Neotropical Entomology 37(5): 528-535 (2008) Temperature Effects on the Mating Frequency of Anticarsia gemmatalis Hüebner and Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)ABSTRACT -This paper deals with the infl uence of temperature on the mating frequency of two lepidopterans, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner and Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), which use different strategies of allocation, and with the utilization of nutrients for their reproductive activities. The insects were reared on artifi cial diets at 25ºC, and the adults were exposed to fi ve temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35ºC) to observe the infl uence of each temperature on their mating frequency, fecundity, fertility and longevity. The temperature affectedthe mating frequency of both species, being more evident at 15ºC and 35ºC, mainly for A. gemmatalis, which presented a drastic reduction on mating activities. The highest number of matings were observed from 20ºC to 30ºC, with S. frugiperda presenting mating activity (0-8) much higher than that of A. gemmatalis (0-2), but no correlation was observed among the number of matings and all other biological parameters evaluated (fecundity, fertility and longevity). However, S. frugiperda showed a positive correlation between fecundity and mating activity of females (r = 0.589; P = 0.003) at 25ºC. The highest fecundities were observed at temperatures from 20ºC to 30ºC for S. frugiperda and at 25ºC for A. gemmatalis. For both species, the longevity of males and females decreased as temperature increased.KEY WORDS: Reproduction, defoliator caterpillar, spermatophore, fecundity RESUMO -Este trabalho estudou a infl uência da temperatura na freqüência de cópula de Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner e Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith, que empregam diferentes estratégias de alocação, e a utilização de nutrientes para suas atividades reprodutivas. Os insetos foram criados em dieta artifi cial a 25ºC, sendo a infl uência da temperatura na freqüência de cópula, fecundidade, fertilidade e longevidade de adultos avaliada em cinco temperaturas (15, 20, 25, 30 e 35ºC). A temperatura afetou a freqüência de cópula de ambas as espécies, sendo o seu efeito mais evidente nas temperaturas extremas estudadas (15ºC e 35ºC), principalmente, para A. gemmatalis, que apresentou redução drástica em sua atividade de cópula. Temperaturas intermediárias (20ºC a 30ºC) permitiram o maior número de cópulas, com S. frugiperda apresentando (até oito cópulas) atividade de cópula muito superior à de A. gemmatalis (até duas cópulas). Mesmo com a variação encontrada na atividade de cópula nas diferentes temperaturas, não foi verifi cada correlação entre o número de cópulas e os demais parâmetros biológicos observados (fecundidade, fertilidade e longevidade), com exceção da fecundidade de S. frugiperda a 25ºC, que apresentou correlação positiva com a atividade de cópula nessa temperatura (r = 0,589; P = 0,003), indicando que as alterações na atividade reprodutiva desse inseto foram decorrentes, basicamente, de sua resposta à tem...

Ichnoviruses are large dsDNA viruses that belong to the Polydnaviridae family. They are specifically associated with endoparasitic wasps of the family Ichneumonidae and essential for host parasitization by these wasps. We sequenced the Hyposoter didymator Ichnovirus (HdIV) encapsidated genome for further analysis of the transcription pattern of the entire set of HdIV genes following the parasitization of four different lepidopteran host species. The HdIV genome was found to consist of at least 50 circular dsDNA molecules, carrying 135 genes, 98 of which formed 18 gene families. The HdIV genome had general features typical of Ichnovirus (IV) genomes and closely resembled that of the IV carried by Hyposoter fugitivus. Subsequent transcriptomic analysis with Illumina technology during the course of Spodoptera frugiperda parasitization led to the identification of a small subset of less than 30 genes with high RPKM values in permissive hosts, consisting with these genes encoding crucial virulence proteins. Comparisons of HdIV expression profiles between host species revealed differences in transcript levels for given HdIV genes between two permissive hosts, S. frugiperda and Pseudoplusia includens. However, we found no evident intrafamily gene-specific transcription pattern consistent with the presence of multigenic families within IV genomes reflecting an ability of the wasps concerned to exploit different host species. Interestingly, in two non-permissive hosts, Mamestra brassiccae and Anticarsia gemmatalis (most of the parasitoid eggs were eliminated by the host cellular immune response), HdIV genes were generally less strongly transcribed than in permissive hosts. This suggests that successful parasitism is dependent on the expression of given HdIV genes exceeding a particular threshold value. These results raise questions about the mecanisms involved in regulating IV gene expression according to the nature of the lepidopteran host species encountered.

