ABSTRACT. Biological aspects of Leucothyreus dorsalis Blanchard (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae). In Brazil there is a shortage of information on bioecology of most species of Scarabaeidae. The aim of this work was to study the biological aspects of Leucothyreus dorsalis Blanchard, 1850 in laboratory and field. The population dynamics of adults was evaluated from January, 2006, to December, 2007, with the use of light traps. Adults collected in the field were kept in plastic recipients containing soil and seedlings of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf, to obtain eggs and start the studies. All developmental stages were monitored and adults and immatures measured to get biometric data. 3,607 adults were collected and the population peaks occurred in November, 2006 and October, 2007, with averages of 145 e 241 individuals collected, respectively. The embryonic period took in the average 15.5 days, the 1 st instar 32.4 days, the 2 nd instar 38.9 days, the 3 rd instar 52.7 days, the pre-pupa 130.7 days, the pupa 23.5 days and the longevity of adults 18 days. The biological cycle was completed in 273.5 days, characterizing the specie as univoltine. From the first to the third instar it was observed an increasing of 4.5 times in the extension and 3.5 times in the width of the larvae. There was an increase of 53.1 times in the larval weight from the first to the third instar. The female pupae were significantly larger and heavier than the male ones. The adult females are larger than the adult males, however, they have similar weight.KEYWORDS. Biological cycle; population fluctuation; rhizophagous pests; Scarabaeoidea; white grubs. Blanchard, 1850 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae). No Brasil existe uma escassez de informações sobre a bioecologia da maioria das espécies de Scarabaeidae. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar os aspectos biológicos de Leucothyreus dorsalis Blanchard, 1850 em laboratório e a campo. A dinâmica populacional dos adultos foi avaliada de janeiro de 2006 a dezembro de 2007, com uso de armadilha luminosa. Adultos coletados em campo foram mantidos em recipientes de plástico contendo solo e mudas de Brachiaria decumbens Stapf, para obtenção de ovos e dar início aos estudos. Todos os estágios de desenvolvimento foram acompanhados e adultos e imaturos foram mensurados para obtenção de dados biométricos. Foram coletados 3.607 adultos e os picos populacionais de coleta ocorreram em novembro de 2006 e outubro de 2007, com média de 145 e 241 indivíduos coletados, respectivamente. O período embrionário durou em média 15,5 dias, o primeiro instar 32,4 dias, o segundo 38,9 dias, o terceiro 52,7 dias, a fase de pré-pupa 130,7 dias, a fase pupal 23,5 dias e a longevidade 18 dias. O ciclo biológico completou-se em 273,5 dias, o que caracteriza a espécie como univoltina. Verificou-se que do primeiro ao terceiro instar houve um aumento de 4,5 vezes no comprimento e de 3,5 vezes na largura das larvas. Observou-se um aumento de 53,1 vezes no peso larval do primeiro para o terceiro instar. As pupas das fêm...

A palmeira Acrocomia aculeata (bocaiúva) representa uma importante fonte de renda para pequenos agricultores que a exploram em sua maioria, na forma de extrativismo, e além da importância socioeconômica é abrigo e recurso alimentar para um grande grupo de animais. Entretanto, poucos são os estudos sobre a artropodofauna associada a esta planta, assim, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo conhecer as espécies e os aspectos biológicos dos coleópteros fitófagos da família Scarabaeidae que estão associados com o sistema radicular desta palmeira. A coleta dos Scarabaeidae foi realizada quinzenalmente, de abril a outubro de 2007, através de escavações realizadas na base das plantas, e os espécimes encontrados eram quantificados e conduzidos ao laboratório de entomologia para estudo dos aspectos biológicos. Foram coletados 150 espécimes de Scarabaeidae, dos quais 138 (92,0%) eram larvas, duas (1,3%) eram pupas e 10 (6,7%) adultos. As larvas foram encontradas em maiores quantidades nos meses de abril e maio, onde registrou-se respectivamente 4,88 e 5,38 larvas por planta. A maior quantidade de larvas foi encontrada em maio, onde registrou-se a média de 5,38 larvas por planta. As pupas foram coletadas em julho e agosto, e os adultos de agosto a outubro. Os escarabeídeos fitófagos encontrados associados ao sistema radicular de A. aculeata estão distribuídos em três subfamílias, cinco gêneros e sete espécies. As espécies encontradas foram, Astaena sp., Cyclocephala verticalis Burmeister, Leucothyreus dorsalis Blanchard, Leucothyreus sp., Liogenys fuscus Blanchard, Phyllophaga sp.1 e Phyllophaga sp.2. Os espécimes de Leucothyreus sp. representaram 30,8% do total de insetos obtidos.

