pest and selective to the natural enemy. Eugenol was the most toxic compound for second instar larvae of C. inclu...
Ecological interactions between organisms are complex and can present dynamic results, which are ... more Ecological interactions between organisms are complex and can present dynamic results, which are dependent on environmental context. Plants with extrafloral nectaries attract a wide variety of ants species, in associations commonly considered mutualistic. In tropical environments the combination of plants and ants play an important role in communities. Turnera subulata is a ruderal shrub widely distributed in disturbed areas, which has a pair of extrafloral nectaries in the base of each leaf. In this study, we evaluated whether the ants associated with T. subulata: (i) vary spatially (between locals) and temporally (over day period); (ii) respond to simulate presence of herbivores and the signs of damage caused in different structures of the host plant (stem and leaf); (iii) reduce herbivory rates; (iv) influencing the vegetative growth and reproductive success of the host plant, along its phenology. The experiments were conducted in São Cristóvão-SE. For the initial understanding o...
Coffee Science, 2013
Objetivou-se, neste estudo, avaliar o efeito da planta hospedeira, Coffea arabica, no comportamen... more Objetivou-se, neste estudo, avaliar o efeito da planta hospedeira, Coffea arabica, no comportamento reprodutivo de Leucoptera coffeella. Avaliou-se: i) o efeito da condicao reprodutiva das femeas em resposta aos volateis de folhas do cafeeiro; ii) se a proporcao de acasalamento, tempo de inicio e a duracao da copula sao afetados pela presenca dos volateis do cafeeiro; e iii) se femeas de L. coffeella podem ovipositar em outro hospedeiro. A avaliacao da resposta olfativa de femeas virgens e acasaladas aos volateis de folhas do cafeeiro foi feita utilizando-se olfatometro em “Y”. Para avaliar a proporcao de copula, o tempo de inicio e a duracao da copula, foram utilizados casais em gaiolas plasticas com a presenca ou ausencia de volateis das folhas do cafeeiro.E, para avaliar a oviposicao das femeas foram oferecidas a elas folhas da planta hospedeira e nao hospedeira. Os volateis emitidos pela planta hospedeira pareceram nao constituir pista relevante para sua localizacao pelas femeas...
Archivos de Zootecnia, 2011
O carrapato bovino Riphicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) constitui um dos grandes problemas e... more O carrapato bovino Riphicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) constitui um dos grandes problemas enfrentado pelos pecuaristas de várias partes do mundo. No Brasil este ectoparasita causa grandes prejuízos à bovinocultura devido ao processo de hematofagia e pela transmissão de agentes patogênicos nos animais hospedeiros. Diante dessa situação os produtores normalmente aplicam carrapaticidas organossintéticos de forma indiscriminada. Este método normalmente resulta em: intoxicação dos animais e dos aplicadores, resíduos de carrapaticidas nos produtos de origem animal, resistência dos carrapatos aos carrapaticidas químicos e poluição ambiental. Uma alternativa para diminuir esses problemas é uso de biocarrapaticidas de origem botânica. Os pesticidas botânicos são produtos naturais derivados do metabolismo secundário das plantas. Esse metabolismo produz uma grande diversidade de compostos com ação carrapaticida que podem ser explorados através do uso de óleos essenciais ou como modelo pa...
Sociobiology, 2018
Constrictotermes sp. nests are frequently inhabited by colonies of Inquilinitermes microcerus. In... more Constrictotermes sp. nests are frequently inhabited by colonies of Inquilinitermes microcerus. In this association, I. microcerus colonies usually establish their colonies spatially isolated from Constrictotermes colonies. Here, we investigated whether the apparent spatial isolation of I. microcerus colonies in Constrictotermes nests should be related to their needs (e.g. feeding) in relation to the central part of the nest or to a possible stress provoked by the presence of the host. For this, survival and walking behavior bioassays were performed to test the hypothesis that the survivorship of inquilines is: (i) reduced in the presence of host, mainly of those from different nests, (ii) increased in contact with inner walls compared with external walls; and that the distance walked and walking velocity of inquiline is: (iii) increased in the presence of the host and (iv) reduced in contact with the internal walls compared with external walls of host nest. The mean time to death of...
