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Megastigmus transvaalensis
Hussey (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) parasitizes drupes of
Rhus
genus plants in Africa and
Schinus
(Anacardiaceae) in South America. This exotic wasp damages
Schinus terebinthifolia
Raddi drupes in native forests and ecological restoration areas in Brazil. The objective of the present study was to investigate the precipitation, temperature and relative humidity effects on
M
.
transvaalensis
flight activity, and to determine the parasitism rate and sex ratio of this wasp on
S
.
terebinthifolia
plants. The study was conducted with yellow sticky traps and
S
.
terebinthifolia
drupes collected in an ecological restoration area, from August 2014 to September 2015, in the Sorocaba municipality, São Paulo state, Brazil.
Megastigmus transvaalensis
populations were negatively correlated with maximum and minimum temperatures and precipitation, with population peaks at the end of May 2015, with 927 insects per evaluation (48.8 adults per trap). The
M
.
transvaalensis
sex ratio was higher in the laboratory (0.42) than in the field (0.08). The parasitism rate of
S
.
terebinthifolia
drupes by
M
.
transvaalensis
ranged from zero to 36.3% under natural environmental conditions.
Megastigmus transvaalensis
can be monitored with yellow sticky traps. Damage by
M
.
transvaalensis
in
S
.
terebinthifolia
drupes may decrease the germination of the seeds and the establishment of this plant in native and restoration ecological areas.
Mastigimas anjosi
is an important pest of
Cedrela fissilis
in the southeastern and southern regions of Brazil. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of the temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and natural enemies on the flight activity of adults and the movement of
M. anjosi
nymphs, with two sampling methods, yellow sticky traps and direct collections on the leaves of
C. fissilis
trees. The sex ratio of this pest was also assessed. The number of
M. anjosi
individuals was negatively correlated with the minimum and maximum temperatures, with a population peak in late May and early June 2017. The numbers of individuals of this psyllid was positively correlated with the relative humidity and rainfall. Larvae and adults of
Cycloneda sanguinea
,
Hippodamia convergens
adults and
Atopozelus opsimus
nymphs and adults preyed upon
M. anjosi
adults and nymphs on
C. fissilis
leaves in the field.
Mastigimas anjosi
sex ratio was 0.46. Information about sampling methods of
M. anjosi
and its natural enemies is presented and can contribute to the integrated management of this pest in the field.
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