<b>Parasitoids associated with the black scale <i>Saissetia oleae</i>(Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in olive trees in Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Abstract

Black scale, Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is an important pest of olive trees (Olea europaea L.) that requires the use insecticides for its control. Parasitoids are important regulating agents of this pest, but currently, no information on its complex of natural enemies and their impact on black scale in Brazilian conditions exists. This study focused on identifying parasitoid wasps that were associated with the black scale on olive trees to establish their relative abundance and rate of parasitism. Samplings were maintained in an olive orchard located in Maria da Fe, south of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and infested branches were stored in emergence containers to recover parasitoids. Another group was kept in Flanders batteries to evaluate the rate of parasitism in approximately 100 scales. Sixteen parasitoid species were collected during the sampling period, and the most common species were Coccophagus caridei (Brèthes) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), Diversinervus elegans Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), and Mesopeltita truncatipennis (Waterston) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), the latter of which was most abundant and frequent. Parasitism ranged from 3 to 31% with peaks in summer and autumn. This level could be considered insufficient to hold the black scale under the economic injury level; however, these parasitoids should be preserved for contributions to population regulation.Parasitoides associados à cochonilha-preta Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) em oliveira no Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil RESUMO. A cochonilha-preta, Saissetia oleae (Olivier) (Hemiptera: Coccidae), é uma praga importante da oliveira (Olea europaea L.) e, comumente necessita de adoção de medidas para seu controle. Os parasitoides são importantes agentes de controle dessa praga, porém, no Brasil, não há informações sobre o complexo dos inimigos naturais da cochonilha-preta e de seu impacto sobre as populações. Esta pesquisa objetivou conhecer os parasitoides associados à cochonilha-preta em oliveiras, frequencia relativa e a taxa de parasitismo, mediante amostragens realizadas em um pomar localizado em Maria da Fé, Sul de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Parte dos ramos infestados foi acondicionada em baterias de recuperação para coleta dos parasitoides e o restante foi mantido em baterias de Flanders para avaliar a taxa de parasitismo em aproximadamente 100 indivíduos adultos. Foram coletadas 16 espécies de parasitoides, sendo as mais comuns: Coccophagus caridei (Brèthes) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), Diversinervus elegans Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) e Mesopeltita truncatipennis (Waterston) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), sendo esta última a mais abundante e frequente. A taxa de parasitismo variou entre 3 e 31% e atingiu o acme durante o verão e outono. Tais níveis são considerados insuficientes para manter a cochonilha-preta abaixo do nível de dano econômico. Entretanto, as medidas de controle devem preservar esses parasitoides no pomar visando auxiliar na regulação da densidade populacional dessa praga....

Hymenopteran Parasitoids Associated with Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) in Tropical Fruit Trees in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil

“…In Brazil, Coccophagus basalis Compere and Coccophagus fallax Compere were found on Saissetia oleae Olivier (Coccidae) in São Paulo, Distrito Federal, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro (Compere 1939) and Minas Gerais (Prado et al 2015).…”

“…Parasitoids belonging to the families Aphelinidae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Eupelmidae, Pteromalidae, and Signiphoridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) are among the most important groups of natural enemies of scale insects and have been used extensively in biological control (Noyes 2017). In Brazil, the occurrence of primary and secondary parasitoids associated with scale insects were recorded in São Paulo by Toledo (1940) and Peronti et al (2016); in Alagoas by De Santis (1972); in Brasilia by Murakami & Consenza (1984); in the Rio Grande do Sul by Wolff et al (2004Wolff et al ( , 2014 and Silva et al (2007); in Espírito Santo by Culik et al (2011); in the Rio de Janeiro by Rodrigues & Cassino (2012); in Roraima by Marsaro-Junior et al (2013, 2016; and in Minas Gerais by Prado et al (2015).…”

Complex of Natural Enemies Associated With Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) on Sugarcane in Brazil

“…Parasitoids were obtained from ten adults of each scale insects sampled. The scale insects were placed in glass tubes partially covered with laminated paper and closed with plastic film, according to methodology adapted from Prado, Alvarenga, and Santa-Cecília (2015). At 48 h the emerging adult parasitoids were transferred to 2 mL eppendorf and preserved in 100% ethanol.…”

New Records of Parasitoids Hymenopteran (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) Associated With Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in the State of São Paulo

“…The collected part of the specimens of M. hirsutus was stored in vials containing 70% alcohol for posterior montage and identification. Other parts were placed in glass tubes sealed with paper film under controlled conditions (25±2 °C, photoperiod of 12 hours and UR 65±5%) in BOD incubator for 25 days, according to methodology adapted from Prado et al (2015). At each 48 hour intervals, the emerged parasitoids were transferred to 2 ml eppendorf microtubes filled in 70% alcohol.…”