Molecules, 2017
Plants of the genus Aristolochia have been frequently reported as important medicinal plants. Des... more Plants of the genus Aristolochia have been frequently reported as important medicinal plants. Despite their high bioactive potential, to date, there are no reports of their effects on leaf-cutting ants. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the insecticidal activity of the essential oil of Aristolochia trilobata and its major components on Atta sexdens and Acromyrmex balzani, two species of leaf-cutting ants. The bioassays were performed regarding routes of exposure, acute toxicity, binary mixtures of the major components and behavioral effects. Twenty-five components were identified in the essential oil of A. trilobata using a gas chromatographic system equipped with a mass spectrometer and a flame ionization detector. The components found in higher proportions were sulcatyl acetate, limonene, p-cymene and linalool. The essential oil of A. trilobata and its individual major components were efficient against A. balzani and A. sexdens workers when applied by fumigation. These components showed fast and efficient insecticidal activity on ants. The components acted synergistically and additively on A. balzani and A. sexdens, respectively, and caused a strong repellency/irritability in the ants. Thus, our results demonstrate the great potential of the essential oil of A. trilobata and its major components for the development of new insecticides.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the host plant, Coffea arabica, the rep... more The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the host plant, Coffea arabica, the reproductive behavior of Leucoptera coffeella. We evaluated: i) the effect of reproductive condition of females in response to the volatile coffee leaves, ii) the proportion of mating, start time and duration of copulation are affected by the presence of volatile coffee and iii) if female L. coffeella can lay eggs on another host. The assessment of olfactory response of virgin females and mated to the volatile coffee leaves was done using olfactometer "Y". To evaluate the proportion of copulation, the start time and duration of copulation, couples were used in plastic cages with the presence or absence of volatiles of coffee leaves. And, to assess the ovoposition females were offered to them leaves of the host plant and not host. The volatiles emitted by host plant appeared to be not relevant to track their location by females, but these volatiles were important during mating. The proportion of mating, the onset and duration of copulation were significantly altered in the presence of volatile coffee. When a host plant was not offered to females as oviposition site, there was a considerable reduction in the number of eggs deposited, indicating that females use cues of the host plant to lay eggs. Thus, there was the host plant plays an important role in the reproductive behavior of L. coffeella.
Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2007
Several bromeliads species store water and organic substrates, allowing the establishment of phyt... more Several bromeliads species store water and organic substrates, allowing the establishment of phytotelmata and associated fauna on their leaves. In this study, we sampled 70 individuals of Vriesea sp. (Carrière) (Bromeliaceae), in rupestrian fields in the Serra de Ouro Branco-MG, Brazil. The relationships between invertebrate species richness and abundance and size of bromeliads were tested using multiple regression. We found 19 species associated with bromeliads, mainly Diptera larvae. The abundance of the phytotelmate fauna increased principally in relation to the volume of water in the bromeliad reservoir. Phytotelmata richness was affected principally by diameter of the reservoir. There was a significant relationship between the abundance and richness of invertebrates associated with leaves with diameter and height of the plant. Invertebrate richness was better explained by abundance of individuals. These results suggest that the increase of richness was attended by higher number...
Neotropical Entomology, 2011
In Hymenoptera, midgut changes begin in the last instar. At this stage, the larval epithelial dig... more In Hymenoptera, midgut changes begin in the last instar. At this stage, the larval epithelial digestive cells degenerate, leaving only the basal membrane and the regenerative cells which will develop into a new epithelium during the pupal stage and in the adult. Epithelium renewal is followed by changes in volume and shape of the midgut. Morphometric analysis of digestive cells and total midgut volume of Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides (Lepeletier) were conducted to verify whether cell volume increase are sufficient to account for the total midgut volume increase that occurs during metamorphosis. An increase in midgut volume was verified in spite of the scarcity of cell proliferation found during metamorphosis. At the end of metamorphosis, the increase in cell volume was not sufficient to explain the increase in volume of the midgut, indicating that an increase in the number of digestive cells is apparently necessary. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which regenerative cells reconstitute the epithelium during metamorphosis remains unknown.
