Instituto de Ciências Agrárias

Life table analyses have been developed to understanding the impact of various sources of intrinsic and extrinsic mortalities on the rate of population growth. The understanding of the population increase of the parasitoids related to their hosts is important in biological control programs. This work had as objective to evaluate the survival and fertility of the parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson, 1880) on Schizaphis graminum (Rondani, 1852) as a host under fertility life table. The experiment were carried out in a climatic chamber at 25 ± 1ºC, RH 60 ± 10% and 10h photophase. To determine the immature mortality, the development time and the sex ratio of the parasitoid, 12 females of the parasitoid (less than one day old) and 240 nymphs of S. graminum (3 days old) were used. To evaluate the longevity and fertility of L. testaceipes, 15 females (less than one day old) were used. Nymphs of S. graminum (3 days old) were offered for each parasitoid female daily, until the female died, being in the 1st day - 300 nymphs; 2nd day - 250 nymphs; 3rd day - 200 nymphs; 4th day - 150 and in the other days a number of 50 nymphs. L. testaceipes had an immature mortality of 22,2%, and a development time of males and females of 9.0 and 9.1 days, respectively. The females of L. testaceipes laid, in it first life day, 257.8 eggs, and they survived up until seven days. The net reproduction rate (Ro) and the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) were respectively, 301.9 and 0.513. The finite rate of increase (l) was 1.67 females per day, the mean length of a generation (T) was 11.13 days and the time to duplicate the population (TD) was 1.35 weeks. The parasitoid L. testaceipes have a high potential of population growth on S. graminum as a host under the analyzed conditions.

Response to temperature of Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) from three climatic regions of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The parasitoid Aphidius colemani Viereck, 1912 presents higher mortality at constant temperatures above 25°C, and probably it is the cause of the failure on the biological control of Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877 when this parasitoid is used at higher temperatures in greenhouses. The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of different temperatures on individuals of A. colemani from different climatic regions of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Individuals of A. colemani were collected in the localities of Juramento, Lavras and São Gotardo, and reared in laboratory (22±2°C, 70±10% RH and 12h photophase) for three generations in the host A. gossypii, on cucumber plants. One mated female of A. colemani, 24-48 h old, was released for one hour, in a Petri dish (15cm) with 20 nymphs of 2 nd instar of A. gossypii on a leaf disk of cucumber (4 cm of diameter) laid on a layer of agar-water (1%). The parasitized aphids were kept at 16, 19, 22, 25 and 28±1°C, 70±10% RH and 12h photophase. The emergence rates of individuals from Juramento (65.9 and 35.4%) and São Gotardo (71.4 and 47.6%) were lower compared to those from Lavras (87.1 and 80.9%) at 16 and 28°C. The more suitable temperature for the development of A. colemani from Lavras was higher than those for individuals from Juramento and São Gotardo. The individuals from Lavras showed highest emergence at 28°C, and this demonstrated the existence of individuals of A. colemani with tolerance to higher temperatures. These results open news perspectives on the use of different strains of A. colemani on biological control of A. gossypii in protected cultivation.

A suitable host provides, at least, the minimum nutritional and physiological conditions for the development of the immature stages of a parasitoid. Host quality may influence the developmental time, mortality rate, longevity and fecundity of parasitoids. This work evaluates the suitability and quality of Aphis gossypii Glover, Brevicoryne brassicae (Linné), Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) and Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) as hosts for Aphidius colemani Viereck. Twenty second-instar nymphs of each aphid species were exposed to parasitism for one hour, and then kept in a climatic chamber at 22 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% RH and a 12 h photophase. The aphid B. brassicae was unsuitable for the development of A. colemani. The different aphid host species varied in size: M. persicae > (R. maidis = S. graminum) > A. gossypii. Parasitoid fitness decreased accordingly when reared on (M. persicae = R. maidis) > S. graminum > A. gossypii. Large hosts seem to be better than small hosts based on parasitoid size. Egg load of A. colemani was related probably more on the ability of the parasitoid larva to obtain nutritional resources from the different host species than on host size.

