Successful management of Stegasta bosqueella (Lepidoptera Gelechiidae) in peanut with an attract-and-kill strategy.

Background: Rednecked Peanutworm Stegasta bosqueella control is primarily achieved using broad spectrum insecticides targeting the larval stage. However, due to inconspicuous behavior and limited movement of the larvae within the peanut crop, foliar insecticides alone have been insufficient to reduce S. bosqueella populations.

Harvest load transfer sites influence sugarcane billbug (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) spatiotemporal injury in sugarcane.

Background: The sugarcane billbug, Sphenophorus levis Vaurie 1978, is a key soil-dwelling insect pest of sugarcane in Brazil and greatly affects plant development and yield. This insect presents an aggregated distribution pattern in production fields. The reasons for such behavior include intraspecific communication and attractivity due to the fermentation of sugar in stalk residues.

Unraveling the effect of temperature and humidity on the life cycle of Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and the impact on pest outbreaks.

Temperature and humidity are considered the main abiotic factors that affect both the development and survival of ectothermic organisms. In this study, we estimated the development time as well as the thermal requirements of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794; Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a key insect pest of sugarcane and discussed the influence of temperature and relative humidity and its infestation intensity in a scenario of climate change. The models Brière-1 and Ikemoto-Takai provided the best fit to the data of development rate versus temperature.

Do patterns of insect mortality in temperate and tropical zones have broader implications for insect ecology and pest management?

Background: Understanding how biotic and abiotic factors affect insect mortality is crucial for both fundamental knowledge of population ecology and for successful pest management. However, because these factors are difficult to quantify and interpret, patterns and dynamics of insect mortality remain unclear, especially comparative mortality across climate zones. Life table analysis provides robust information for quantifying population mortality and population parameters.

Thermal Requirements and Population Viability of Chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Development, mortality, fecundity, and longevity of soybean looper Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Plusiinae) were examined at six constant temperatures (18, 22, 25, 28, 32, and 36C) under laboratory conditions. This set range comprises temperatures observed at soybean- and cotton-producing regions during the growing season. Complete development from egg to adult was observed from 18 to 32C.

Social wasps are effective biocontrol agents of key lepidopteran crop pests.

Biocontrol agents can help reduce pest populations as part of an integrated pest management scheme, with minimal environmental consequences. However, biocontrol agents are often non-native species and require significant infrastructure; overuse of single agents results in pest resistance. Native biocontrol agents are urgently required for more sustainable multi-faceted approaches to pest management.

Photosynthesis, yield and raw material quality of sugarcane injured by multiple pests.

Understanding sugarcane ( spp.) response to multiple pest injury, sugarcane borer () and spittlebug (), is essential to make better management decisions. Moreover, the consequences of both pests on the sugarcane raw material quality have not yet been studied.

Impact of transgenic soybean expressing Cry1Ac and Cry1F proteins on the non-target arthropod community associated with soybean in Brazil.

Field-scale studies that examine the potential for adverse effects of Bt crop technology on non-target arthropods may supplement data from laboratory studies to support an environmental risk assessment. A three year field study was conducted in Brazil to evaluate potential for adverse effects of cultivating soybean event DAS-81419-2 that produces the Cry1Ac and Cry1F proteins. To do so, we examined the diversity and abundance of non-target arthropods (NTAs) in Bt soybean in comparison with its non-Bt near isoline, with and without conventional insecticide applications, in three Brazilian soybean producing regions.

Cry1Ac and Vip3Aa proteins from targeting Cry toxin resistance in and from sugarcane.

The biological potential of Vip and Cry proteins from is well known and widely established. Thus, it is important to look for new genes showing different modes of action, selecting those with differentiated entomotoxic activity against and , which are secondary pests of sugarcane. Therefore, Cry1 and Vip3 proteins were expressed in , and their toxicities were evaluated based on bioassays using neonate larvae.

Complete genome sequence and structural characterization of a novel iflavirus isolated from Opsiphanes invirae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae).

Opsiphanes invirae (Lepidopera: Nymphalidae) is a common pest of the African oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) in Brazil. Dead larvae were collected in canopy of oil palm trees cultivated in the amazon region (Para State) and analyzed for viral infection. Electron microscopy of caterpillar extracts showed an icosahedral picorna-like virus particle with 30nm in diameter.

Mortality Dynamics of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Immatures in Maize.

We characterized the dynamics of mortality factors affecting immature developmental stages of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Synergism and antagonism between Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3A and Cry1 proteins in Heliothis virescens, Diatraea saccharalis and Spodoptera frugiperda.

Second generation Bt crops (insect resistant crops carrying Bacillus thuringiensis genes) combine more than one gene that codes for insecticidal proteins in the same plant to provide better control of agricultural pests. Some of the new combinations involve co-expression of cry and vip genes. Because Cry and Vip proteins have different midgut targets and possibly different mechanisms of toxicity, it is important to evaluate possible synergistic or antagonistic interactions between these two classes of toxins.

Interspecific interaction between Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) and Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) on Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs.

This work aims to evaluate the interspecific interaction between Trichogramma pretiosum and Telenomus remus, two biological control agents of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) eggs. Eggs of Spodoptera frugiperda previously parasitized by Telenomus remus were offered to Trichogramma pretiosum, and those parasitized by Trichogramma pretiosum were offered to Telenomus remus. The previously parasitized eggs were tested at different embryonic development stages for each parasitoid.

Mortality risk in insects.

Understanding how and why insect numbers fluctuate through time and space has been a central theme in ecological research for more than a century. Life tables have been used to understand temporal and spatial patterns in insect numbers. In this study, we estimated cause-of-death probabilities for phytophagous insects using multiple decrement life tables and the irreplaceable mortality analytic technique.

Influence of Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) injury on the quality of cane juice.

Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål) is an important pest in Latin America and causes significant reduction in sugarcane productivity. There is no information regarding the effect of this pest on the quality of cane juice used for sugar and alcohol production. This work aimed at evaluating the quality of sugarcane juice from plants attacked by spittlebugs.

Oil-soluble dyes for marking Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Although various biological aspects of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) have been examined, adult movement and dispersal of this insect pest is not well understood.