Richness and diversity of aphids (Homoptera, Aphididae) along an altitudinal gradient in the Serra do Mar, Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The lack of bioecological studies on aphids in regions with complex tloristic and faunistic structure, such as the Atlantic Tropical Rain Forest, lead to the initiation of this research. The objectives were to determine species richness and diversity of aphids and to investigate the influence of altitude and environmental perturbations on aphid populations. The collections were made with yellow pan traps at II sites with altitudes from -1 0 m to 1000111 above sea leveI (a.s.\.), in the Serra do Mar, Paraná, Brazil, [rom December 1993 to December 1994. Richness and diversity of aphids were greatest at 85 m a.s.\. This site was characterized by three distinct floral coml11unities: primary vegetation, secondaly vegetation in successional stages, and secondaly vegetation subject to regular mowing. No pattem in the number or kinds of species could be established along the altitudinal gradien!. These results, indicate that several tàctors interact, but especially floristic composition and climatic conditions, to determine aphidofauna richness and diversity in \his region ofthe Atlantic Tropical Rain Fores!.

Aphid vectors of Papaya ringspot virus and their weed hosts in orchards in the major papaya producing and exporting region of Brazil

“…The most frequent and constant aphid species (number of individuals of species/total, and number of samples with species/total; Table 1) found in this study, A. spiraecola, A. gossypii, T. citricidus, and A. craccivora, are polyphagous species, abundant in anthropogenic environments, and are considered to be pests in many crops (Leal and Oliveira, 1983;Lazzarotto and Lazzari, 1998;Peronti et al, 2002). The three most frequent species found in papaya orchards in this study, A. spiraecola, A. gossypii, and T. citricidus, are also considered to be efficient vectors of PRSV-P (Adsuar, 1947;Jensen, 1949;Videla, 1953;Capoor and Varma, 1958;Higa and Namba, 1971;Lana, 1980;Kalleshwaraswamy and Krishna Kumar, 2008), and their presence in papaya orchards represents a serious problem for the production of papaya in Brazil (A. craccivora has been shown to be an inefficient vector of PRSV-P) (Lana, 1980;Ventura et al, 2004).…”

Survey of aphid population in a yellow passion fruit crop and its relationship on the spread Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus in a subtropical region of Brazil

“…Similar results were reported by Carvalho et al ( 2002 ), who observed the same aphid species diversity in an area cultivated with several horticultural species in Minas Gerais State (southeastern Brazil). Under subtropical conditions, this aphid fauna profile indicates the environmental alterations or degradation seen in an area used for intensive monocultures of different kinds, which reduce biodiversity and increase population levels, when compared to Atlantic Forest macro-environments, where high aphid species diversity and low population density are observed (Lazzarotto and Lazzari 1998 , 2005 ). The results observed in the present study agree with the findings published by Dixon and Kindlmann ( 1990 ) in a study that revealed the occurrence of high aphid populations in regions where host plant diversity and richness were low, since aphids are less resourceful in finding their host plants in environments with higher plant species diversity.…”

Distribuição altitudinal e sazonal de afídeos (Hemiptera, Aphididae) na Serra do Mar, Paraná, Brasil

“…Para este grupo de insetos exclusivamente fitófagos há apenas uma referência sobre sua riqueza e diversidade na Serra do Mar, Paraná (LAZZAROTTO & LAZZARI 1998).…”