An. Soc. Entomol. Brasil 28(1): 49-57 (1999) Effects of Adult Nutrition and Humidity on the Fecundity of Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)ABSTRACT -The effects of water, three carbohydrates (frutose, sucrose and glucose), and honey at two concentrations (5 and 10%) as adult food, and moisture content inside cages were studied on the egg laying capacity of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.). The sugarcane borer does not need carbohydrates as food source to reach higher egg laying capacity or increase egg hatchability, since no difference was observed when carbohydrate or honey-fed adults were compared with water-fed ones. Moisture on the egg laying paper (inside the adult cages) was essential for fecundity and longevity; females kept on dry conditions showed reduced adult longevity, egg laying capacity and egg cluster size. No egg hatch was obtained.KEY WORDS: Insecta, sugarcane borer, rearing techniques, biological control, water stress.RESUMO -Estudou-se o efeito de diferentes fontes de carboidratos (sacarose, glucose e frutose) e do mel de abelha em duas concentrações (5 e 10%), como alimento para adultos, bem como o efeito da água, oferecida como fonte de alimento ou fornecida através do umedecimento do papel de postura, na fecundidade de Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.). A broca-da-cana não necessitou de carboidratos na alimentação, pois insetos alimentados apenas com água colocaram número de ovos igual ou superior aos insetos mantidos nos demais tratamentos, com longevidade superior e viabilidade de ovos equivalente. O ambiente úmido foi essencial, pois com água ou com simples umedecimento do papel que revestia internamente as gaiolas, ocorreu maior postura. No tratamento seco (sem água e sem umedecimento do papel de postura), não houve eclosão, sendo a postura, longevidade e tamanho das posturas drasticamente reduzidos.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Insecta, broca da cana-de-açúcar, técnicas de criação, controle biológico, estresse hídrico.A nutrição de adultos de insetos holometabólicos não é bem conhecida. De modo geral, para Lepidoptera, assim como para Diptera, considerava-se que água e carboidratos (em concentrações variáveis) eram suficientes para a obtenção de grande

