-The objective of this work was to determine the ideal number for field release of Trichogramma galloi and T. pretiosum for controlling Duponchelia fovealis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa). The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, where the strawberry cultivar 'Oso Grande' was infected with 100 eggs of D. fovealis distributed on the leaf surface area of each plant. A total of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 female parasitoids were released per egg of D. fovealis. The greatest level of egg parasitism, with no differences for the species of Trichogramma, was observed at the densities of four and eight parasitoids per egg of D. fovealis, considered ideal for field release. Duponchelia fovealis Zeller (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), popularly known in Brazil as the strawberry caterpillar (Paes et al., 2015), is a polyphagous pest with several reported botanical species as hosts (Bonsignore & Vacante, 2010;Franco & Baptista, 2010). Recently introduced in Brazil, D. fovealis has been establishing itself in strawberry fields (Fragaria x ananassa), causing large losses (Zawadneak et al., 2016).Biological control by the release of parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) has shown promise for controlling agriculture and forestry insect pests before they damage the crop (Pratissoli et al., 2007). Moreover, this control is favored because of Trichogramma parasitism on many lepidopteran species (Pizzol et al., 2010). For strawberry cultivation, this type of control is critical because D. fovealis caterpillars can damage the fruit, reducing its value, or preventing its commercialization.The objective of this work was to determine the ideal number for field release of Trichogramma galloi and T. pretiosum for controlling D. fovealis in strawberry.The experiment was performed in a greenhouse of the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, in Alegre, ES, Brazil. Duponchelia fovealis caterpillars were collected from a strawberry crop in Espírito Santo state, and transported to laboratory, where they were kept at 25±1°C, 70±10% relative humidity (RH), and 14-hour photophase, for the establishment of rearing stock. Eggs were distributed onto four cards (2.5×8 cm), with 25 eggs per card. Newly emerged adults were transferred to 20×20 cm cages made with PVC pipe and lined with sulfite paper. To prevent insect escape, the cage bottoms were closed with Styrofoam lined with sulfite paper, and the cage tops were closed with voile cloth. A 10% honey solution (v/v) embedded in cotton was offered as feed to the adults. Egg-laid papers were collected daily from the cages and immediately stored in acrylic gerbox-type boxes (11×11×3.5 cm). The sheets containing eggs were immersed for 10 seconds in 1% formaldehyde solution (v/v) and, subsequently, in 17% copper sulfate solution (m/v) in an aseptic environment, where they remained until dry. Next, the paper portions containing eggs were cut and transferred to flat-bottomed glass tubes (8.5×2.5 cm) containing an artificial diet ...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological characteristics of Trichogramma pretiosum (Riley 1879) under room temperature and temperature stress by successive generations. The evaluation was carried out in split-plot in the time. The temperature (25 ºC – room temperature and 33 ºC – temperature stress) was the Factor 1 and the Generations (n = 15) were the Factor 2. The biological characteristics evaluated were: longevity; posterior tibia length; number of parasitized eggs; emergence; egg-adult period; sexual ratio and deformed individuals. The increase in temperature, from the first generations of T pretiosum, caused an influence in all observed variables. However, for the emergence and sex ratio variables, there was no significant difference between heat stress and control (room temperature) as of the 14th generation, which suggests an adaptability of the species. This adaptability may imply obtaining more aggressive natural enemies in relation to their host (insect pest) and consequently in the greater efficiency of biological control.

The coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari, 1867) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is one of the main pests of world coffee growing. For the purpose of monitoring the presence of this insect, colored traps and attractives have been developed. Then, the objective of this work was to determine the association between trap colors and ethanol: methanol proportions in the CBB catch, and also to determine the infestation in the coffee plantation by the H. hampei. Painted traps of red, green and colorful (red upper half + green lower half) and six volatile mixtures were used. The reference mixtures consisted of ethanol: methanol (E:M), in the proportions of 1:1 and 1:3, with addition of 0.002 and 0.004 kg of pure caffeine powder. The infestation in the coffee plantation was determined by the H. hampei number count into the fruits and the traps. The insects caught number showed significant interaction between the factors color and mixtures of volatile compounds (F 107:85 = 2.46; p < 0.05). The peaks of H. hampei infestation occurred in the stages of grain formation (January) and maturation (April). The red traps with attractive E:M 1:1 + Benzoic Acid had the most significant effects in the H. hampei catch.