Larvas de Scarabaeidae fitófagos são consideradas pragas importantes em várias culturas, pois, ao se alimentarem do sistema radicular, causam sérias injúrias às plantas. Além disto, infestações mistas de diferentes espécies são, normalmente, encontradas nas lavouras, o que pode dificultar a aplicação de ABSTRACT RESUMO algumas táticas de controle, como o uso de inseticidas (Pérez-Agis et al. 2008), aumentando, assim, a importância dos estudos sobre este complexo de pragas. Desde meados da década de 1980, um complexo de larvas de Scarabaeidae tem causado danos à cultura da soja, em várias regiões do Brasil (Oliveira & Garcia 2003), sendo Phyllophaga cuyabana Moser a principal espécie, no Estado do Pa-1. Trabalho recebido em out./2009 e aceito para publicação em jan./2011 (n° registro: PAT 7698/

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The studies were conducted on the biological aspects of Cyclocephala tucumana Brethes, 1904 and C. melanocephala (Fabricius, 1775) in Aquidauana, MS, Brazil. From January to December 2009 a light trap was installed to make collections of adults of C. tucumana and from January 2010 to February 2011 for collections of adults of C. melanocephala, at the experimental farm of the Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul. Adults were maintained in plastic containers with soil and complete plants of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf cv. Basilisk to oviposition and start biological studies. Adults of C. tucumana were collected from September to November in the field; the embryonic period lasted on average 14.7 days, and the first, second and third larval instars lasted 47.7, 66.1 and 78.6 days, respectively. Pre-pupa and pupa phases lasted 98.2 and 15.1 days, respectively, and longevity of the adults was 13.3 days. From the egg to adult stage of C. tucumana was a period of average 211.2 days. Adults of C. melanocephala were collected from September to October 2010 and February 2011. The embryonic period lasted 17.8 days, and larvae in the first, second and third instars lasted 22.3, 21.0 and 27.0 days, respectively. The pre-pupa stage lasted 11.3 days and pupa phase lasted 13.3 days. The longevity of adults was 26 days, and the cycle from egg to adult lasted 113 days.

Dynastinae beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are important due to their role in recycling plant material and promoting nutrient turnover. However, some species are phytophagous and can attack crop plants, thus becoming pests. Here, we provide information on the biology and behavior of the rhinoceros beetle Enema pan (F.) (Oryctini), an abundant species in the area of Cerrado-Pantanal ecotone, Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Adults were collected with a light trap deployed daily from January 2006 to December 2007 in the experimental farm of the Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul (Aquidauana campus). Adults were maintained in plastic containers and observations were made daily. Temporal distribution of adults of E. pan occurred in September and October (2006) and from October to December (2007). Flight started at 1930 hours and ended at 2330 hours. Twenty-four eggs (3.28 mm in length by 2.32 mm in width) with a whitish color were ovipositioned directly in to the soil. Adult longevity averaged 22.0 d in the laboratory conditions. Cephalic horn length, body length, and width of E. pan males are greater than those of females. The weight of adults of both sexes was similar. Cephalic horn length of the males of E. pan was positively correlated with his body size. Mating occurred between 0800 and 1030 hours and lasted on average 18.1 min in the laboratory. Several fights among males and other behaviors involving males and females were observed and are reported.

Introduction:The endoparasitoid Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff, 1893) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) can be reared with the alternative host Tenebrio molitor (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Host storage at low temperatures can regulate parasitoid production and demand in biological control programs. Material and Methods: The lifecycle (egg-adult), parasitism and emergence percentage, number of parasitoids emerged per host pupae, sex ratio and longevity of the T. howardi offspring per T. molitor pupa were evaluated after low temperature storage of this host for different periods and its immature (pupae) in T. molitor pupae for five periods at 10.3 ºC. Tenebrio molitor pupae stored at 0.5 ± 0.09 °C and 2.7 ± 0.11 °C for 10 and 20 days, respectively, were adequate to produce T. howardi. Results: The biological characteristics of this parasitoid were better with T. molitor pupae stored at 0.5 ± 0.09 °C and 2.7 ± 0.11 °C for 10 and 20 days.Tetrastichus howardi immature (pupae) can be stored in T. molitor pupae for 10, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days at 10.3 ºC, preferably in pupae of this host for 10 days to produce these adults of this parasitoid for biological control programs. Discussion: These results contribute to overcoming one of the difficulties encountered in the massive production of parasitoids which is to obtain large numbers of suitable hosts when they are needed.Therefore, the possibility of conserving T. molitor pupae to rear T. howardi will be useful to use this natural enemy in biological pest control programs. Keywords: Biological control, Cold storage, Parasitoids, Progeny.

Introduction: The endoparasitoid Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff, 1893) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) can be reared with the alternative host Tenebrio molitor (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Host storage at low temperatures can regulate parasitoid production and demand in biological control programs. Material and Methods: The life-cycle (egg-adult), parasitism and emergence percentage, number of parasitoids emerged per host pupae, sex ratio and longevity of the T. howardi offspring per T. molitor pupa were evaluated after low temperature storage of this host for different periods and its immature (pupae) in T. molitor pupae for five periods at 10.3 ºC. Tenebrio molitor pupae stored at 0.5 ± 0.09 °C and 2.7 ± 0.11 °C for 10 and 20 days, respectively, were adequate to produce T. howardi. Results: The biological characteristics of this parasitoid were better with T. molitor pupae stored at 0.5 ± 0.09 °C and 2.7 ± 0.11 °C for 10 and 20 days. Tetrastichus howardi immature (pupae) can be stored in T. molitor pupae for 10, 20, 30, 60 and 90 days at 10.3 ºC, preferably in pupae of this host for 10 days to produce these adults of this parasitoid for biological control programs. Discussion: These results contribute to overcoming one of the difficulties encountered in the massive production of parasitoids which is to obtain large numbers of suitable hosts when they are needed. Therefore, the possibility of conserving T. molitor pupae to rear T. howardi will be useful to use this natural enemy in biological pest control programs. Keywords: Biological control, Cold storage, Parasitoids, Progeny.