The Neotropical coffee leaf miner, Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Mèneville & Perrottet, 1842), is a key pest species of unshaded coffee plantations in Neotropical America, particularly in Brazil, where pest management involves intensive insecticide use. As a consequence, problems of resistance to conventional insecticides are frequent, and more recently developed insecticide molecules, such as diamide insecticides, are at risk of becoming ineffective. Thus, a survey of resistance to the diamide insecticide chlorantraniliprole was carried out in high-yield coffee-producing areas in the State of Bahia, Brazil. The likelihood of control failure with this insecticide was also assessed. Spatial dependence among the insect sampling sites was assessed and spatial mapping of chlorantraniliprole resistance and risk of control failure was carried out. The frequency of chlorantraniliprole resistant populations was high (34 out of 40 populations, or 85%), particularly in western Bahia, where 94% of the populations were resistant. Resistance levels ranged from low (<10-fold) to moderate (between 10- and 40-fold) with more serious instances occurring in western Bahia. This results in lower chlorantraniliprole efficacy among these populations, with a higher risk of control failure and exhibiting spatial dependence. These findings invite attention to problems with the intensive use of this relatively recent insecticide and demand management attention, but they suggest that local, farm-based management efforts are likely to be the most effective actions against resistance problems in this pest species.

ABSTRACT-Several fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae and Lonchaeidae) assume the status of primary pests in fruit trees grown in Brazil, causing direct production losses. The aims of the study were to know aspects of diversity of fruit flies and their parasitoids in the fruit growing region of Livramento de Nossa Senhora, Bahia. Fruit samples were collected from 19 plant species during November/2011 and June/2014. Infestation rates were calculated in pupae.

Leaf-cutting ants are widely distributed in Brazil, particularly species of the genus Atta. We therefore described the occurrence of leaf-cutting and grass-cutting ant species of the genus Atta. Five routes comprising some of the main highways in the South, Southeast, Center-West, and North of Brazil were sampled, in addition to ants received from other 82 municipalities, composing 300 municipalities sampled. This is the first comprehensive study of Atta in Brazil. The following species were found: A. laevigata, A. capiguara, A. sexdens rubropilosa, A. sexdens piriventris, A. sexdens sexdens and A. cephalotes. Atta laevigata and A. capiguara were the species present in the largest number of the Brazilian municipalities sampled. Atta laevigata assumed the position of species of greatest occurrence in the Brazilian territory. Atta sexdens piriventris was only recorded in the southern region of Brazil. Atta bisphaerica presented lower expansion than A. capiguara. Atta cephalotes and Atta opaciceps are species of very restricted occurrence. Southeastern region was characterized by the occurrence of A. capiguara and A. laevigata. Atta laevigata exhibited a generalized pattern of occurrence in the Center-West and North. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the so far unknown occurrence of leaf-cutting and grass-cutting ants within Brazil.

O Brasil é o terceiro produtor mundial de frutas, destacando-se a Região Nordeste como uma das principais produtoras. Na Bahia, dez polos de fruticultura são importantes na exportação de frutas frescas. O polo de Livramento de Nossa Senhora tem referência nos cultivos da manga, maracujá e banana. O objetivo do trabalho foi realizar um diagnóstico sobre aspectos da produção de banana, manga e maracujá, voltados ao perfil do produtor, da propriedade e do uso de agrotóxicos, devolução de embalagens vazias e descarte de resíduos. Foram aplicados 610 questionários, abrangendo 20% dos produtores de cada frutífera. Os produtores têm baixo grau de escolaridade, dificultando a compreensão do uso de agrotóxicos de forma correta. A assistência técnica por meio de órgãos públicos é insuficiente e realizada pelos profissionais das casas comerciais. O uso de EPI não é prática persistente e a lavagem dos equipamentos é realizada em tanque de uso doméstico. Ações de educação sanitária devem ser desenvolvidas, com atenção aos produtores de maracujá, que, por serem mais jovens, podem se tornar multiplicadores dos conhecimentos necessários para uso de agrotóxicos.

The Neotropical coffee leaf miner is a key coffee pest and in the state of Bahia, one of the major coffee-producing states in the country. The insect finds favorable conditions for its development, causing production losses and intensive use of insecticides. Thus, the objective of the study was to analyze aspects of the profile of coffee crops and the management of the leaf miner, including the use of insecticide for the western and highland regions of Bahia. Data were obtained through questionnaires applied to coffee growers and/or production technicians and included information on the total area, area with coffee, and native vegetation, type of cultivation, cultivars, pest monitoring, methods of control and use, insecticide rotation, and doses used. Descriptive statistical analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and canonical correlations indicated differences between farm size, and areas with coffee and native vegetation. Chemical pest control prevails as a management strategy in all farms. The results are important for managing the coffee leaf miner while providing an overview and diagnosis of insecticide use in coffee production in the state of Bahia. An increase in the application of systemic insecticides took place in recent years, similarly (same active ingredients) among most coffee growers. This fact increases the risk of selecting populations resistant to insecticides, compromising the management of the leaf miner in the regions.

The leaf miner is a key pest of coffee and the use of insecticides for its control results in high water consumption. The objective in this study was to evaluate the quali-quantitative aspects of reduced spray volumes with and without the addition of adjuvant, the efficacy of the insecticide cartap hydrochloride in the control of the pest and its effects on the parasitism. Two experiments were carried out in coffee plantations in São Desiderio, BA. Initially, solution of Brilliant Blue tracer (0.15% p v-1) of the 43, 112, 146 and 309 L ha-1 volumes was sprayed with and without the soybean oil methyl ester adjuvant (0.25 % v v-1). Before spraying, water-sensitive cards were fixed to the plants and subsequently used for analyze the droplet spectrum in Gotas 1.0 software. The tracer deposit was determined by spectrophotometry. Posteriorly, the insecticide cartap hydrochloride (0.5 kg a.i. ha-1) was applied in the same volumes and types of spray used in the first test. Infestation rates of pest and parasitism were evaluated before and after application of the insecticide. The quali-quantitative aspects of the sprays were affected by the volume of spray applied, by the adjuvant and by the interaction of the factors. The intermediate volumes yielded better spraying quality without the presence of the adjuvante, with higher number and desity of drops. The spraying volume affected the depoisto the Brilliant Blue tracer in a linear and positive form. The efficacy of the insecticide was prolonged with the lowest volume spray and with adjuvant and its impact on parasitism varied with the volume applied and time after application.

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Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart, 1835) is an important pest of tropical fruits, especially Anacardiaceae and Myrtaceae, in the Americas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of mineral films and biomaterials on the coloring of guava fruits (Psidium guajava L.) and implications for the oviposition of A. obliqua. Before the bioassays, color, firmness characteristics, total soluble solids, pH, and titratable acidity were determined to characterize the maturation stage of the fruits. Pieces of guava fruit covered in aluminum foil were immersed in suspensions of mineral particles (Surround® WP kaolin; kaolins 605, 607, 608, and 611; and talc) and biomaterials (chitosan, cassava and potato starch, and guar gum) and distilled water (control). After drying, the fruits were exposed to two A. obliqua pairs for 48 h in choice and non-choice tests, and the numbers of eggs per fruit were counted. Mineral films (Surround® WP kaolin, and kaolins 605, 607, 608, and 611) and biomaterials (cassava and potato starch) interfered with the color of guava (luminosity, chroma, and hue angle), inhibiting the oviposition of A. obliqua. Talc, chitosan, and guar gum did not influence the oviposition of A. obliqua in guava.