The species Helicoverpa armigera is one of the most important polyphagous and widely distributed pests in the world. Its occurrence was recently reported on soybean and cotton, in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso and Bahia, Brazil. Tomato is also host species of H. armigera, among the 200 registered, being one of the most important crops in the Espírito Santo state. The production of tomatoes is fully dedicated for fresh consumption and the damage caused by H. armigera in fruits make unfeasible marketing. Therefore, this study aimed to record the occurrence of H. armigera in tomato crop in the Espírito Santo state. From February 2012 to October 2013, insects were collected from tomato plants in some producing areas. After insect identification, by dissection of the genitalia of adult moths, it was possible to confirm the occurrence of H. armigera on tomato crop in the Espírito Santo state.

The parasitism capacity of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley strain bonagota on Bonagota salubricola (Meyrick) eggs was studied under the temperatures of 18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30 and 32 degrees C. The number of days with parasitism, accumulated parasitism, total number of eggs parasitized per female and parasitoid longevity was evaluated. In the first 24h, parasitism ranged from 1.6 (32 degrees C) to 8.8 (22 degrees C) eggs of B. salubricola. Accumulated egg parasitism of B. salubricola reached 80% in 1st to 4th day at 20 degrees C to 32 degrees C, respectively, and in the 7th day at 18 degrees C. Temperatures from 18 degrees C to 22 degrees C were the best suited for the total eggs parasitized for female, resulting in 35.4 and 24.6 eggs/male respectively. T. pretiosum female longevity ranged from 7.8 to 2.5 days, at 18 degrees C and 32 degrees C, respectively. The results showed that T. pretiosum strain bonagota is better adapted to temperatures from 18 degrees C to 22 degrees C.

Estudou-se a capacidade de parasitismo de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), em ovos de Plutella xylostella (L.)(Leptoptera: Plutellidae) nas temperaturas de 18; 20; 22; 25; 28; 30 e 32ºC, avaliando-se número de ovos parasitados diariamente, porcentagem acumulada de parasitismo, número total de ovos parasitados por fêmea e longevidade de fêmeas. O ritmo de parasitismo durante as primeiras 24 horas, oscilou de 1,6 a 16 ovos parasitados por fêmea de T. pretiosum nas temperaturas entre 18 e 32ºC. O parasitismo acumulado de ovos de P. xylostella, nas temperaturas de 18; 20; 22; 25; 28; 30 e 32ºC, atingiu 80%, aos 2; 16; 11; 3; 5; 4 e 7 dias, por T. pretiosum. As maiores taxas de parasitismo ocorreram nas faixas térmicas de 25; 28 e 30ºC. A longevidade média de fêmeas de T. pretiosum nas faixas térmicas compreendidas entre 18 e 32ºC, variaram de 2,3 a 13,3 dias.

The objective of this work was to determine the ideal number for field release of Trichogramma galloi and T.pretiosum for controlling Duponchelia fovealis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa). The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, where the strawberry cultivar 'Oso Grande' was infected with 100 eggs of D.fovealis distributed on the leaf surface area of each plant. A total of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128 female parasitoids were released per egg of D. fovealis. The greatest level of egg parasitism, with no differences for the species of Trichogramma, was observed at the densities of four and eight parasitoids per egg of D.fovealis, considered ideal for field release.

Plant extracts have been studied as a promising source of natural insecticides. This study assessed the effect of the ethanol extract of Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt (citronella grass) in comparison with an insecticide containing azadirachtin (ICA) on mortality and number of eggs of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) in laboratory conditions. For the tests, the mites were sprayed with the aid of a Potter spray tower. To assess the mortality of females, LC₅₀ value for extract of citronella grass and ICA was, respectively, 2.63 and 2.83%. With respect to the number of eggs, the greatest reduction was observed at a concentration of 5% for the evaluation period of 120h, both for the extract of citronella grass (86%) and for ICA (81%). These results suggest the potential of the ethanol extract of citronella grass to control of T. urticae. However, experiments, under field conditions, involving other populations of T. urticae should be performed to verify the efficacy of this extract as an alternative to be used in pest management programs

Telenomus pachycoris (Johnson) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is a parasitoid of eggs of Pachycoris torridus (Scopoli) (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), a main pest of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.; Euphorbiaceae). The objective of this work was to know the biology of T. pachycoris in P. torridus eggs under various conditions in order to develop a rearing technique for this parasitoid in the laboratory. We offered eggs of P. torridus to T. pachycoris during 4 exposition periods (6, 12, 18, and 24 h), as well as eggs of different ages (1 to 11 d), to evaluate, in both experiments, the number of parasitized eggs, duration of the egg-to-adult period, percentage of emergence, and sex ratio. We also evaluated the effect of constant temperatures (18, 20, 22, 25, 28, and 30 °C) and determined the duration of the egg-to-adult period, percentage of emergence, and sex ratio and estimated the thermal requirements and the number of generations per yr of T. pachycoris at each temperature. Parasitism of eggs was the highest at 12 h of exposure. Eggs up to 3 d old were the most parasitized, and the parasitism was zero on day 11. The duration of the egg-to-adult period was inversely proportional to temperature, ranging from 33.6 d at 18 °C to 9.8 d at 30 °C. The threshold temperature estimated for T. pachycoris was 12.9 °C, and the estimated thermal constant was 163.9 degree-days. The number of generations of T. pachycoris ranged from 11.3 to 38.1 per yr at 18 and 30 °C, respectively. The results may contribute to developing techniques for rearing T. pachycoris in the laboratory. Telenomus pachycoris (Johnson) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) é um parasitoide de ovos de Pachycoris torridus (Scopoli) (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), principal praga do pinhão-manso (Jatropha curcas L.; Euphorbiaceae). O objetivo do trabalho foi conhecer a biologia de T. pachycoris em ovos de P. torridus sob diferentes condições, visando subsidiar uma técnica de criação em laboratório. Foram oferecidos ovos de P. torridus a T. pachycoris durante quatro períodos de exposição (6, 12, 18 e 24 h), bem como de diferentes idades (1 a 11 dias), avaliando em ambos os experimentos o número de ovos parasitados, duração do período ovo-adulto, porcentagem de emergência e razão sexual. Também foi avaliado o efeito das temperaturas constantes (18, 20, 22, 25, 28 e 30 °C) e determinados a duração do período ovo-adulto, porcentagem de emergência, razão sexual e estimado as exigências térmicas e o número de gerações por ano de T. pachycoris em cada temperatura. O parasitismo de ovos foi superior em 12 h de exposição. Ovos de 3 dias foram mais parasitados e o parasitismo foi nulo no 11º dia. A duração do período ovo-adulto foi inversamente proporcional à temperatura, variando de 33,6 d em 18 °C a 9,8 d em 30 °C. A temperatura base estimada de T. pachycoris foi 12,9 °C e a constante térmica foi 163,9 graus-dia. O número de gerações variou de 11,3 a 38,1 por ano a 18 e 30 °C, respectivamente. Os resultados podem contribuir para o desenvolvimento de técnicas de criação de T. pachycoris em laboratório.