Occurrence of Phelypera griseofasciata and its parasitism in munguba in Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

<jats:p>ABSTRACT: Pachira aquatica (Malvaceae), known as munguba, is cultivated for afforestation of many Brazilian cities. In Seropédica campus of UFRRJ, it was observed the defoliation of one specimen of Pachira aquatica with presence of larvae, pre-pupae, and pupae of beetle of the subfamily Hyperinae, which were reared in laboratory until the emergence of the adults; these insects were identified as belonging to the species Phelypera griseofasciata Capiomont (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). These immature forms (n=86) were again collected in this same specimen and reared in laboratory to verify the occurrence of parasitism. It was obtained 128 adults of Jaliscoa nudipennis Bouček (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), responsible for 44.2% of total parasitism. The sex ratio was 0.70, so the highest number of offspring was of females. Intersexual and intrasexual dimorphisms were also observed in J. nudipennis regarding the shape of the head and characteristics of the wings. This study is the first record of both insect species associated with Pachira aquatica in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.</jats:p>