The parasitoids Aphidius colemani Viereck and Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera Braconidae and Aphidiinae) play an important role in both natural and applied biological control of Aphis gossypii Glover (Rhynchota Aphididae). The use of both parasitoid species in biological control of A. gossypii may expose them to interspecific competition. Larval competition was evaluated to determine the existence of intrinsic superiority of either A. colemani or L. testaceipes after multiparasitism of A. gossypii. Nymphs of the 2 nd instar of A. gossypii parasitized by both parasitoid species were used to test the outcome of interspecific larval competition. Thirty nine adults of A. colemani and 72 adults of L. testaceipes emerged from multiparasitized aphids. It appears that the parasitoid L. testaceipes was superior in larval competition (χ 2 IGL = 15.46, P ≤ 0.01) to A. colemani in A. gossypii. The intrinsic superiority of L. testaceipes may cause the displacement of A. colemani and, therefore, the simultaneous use of both parasitoids in biological control of A. gossypii should be carefully analyzed.

The aphid Aphis gossypii Glover is associated with several vegetable and ornamental greenhouse crops, especially chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev). The effect of different temperatures and chrysanthemum cultivars (Yellow Snowdon, White Reagan and Dark Splendid Reagan) on developmental time and survival of A gossypii were evaluated. The trials were carried out at environmental chambers, at constant temperatures: 15, 20, 25 and 30°C, 70±10% RH and photophase 10h. Nymphs of A. gossypii were kept individually on chrysanthemum leaf discs (2 cm diameter) of different cultivars in glass petri dishes, with 10ml of sterile solution of agar/water 1%. The increase of temperature from 15°C to 30°C, caused a significant reduction in the developmental time of the instars, and the first instar was the most affected. The survival of the nymphs of 1 st and 2 nd instars was affected by all chrysanthemum cultivars evaluated. These cultivars presented different densities of trichomes/ mm 2 on the leaf (11.3, 16.6 and 21.6 trichomes, respectively), which provided higher survival to nymphs maintained on Yellow Snowdon cultivars (88.5 and 96.6% for the 1 st and 2 nd instars, respectively). The nymphal period decreased from 13.5 days at 15°C to 5.0 days at 30°C. Temperature and chrysanthemum cultivars affected the developmental time and the survival of the initial instars of A. gossypii, and this information is important for A. gossypii management in greenhouse crops.

The temperature is among the abiotic factors that directly affect the developmental time and behavior of insects. The adaptability to climatic conditions is a key point for the success of mass-rearing and establishment of parasitoids in biological control programs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the developmental time and parasitism of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) on Aphis gossypii Glover as host in different temperatures. The tests were carried out in climatic chambers at 15, 20, 25 and 30 ± 1°C, 60 ± 10% RH and 10h photophase. Parasitized nymphs of A. gossypii were kept individualized in petri dishes (6 cm of diameter) on a leaf disk (2 cm diameter) of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum Tzvelev) 'Yellow Snowdon' cultivar on a layer of agar. The developmental time of L. testaceipes was 26.9, 14.8, 11.3 and 12.2 days at 15, 20, 25 and 30ºC, respectively. Parasitism rates were 76, 68, 65 and 40% at 15, 20, 25 and 30°C, and emergence rates were 80, 61, 62 and 14% at these temperatures. The combination of a low developmental time (11.3 days) and parasitism and emergency higher than 60% occurred at 25ºC, indicating that this temperature could be the most adequate for reproduction and establishment of L. testaceipes as a biological control agent of A. gossypii in protected cultivation.