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) can control pests due to mutualistic association with bacteria that reproduce and kill the host from septicemia, making the environment favourable for nematode development and reproduction. The objective of this study was to identify an EPN isolate collected in eucalyptus cultivation and to determine its pathogenicity with regard to Gonipterus platensis Marelli (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Four steel-mesh traps with two seventh-instar Galleria mellonella larvae were buried 5 cm deep in the soil in a commercial Eucalyptus plantation. After 7 days, the traps were packed in plastic bags and transported to laboratory to isolate the EPNs using White traps. The obtained nematodes were multiplied in G. mellonella larvae and identified by sequencing their D2/D3 expansion of the 28S rDNA region by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and specific primers for ITS regions. Steinernema diaprepesi was identified and inoculated into G. platensis pupae at doses of 500, 1000 and 5000 infective juveniles (IJs) to determine its pathogenicity to this pest. At 8 days after inoculation, the mortality rate of the G. platensis pupae was 80% with the lowest concentration and 100% with the others. The emergence of nematodes and the rapid degradation of G. platensis pupae were observed in those inoculated with IJs. The pathogenicity to the G. platensis pupae indicates potential for using this nematode in the integrated management of this insect.

No Brasil, o abacaxizeiro é uma frutífera de ampla distribuição no território nacional ocupando a sexta posição como a fruta mais produzida no país. Objetivou-se, com este estudo, propor a determinação do Zoneamento Agroclimático do Ananas comosus L. mediante a utilização de interpolação espacial para o estado do Espírito Santo. As etapas metodológicas necessárias para avaliar o zoneamento foram: geração do banco de dados e interpolação espacial. Os resultados mostraram que o Espírito Santo possui 73,77% de suas áreas aptas ao cultivo, 21,76% restritas e 4,48% de suas áreas inaptas ao cultivo do abacaxizeiro.

The present study about the oviposition preference of the diamondback moth, <em>Plutella xylostella</em> (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), can contribute to the determination of the location and time of release of parasitoids and predators or application of insecticides or bio-insecticides in the cabbage culture, <em>Brassica oleracea</em> Capitata group (Linnaeus, 1758) (Brassicales: Brassicaceae). Thus, aimed to this study was to determine the oviposition pattern of diamondback moth on three leaves locations and age of cabbage plants. The locations of the evaluated leaves were external, intermediate and internal. The evaluated plant ages were 20, 40, 60 and 80 days after transplanting. The eggs deposition behavior by diamondback moth was influenced by the development stage of the cabbage plant <em>F</em>_{6, 96} = 438.21; <em>p</em> = 0.05). The oviposition preference on the external leaves occurred on plants with 20 days old, on the intermediate leaves at 40 days and on the internal leaves at 60 and 80 days. The age with greater oviposition was at 40 days on the external and intermediate leaves; and at 60 days on the internal leaves. Therefore, the behavior of egg deposition of the diamondback moth was altered as the cabbage plant development.

Plant parasitic nematodes have become one of the main problems in the tomato cultivation. Among these, Meloidogyne enterolobii presents great challenges to the farmer, since it is a polyphagous species and difficult to control. The entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) present as potential for biological control of this pathogen. The objective of the study was to evaluate the interference of EPNs S. brazilense, S. feltiae, S. rarum, H. amazonensis and H. bacteriophora on hatching and mortality of M. enterolobii. 500 eggs of this nematode and 1.000 infective juveniles of each EPN species were placed in a plastic pot totaling 25 mL of suspension and kept in an incubator at 25°C. The number of juveniles hatched in the suspension was counted every 2 days, until 10 days. After 10 days of evaluations, the remaining suspension (15 mL) containing M. enterolobii and EPNs was inoculated into Rutgers tomato seedlings. The suspension contained approximately in 300 eggs of M. enterolobii occasional juveniles and 600 IJ of each nematode species. Sixty days after inoculation were evaluated gall indexes, egg mass indexes, total number of eggs and juveniles of M. enterolobii and reproductive factor was calculated. In the mortality experiment, 500 infective juveniles of M. enterolobii and 1.000 juveniles of each EPN species were placed in a plastic pot totaling 25 mL of suspension. The evaluation of juvenile mortality was performed by counting of the mobile and immotile nematodes, by adding two drops of NaOH to the nematode suspension. It was verified that on the 10th day all ENPs provided reduction in the hatching of M. enterolobii. In the pot experiment it was found thato gall index, egg mass indexm, nematodes total number and reproduction factor were significantly reduced in treatments with all species of EPNs tested. However, in the mortality test, only EPNs S. brazilense and S. rarum provided mortality on the second day and H. bacteriophora affected mortality on the 4th day. In the other evaluations, there was no statistical difference. The results highlight the potential of the use of EPNs in programs of integrated management of M. enterolobii in tomato.

No abstract