Neotropical Entomology, 2006
Survival of the Mite Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz) (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae) under ... more Survival of the Mite Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz) (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae) under Starvation ABSTRACT-The ability of a natural enemy to tolerate starvation increases its chances to survive in the absence of food, what is an important factor for its success in storage grain environment. The objective of the present work was to assess the survival of Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz) in the absence of food. The experiment used individualized physogastric females of A. lacunatus placed in petri dishes (5 cm diameter) and maintained at 20, 25, 28, 30 and 32 o C, 50 ± 5 % R.H. and 24h scotophase. The number of live mites was recorded every 6h thus assessing the progeny survival without food at different temperatures. The mites died within 60h at the temperatures 30 o C and 32 o C, while they survived for up to 108h at 20, 25 and 28 o C. The mean lethal time for death was 58.6h for the lowest temperatures and 39.3h for the highest temperatures. Thus, A. lacunatus subjected to starvation lived longer under lower temperatures, what is probably due to its lower metabolism. In contrast, the mites survived for about 90h at 28 o C, temperature commonly observed in tropical and subtropical climates, what may favor their use as control agents of stored product insects in these regions.
Neotropical Entomology, 2018
In the present study, we analysed the effect of distance among colonies and resource availability... more In the present study, we analysed the effect of distance among colonies and resource availability on the aggression level and responses to chemical cues of Nasutitermes aff. coxipoensis (Holmgren) (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). Manipulation of resource offer was conducted in the field, where nests with different distances were kept without addition of baits (control), with addition of three or 16 sugarcane baits/nest. After 3 months, aggressiveness, linear and Y-shaped trail-following bioassays were carried out with all pairwise combinations of colonies in each treatment. Our results showed that aggressive index of N. aff. coxipoensis was affected by the resource availability. However, individuals from colonies with 0 and 3 baits/nest showed a higher number of fighting with neighbours than those from non-neighbours colonies. Termite workers from colonies without baits (control) followed shorter distance in the linear trails compared to those from colonies with addition of baits. In all treatments, there was no preference of workers in relation to the choice of chemical cues from own or other colonies. The response of intercolonial aggressiveness in N. aff. coxipoensis seems to be resource-dependent. These results may contribute to the comprehension of the use of space by N. aff. coxipoensis and could be useful to explain patterns of termite cooccurrence at different spatial scales, from local (inside the nest-e.g. cohabitation of nests by inquilines) to regional (e.g. around the nest).
Sociobiology, Jul 31, 2023
The local coexistence of species intrinsically depends on their adaptations to abiotic conditions... more The local coexistence of species intrinsically depends on their adaptations to abiotic conditions, as well as the result of interspecific interactions that can either restrict or facilitate the establishment and maintenance of the species (Valladares et al., 2015). Nests of eusocial insectsphysical structures used to accommodate their own colonies-consist of small ecosystems with controlled conditions and/or a stock of resources that are attractive to invasive or opportunistic organisms (Costa-Leonardo, 2002; Jones & Oldroyd, 2006; Menzel & Blüthgen, 2010). On this restricted local scale, long-term close interspecific associations (e.g., inquilinism) typically require adaptations or specific strategies. Relationships of inquilinism in ant (Hymenoptera) nests are usually represented by social parasitism (Suhonen et al., 2019
Entomological Science, May 25, 2023
Ecological Entomology, Feb 13, 2018
1. Resource density can regulate the area that animals use. At low resource density, there is a c... more 1. Resource density can regulate the area that animals use. At low resource density, there is a conflict in terms of balance between costs of foraging and benefits acquired. The foraging of the higher termite Nasutitermes aff. coxipoensis consists of searching throughout trails and a building galleries phase. 2. In this study, a manipulative field experiment was used to test the hypothesis that colonies of N. aff. coxipoensis forage towards a more profitable balance between the establishment of trails and gallery construction at low resource density. 3. The experiment was conducted in northeastern Brazil. Seven experimental plots were established with a continuous increase in resource density (sugarcane baits). Entire colonies of N. aff. coxipoensis were transplanted from their original sites to the experimental plot, totalling 35 nests. The number, branches and total length of trails and galleries were quantified. 4. The results show that N. aff. coxipoensis optimises its foraging output, intensifying the establishment of trails at the cost of gallery construction when resource density is low. The number of trails, the number of trail branches and the total length of trails decreased with increasing resource density. Interestingly, at low resource density, the search effort was concentrated on forming longer and a greater number of trails, a small proportion of which were converted into galleries. The opposite relationship was observed at high resource density. 5. These results suggest an optimisation of search efforts during foraging depending on resource density, a mechanism that may help researchers to understand the use of space by higher termite species.