Aphidius colemani Viereck is among the main natural enemies used for biological control of Aphis gossypii Glover. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the development of A. colemani and the alterations caused by the parasitism in the host A. gossypii in different temperatures and to estimate the thermal requirements of the parasitoid. The experiments were carried out in controlled environmental chambers at 16, 19, 22, 25, 28 and 31 ± 1ºC, 70 ± 10% RH, and 12h photophase. Second-instar nymphs of A. gossypii were parasitized once and kept individually in glass tubes (2.5 cm x 8.5 cm), containing leaf disc of cucumber (2 cm) and 1% water/agar solution. The development time of A. colemani, from oviposition to mummies (11.9, 9.8, 7.7, 6.4 and 6.4 days) and from oviposition to adult (19.4, 16.2, 12.6, 10.5 and 10.7 days) decreased with the increase of the temperature from 16ºC to 25ºC. The rates of mummies and the emergence of the parasitoid, and its longevity also decreased with the increase of the temperature. Mummies were not produced at 31ºC. The lower temperature threshold of A. colemani was 5.94ºC and its thermal constant was 200 degrees-day. The alterations caused by the parasitoid in the A. gossypii host were minimized at 31ºC, where 98% of the host did not show symptoms of parasitism and produced nymphs. The temperature of 22ºC was optimal for the development time of A. colemani.

Fecundity and longevity of Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877 (Hemiptera, Aphididae) at different temperatures and commercial chrysanthemum cultivars (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev). The aphid A. gossypii is one of the main pests in a number of crops both under field and protected conditions. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the fecundity and longevity of A. gossypii under different temperatures and commercial chrysanthemum cultivars (Yellow Snowdon, White Reagan and Dark Splendid Reagan) with different trichomes densities (11.3; 16.6 and 21.6 trichome/mm2 of the leaf, respectively) The trials were carried out in climatic chambers, at four temperatures (15, 20, 25 and 30 ±1 °C), 70 ± 10% RH and photophase 10h. The reproductive period significantly decreased with increase of temperature in the three cultivars. In Yellow Snowdon cultivar average duration of the reproductive period was 14.3 days at 25 °C. The maximum fecundity was obtained at the temperature of 25 oC with 3,1; 2,8 and 3,6 nymphs/female/day in the Yellow Snowdon, White Reagan and Dark S. Reagan cultivars, respectively. The total fecundity was reduced by extreme temperatures (15 and 30 °C), and was obtained at 25 °C with 35,9 nymphs/female. Females maintained in Yellow Snowdon cultivar significantly showed superiority (30,7 nymphs/female) in total fecundity in relation to White Reagan (22,1 nymphs/female) and Dark S. Reagan (22,9 nymphs/female). The Yellow Snowdon cultivar (with a lower trichome density) had a significant influence in daily and total capacity of nymphs production, showing a higher fecundity of A. gossypii females. The aphid's longevity was affected by cultivars and temperature, and this longevity decreased whit increase of temperature. The results showed that there was an interaction between the temperature and host plant on reproductive parameters of A. gossypii.

Temperature is one of the most important factors in determining the survival and developmental rate of aphids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the developmental time and survival of the aphid species Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) and Uroleucon ambrosiae (Thomas) (Rhynchota Aphididae) at six constant temperatures. Tests were conducted on lettuce plants (Lactuca sativa L.) in climate chambers at 16, 19, 22, 25, 28 and 31 ± 1 °C, 70 ± 10% RH and 12 h photophase. At high temperatures these species showed lower rates of survival than at low temperatures, and at 31 °C no aphids reached adulthood. The highest survival rates and the shortest developmental times were observed between 16 and 22 °C. The lower temperature threshold (Tb) and thermal constant (K) for A. solani and M. euphorbiae were 1.09 and 1.05 °C and 142.9 and 144.9 degrees-day (DD), respectively, while for U. ambrosiae these parameters could not be estimated. The highest survival rate and short developmental time found at 22 °C indicate that this temperature is optimal for development of A. solani and M. euphorbiae, whereas the optimal temperature for U. ambrosiae is 19 °C.

