The highly polyphagous Old World cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera is a quarantine agricultural pest for the American continents. Historically H. armigera is thought to have colonised the American continents around 1.5 to 2 million years ago, leading to the current H. zea populations on the American continents. The relatively recent species divergence history is evident in mating compatibility between H. zea and H. armigera under laboratory conditions. Despite periodic interceptions of H. armigera into North America, this pest species is not believed to have successfully established significant populations on either continent. In this study, we provide molecular evidence via mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and cytochrome b (Cyt b) partial gene sequences for the successful recent incursion of H. armigera into the New World, with individuals being detected at two sites (Primavera do Leste, Pedra Preta) within the State of Mato Grosso in Brazil. The mtDNA COI and Cyt b haplotypes detected in the Brazilian H. armigera individuals are common throughout the Old World, thus precluding identification of the founder populations. Combining the two partial mtDNA gene sequences showed that at least two matrilines are present in Brazil, while the inclusion of three nuclear DNA Exon-Primed Intron-Crossing (EPIC) markers identified a further two possible matrilines in our samples. The economic, biosecurity, resistance management, ecological and evolutionary implications of this incursion are discussed in relation to the current agricultural practices in the Americas.

Cotton is a crop that is attractive to a wide variety of organisms, including pests, natural enemies of the pests and arthropod pollinators. Consequently, integrated pest management is necessary for this crop as chemical control is often required to avoid production losses. Among pollinators found on cotton, Apis mellifera is one of the most important, as it can increase cotton production 20 – 30%. On the other hand, selectivity is an important characteristic of insecticides, as it makes it possible to lessen impacts on pollinators and other non-target organisms. We examined the toxicity of various insecticides for honey bees foraging on cotton in a greenhouse, including Turbine®  500 WG (150 g ha-1) (flonicamid), Actara®  250 WG (200 g ha-1) (thiamethoxam), Cartap®  500 SP (1500 g ha-1) (cartap), Talstar®  100 CE (1000 mL ha-1) (bifenthrin) and Match®  50 CE (1000 mL ha-1) (lufenuron). Applications of Talstar®, Actara®  and Cartap® were quite toxic. Talstar® was the most deadly, while Match CE® and Turbine® were only slightly toxic for adult honey bees. The Match CE®  treatment mortality was similar to that of the control; thus, we classified it as innocuous for A. mellifera adults.

Efeito da resistência de Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) a lambda-cyhalothrin na interação com o milho geneticamente modificado (MON810) e na resposta imunológica ao parasitismo por Campoletis aff. flavicincta (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) Danielle Thomazoni Tese apresentada, para obtenção do título de Doutor em Ciências. Área de concentração: Entomologia Piracicaba 2012 A Deus, Pelo dom da vida, pelas oportunidades e proteção durante toda minha caminhada AGRADEÇO Aos meus amados pais, Aristeu e Eni Thomazoni, Exemplos de dedicação, incentivo, amor, carinho e paciência Carinhosamente DEDICO Aos meus irmãos, Dhyego e Thyago Thomazoni, Pelo amor sincero, amizade, ajuda, preocupação, incentivo e paciência Ao meu noivo, Miguel Ferreira Soria Pelo amor, auxílio, incentivo, companheirismo, carinho, preocupação e paciência OFEREÇO Ao Professor Paulo Eduardo Degrande da Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD) pelo incentivo e orientação durante minha caminhada profissional.