-This research evaluates the effect of the adult diet on the reproduction of Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, Heliothis virescens (Fabr.), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Noctuidae), Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) (Crambidae), Gymnandrosoma aurantianum Lima (Tortricidae) and Stenoma catenifer Walsingham (Elachistidae). Adults of all species were fed either water or a 10% honey solution. The egg viability for the 1 st and 2 nd egg masses, adult fecundity, longevity, number of mating and the ovigeny index (OI) (degree of ovarian maturation) were evaluated. Fecundity of A. gemmatalis and H. virescens was drastically reduced when females were fed only on water. Egg viability from both 1 st and 2 nd egg masses was variable between treatments. Females of A. gemmatalis, H. virescens and S. frugiperda, and males of some species had a reduced longevity when fed only on water. The number of matings was higher for A. gemmatalis and D. saccharalis when fed on water only. The OI was < 1.0 for all species evaluated indicating that all females may develop new oocytes as they age. Based on the OI and the reduced fecundity of A. gemmatalis and H. virescens, one observes that adult feeding is important for the reproduction of both species, and the IO is not a good parameter to indicate such condition. Spodoptera frugiperda, G. aurantianum, D. saccharalis and S. catenifer do not require any source of carbohydrates as adults to sustain their reproduction.KEY WORDS: Lepidoptera pest species, nutrition, ovigeny index, reproductive physiology Muitas são as formas de reprodução e desenvolvimento dos insetos que lhes permitiram colonizar vários ambientes. Apesar de algumas espécies apresentarem reprodução partenogenética, que, em alguns casos, pode prescindir de machos (telitoquia), a maioria dos insetos apresenta reprodução sexuada, em que o embrião resulta da fecundação do óvulo pelo espermatozóide (Chapman 1998).Vários fatores estão envolvidos no processo de reprodução de insetos; porém, o mais importante ocorre principalmente durante a fase larval, que é a aquisição de recursos nutricionais que poderão ser destinados para sustentar o crescimento e/ou a reprodução. Esses recursos energéticos podem contribuir no processo de vitelogênese e maturação de óvulos antes da emergência do adulto. No entanto, em alguns casos, é necessário que haja aquisição de recursos nutricionais na fase adulta para que ocorra não somente a maturação do aparelho reprodutor, mas também o amadurecimento dos óvulos, como é o caso de alguns culicídeos transmissores de doenças, que concluem a maturação reprodutiva após a alimentação (Chapman 1998, Attardo et al 2005.Em Lepidoptera, de modo geral, considerava-se que água e carboidratos, em concentrações variáveis, oferecidos aos adultos, eram sufi cientes para a obtenção da capacidade reprodutiva máxima de insetos em laboratório. No entanto, trabalhos mais recentes mostraram que para a obtenção de adultos mais longevos e fecundos, além da alimentação com soluções de carboidratos, devem ser adicionados à d...

-The occurrence of Pachycoris torridus (Scopoli) on Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae), is recorded for the first time. The specimens were collected in Piracicaba, State of Sao Paulo; only four out of 43 adults showed new spots morphs of pronotum and scutellum.

An. Soc. Entomol. Brasil 28(2): 233-238 (1999) Thermal Requirements of the Cotton stainer Dysdercus peruvianus Guérin-Méneville (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae)ABSTRACT -The biology of the cotton stainer, Dysdercus peruvianus Guérin-Méneville, was studied at seven temperatures (18, 20, 22, 25,28, 30

Le chercheur se trouve souvent confronté à devoir faire le lien entre un monde théorique, monde des concepts et le monde empirique, monde des données. Or, établir un lien entre concepts et données constitue une étape des plus importantes et des plus difficiles dans un travail de recherche. Cet article a pour ambition de montrer qu’elle consiste à opérer une traduction fondée sur deux démarches : la mesure et l’abstraction. La mesure consiste à déterminer les indicateurs ou instruments de mesure nécessaires à la traduction d’un concept. L’abstraction permet, au contraire, de traduire des données en concepts grâce à des procédés de codage et de classification. Cet article méthodologique essaye d’aborder les questions essentielles sur la manière de concevoir sa propre démarche de traduction dans un sens ou dans l’autre en conciliant écrits théoriques et exemples d’application.

Influence of Three Temperatures on the Biology and Parasitism Capacity of Ageniaspis citricola Logvinovskaya (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in Laboratory ABSTRACT-In order to optimize rearing of Ageniaspis citricola Logvinovskaya (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in laboratory the parasitism capacity of the parasitoid was evaluated at 20, 25 and 30 o C. After determining that the parasitism was similar in eggs and 1 st-instar larvae of Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton in free-choice and no choice tests, the study of the development of the parasitoid on eggs was preferred for the readiness of acquiring and handling this stage of the parasitoid development. The parasitism capacity was similar at all three temperatures, although differences occurred in the other parameters especially the duration of the egg-adult period (23.6 days to 20 o C, 18.1 days to 25 o C and 13.8 days to 30 o C), decreasing with the thermal elevation. However, considering the aim of this work, the 25ºC temperature is more adequate for rearing the insect in laboratory for providing higher survival and produced a higher number of pupae per parasitized egg. Although the results at 20ºC were very close, such temperature is not recommended because the cycle is extended with a consequent lower number of individuals produced.