Avaliou-se o efeito do armazenamento em baixa temperatura de pupas de Trichogramma pretiosum, em ovos de Sitotroga cerealella, sobre a emergência e a viabilidade reprodutiva do parasitoide. Os testes foram conduzidos em câmara climática a 5, 8 e 10° C, 70% UR, escotofase constante, com 10 tratamentos (testemunha, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 e 20 dias de armazenamento) e 10 repetições. Foram distribuídos 1.000 ovos contendo pupas em tubos de ensaio (10 x 3 cm), 100 foram mantidos a 25º C, 70% UR e 14 horas de fotofase (testemunha) e os demais armazenados. Após cada período de armazenamento, 100 ovos foram transferidos para 25º C e avaliados quanto à emergência e funções reprodutivas. A emergência de T. pretiosum não foi influenciada pelo período de armazenamento nas três temperaturas (Tukey P ≤ 0,05) e as menores taxas de emergência foram de 85,6%, 84,5% e 77,6%, respectivamente para os parasitoides armazenados a 5, 8 e 10° C. Não houve perda da viabilidade reprodutiva dos parasitoides provenientes da estocagem nas temperaturas avaliadas, pois todas as fêmeas acasaladas produziram indivíduos de ambos os sexos. Estes resultados auxiliarão no planejamento da criação massal, embalagem e transporte de T. pretiosum do laboratório para o local de liberação.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade de voo, o parasitismo e a emergência de linhagens de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, criadas em laboratório por 54 gerações sobre Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) e oriundas de quatro municípios do Mato Grosso. O delineamento estatístico foi o inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos (linhagens) e sete repetições (cada uma com 30 ovos inviáveis de S. cerealella). Avaliou-se a porcentagem de insetos voadores, caminhadores, não-voadores, parasitismo e emergência. A porcentagem de parasitoides voadores de Rondonópolis (97,7) foi superior às de Primavera do Leste (91,7), Jaciara (85,9) e Pedra Preta (94) pelo teste de Scott-Knott (P < 0,05). A porcentagem de caminhadores não diferiu nas linhagens de Rondonópolis (0,6) e Pedra Preta (2,6). Para os parasitoides não voadores não se detectaram diferenças nas linhagens de Primavera do Leste (3,6%), Jaciara (3,1%), Rondonópolis (1,7%) e Pedra Preta (3,7%). A taxa de parasitismo foi semelhante entre as linhagens e variou de 69,2% (Pedra Preta) a 81,9% (Rondonópolis). A emergência foi superior a 80% em todas as linhagens e também não diferiu entre elas. Após 54 gerações as quatro linhagens estão em ótimas condições de atividade de voo, parasitismo e emergência, para serem utilizadas em programas de controle biológico.

The evaluation of the growth potential of Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) is important for its use in biological control programs of aphids. This work aimed to evaluate the fertility life table of L. testaceipes in Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) and Aphis gossypii Glover. To determine the immature mortality, development and the sex ratio of the parasitoid, 12 females parasitoid, and 480 nymphs of each aphids were used. To evaluate the longevity and fertility 15 female parasitoid were used. Nymphs of each aphid (3 day old) were offered for each parasitoid female daily, until the female died, being 300 (1st day); 250 (2nd day); 200 (3rd day); 150 (4th day) and 50 nymphs in the other days. L. testaceipes showed immature mortality rates of 5.6 % in R. maidis and 9.2 % in A. gossypii. The development time of L. testaceipes in R. maidis and A. gossypii was 10.2 and 10.1 days, and the sex ratio of 0.71 and 0.66, respectively. The female of L. testaceipes had a fecundity of 498.8 eggs in R. maidis and 327.8 eggs in A. gossypii. The growth parameters the L. testaceipes in R. maidis and A. gossypii were, respectively RO= 205.38 and 164.08 females; rm= 0.449 and 0.431 females/females/day; ë= 1.57 and 1.54 females/day; T= 11.86 and 11.83 days and TD= 10.78 and 11.27 days. L. testaceipes showed great growth potential on both aphid hosts. R. maidis could be a suitable host for proposals of mass-rearing and open rearing system using L. testaceipes.