Brazilian Journal of Biology, Sep 26, 2016
Habitat fragmentation is considered to be one of the biggest threats to tropical ecosystem functi... more Habitat fragmentation is considered to be one of the biggest threats to tropical ecosystem functioning. In this region, termites perform an important ecological role as decomposers and ecosystem engineers. In the present study, we tested whether termite community is negatively affected by edge effects on three fragments of Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. Termite abundance and vegetation structure were sampled in 10 transects (15 × 2 m), while termite richness, activity, and soil litter biomass were measured in 16 quadrants (5 × 2 m) at forest edge and interior of each fragment. Habitat structure (i.e. number of tree, diameter at breast height and soil litter biomass) did not differ between forest edge and interior of fragments. Termite richness, abundance and activity were not affected by edge effect. However, differences were observed in the β diversity between forest edge and interior as well as in the fragments sampled. The β diversity partitioning indicates that species turnover is the determinant process of termite community composition under edge effect. Our results suggest that conservation strategies should be based on the selection of several distinct sites instead of few rich sites (e.g. nesting).
Animal Behaviour, Oct 1, 2016
Termite inquilines specialize on living in and feeding on a host termite nest. However, the mecha... more Termite inquilines specialize on living in and feeding on a host termite nest. However, the mechanisms allowing survival of two mutually hostile populations confined to a single nest are not understood. Here we report on inquiline termites that respond to their host's alarm cues. Upon detecting these cues, the inquilines do not join in with the host's nest defence, but use this information for their own benefit, to escape danger. Using behavioural bioassays under laboratory conditions, we show that the obligatory inquiline Inquilinitermes microcerus (Termitidae: Termitinae) responds both to its own alarm signal and to alarm cues from its host, Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). Conversely, this host responded only to its own alarm signal. Despite perceiving their host's alarm cues, inquilines were never observed sharing nest defence with their host in experimentally damaged nests in the field. We argue that this allows inquilines not only to minimize encounters and hence conflict with their hosts, but also to use their host alarm information to escape the host's enemies, which are also likely to be enemies of the inquilines. Our results show a new benefit that inquilines gain from the host, and we discuss the inquiline way-of-life from an evolutionary perspective, as the outcome of constraints and benefits imposed by living in host nests.
Sociobiology, 2007
Understanding the way resource amount relates to species richness, and its underlying mechanisms,... more Understanding the way resource amount relates to species richness, and its underlying mechanisms, may help to unveil the role played by species demands and species interactions on ecosystem functioning and, hence, how biodiversity is regulated. With this in mind, we investigated the effects of increasing resource amount on termite species richness at a local scale, in a remnant of Brazilian Atlantic rain Forest. Starting from a statistical model comprised by litter biomass, volume of fallen logs, and soil's clay content, we found a minimal adequate model revealing a negative relationship between termite species richness and litter biomass. Three hypotheses could explain such a negative relationship: as litter amount increased species numbers diminished because (i) another resource diminished; (ii) colonies retracted their foraging range, impairing sampling detection and hence producing pseudo-decrements in diversity; or (iii) predation risk increased. Hypotheses (i) and (ii) lack support because soil's clay content did not relate either to species richness nor to abundance, despite the fact that most termites recorded belonged to the soil-feeding guild. We argue in favor of hypothesis (iii), specially considering that ants-the main predators of termites-have been already reported to relate positively to litter amount in this environment.
Sociobiology, 2010
Several factors may limit the use of resources by animals; however, little is known about the mec... more Several factors may limit the use of resources by animals; however, little is known about the mechanisms responsible for the use of trees by termites. In this study, we analyzed by logistic regression the prediction that termites would tend to occupy trees based on their (I) potential amount of available resources and (II) chemical traits. termite galleries were more frequently found on large as opposed to small trees and dead as opposed to living ones. The occurrence of galleries of termites on trees was not affected by the presence of latex or by taxonomical features. We conclude that the presence of termite galleries on trees could be determined more by resource availability than resource quality.
Pest Management Science, Feb 5, 2018
BACKGROUND: The mosquito Aedes aegypti is intensely controlled because it is vector of viruses th... more BACKGROUND: The mosquito Aedes aegypti is intensely controlled because it is vector of viruses that cause innumerous diseases, especially in tropical regions. Due to the indiscriminate use of insecticides, populations from different regions have been resistant to pyrethroids. Here,
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Papers by Ana Paula Albano Araújo