O conhecimento do modelo de distribuição espacial de pragas na cultura é fundamental para estabelecer um plano adequado de amostragem seqüencial e, assim, permitir a correta utilização das estratégias de controle e a otimização das técnicas de amostragem. Esta pesquisa objetivou estudar a distribuição espacial de lagartas de Alabama argillacea (Hübner) na cultura do algodoeiro, cultivar CNPA ITA-90. A coleta de dados ocorreu durante o ano agrícola de 1998/99 na Fazenda Itamarati Sul S.A., localizada no município de Ponta Porã, MS, em três diferentes áreas de 10.000 m² cada uma. Cada área amostral foi composta de 100 parcelas com 100 m² cada. Foi realizada semanalmente a contagem das lagartas pequenas, médias e grandes, encontradas em cinco plantas por parcela. Os índices de agregação (razão variância/média e índice de Morisita), o teste de qui-quadrado com o ajuste dos valores encontrados e esperados às distribuições teóricas de freqüência (Poisson, binomial positiva e binomial negativa), mostraram que todos os estádios das lagartas estão distribuídos de acordo com o modelo de distribuição contagiosa, ajustando-se ao padrão da Distribuição Binomial Negativa durante todo o período de infestação.

A recent shift in managing insect resistance to genetically engineered (GE) maize consists of mixing non-GE seed with GE seed known as “refuge in a bag”, which increases the likelihood of predators encountering both prey fed Bt and prey fed non-Bt maize. We therefore conducted laboratory choice-test feeding studies to determine if a predator, Harmonia axyridis, shows any preference between prey fed Bt and non-Bt maize leaves. The prey species was Spodoptera frugiperda, which were fed Bt maize (MON-810), expressing the single Cry1Ab protein, or non-Bt maize. The predators were third instar larvae and female adults of H. axyridis. Individual predators were offered Bt and non-Bt fed prey larvae that had fed for 24, 48 or 72 h. Ten and 15 larvae of each prey type were offered to third instar and adult predators, respectively. Observations of arenas were conducted at 1, 2, 3, 6, 15 and 24 h after the start of the experiment to determine the number and type of prey eaten by each individual predator. Prey larvae that fed on non-Bt leaves were significantly larger than larvae fed Bt leaves. Both predator stages had eaten nearly all the prey by the end of the experiment. However, in all combinations of predator stage and prey age, the number of each prey type consumed did not differ significantly. ELISA measurements confirmed the presence of Cry1Ab in leaf tissue (23–33 µg/g dry weight) and S. frugiperda (2.1–2.2 µg/g), while mean concentrations in H. axyridis were very low (0.01–0.2 µg/g). These results confirm the predatory status of H. axyridis on S. frugiperda and that both H. axyridis adults and larvae show no preference between prey types. The lack of preference between Bt-fed and non-Bt-fed prey should act in favor of insect resistance management strategies using mixtures of GE and non-GE maize seed.

The control of boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boh., relies primarily on synthetic insecticides. Although insecticides are registered to spray cotton fields against boll weevils, only a few offer satisfactory control and most have broad-spectrum action. Alternatively, spinosyns have been recommended against lepidopteran pest species in cotton and are considered comparatively of reduced risk to nontargets. The susceptibility of nine populations of boll weevil to spinosad and spinetoram was determined through dried residue on squares and cotton leaves. Furthermore, control efficacy of spinosad and spinetoram compared with the standard organophosphate malathion was determined for caged adults at two different positions within the plant canopy or treated cotton leaves after different spray intervals. Boll weevil susceptibility varied across the nine populations and tested spinosyns. The lethal concentrations (LC50s and LC90s) varied from 8.62 to 32.25 and 49.86 to 281.70 mg a.i./l for spinosad and from 2.17 to 15.36 and 8.58 to 69.36 mg a.i./l for spinetoram. The location of boll weevil within the plant canopy affected the insecticide efficacy with higher mortality when caged on upper parts rather than on lower parts of cotton plants (>85% vs 80% until the end of the evaluation period (8 d), while the standard malathion caused only 10% at this last evaluation time. Thus, we can conclude that both spinosyns promoted prolonged adult mortality using recommended field rates compared with the standard malathion.

Distribuição espacial de Aphis gossypii (Glover) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) e Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biótipo B (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) em algodoeiro Bt e não-Bt. O estudo da distribuição espacial de adultos de Bemisia tabaci e de Aphis gossypii nas culturas do algodoeiro Bt e não-Bt é fundamental para a otimização de técnicas de amostragens, além de revelar diferenças de comportamento de espécies não-alvo dessa tecnologia Bt entre as duas cultivares. Nesse sentido, o experimento buscou investigar o padrão da distribuição espacial dessas espécies de insetos no algodoeiro convencional não-Bt e no cultivar Bt. As avaliações ocorreram em dois campos de 5.000 m² cada, nos quais se realizou 14 avaliações com contagem de adultos da mosca-branca e colônias de pulgões. Foram calculados os índices de agregação (razão variância/média, índice de Morisita e Expoente k da Distribuição Binomial Negativa) e realizados os testes ajustes das classes numéricas de indivíduos encontradas e esperadas às distribuições teóricas de freqüência (Poisson, Binomial Negativa e Binomial Positiva). Todas as análises mostraram que, em ambas as cultivares, a distribuição espacial de B. tabaci ajustou-se a distribuição binomial negativa durante todo o período analisado, indicando que a cultivar transgênica não influenciou o padrão de distribuição agregada desse inseto. Já com relação às análises para A. gossypii, os índices de agregação apontaram distribuição agregada nas duas cultivares, mas as distribuições de freqüência permitiram concluir a ocorrência de distribuição agregada apenas no algodoeiro convencional, pois não houve nenhum ajuste para os dados na cultivar Bt. Isso indica que o algodão Bt alterou o padrão normal de dispersão dos pulgões no cultivo. The study of spatial distribution of the adults of Bemisia tabaci and the colonies of Aphis gossypii on Bt and non-Bt cotton crop is fundamental for improving the sampling techniques and revealing differences in the behavior of non-target species between both cultivars. So, this experiment aimed to investigate the spatial distribution pattern of those species on the conventional non-Bt cotton crop, compared to the Bt cultivar. The samplings took place in two areas of 5.000 m² each, where it was done 14 evaluations counting adults of white-flies and colonies of aphids. The aggregation indexes (variance/mean rate, index of Morisita and Exponent k of the Negative Binomial Distribution) were calculated and accomplished the fitness tests of the individuals' numeric classes found and expected to the theoretical distributions of frequency (Poisson, Negative Binomial and Positive Binomial). Those analyses showed that in both cultivars, the spatial distribution of B. tabaci fitted to negative binomial distribution throughout the study period, indicating that the transgenic cultivar did not influence the pattern of aggregate distribution of this insect. With respect to the analysis for A. gossypii, the aggregation indexes showed aggregated distribution in both cultivars, but the distributions of frequency pointed to the occurrence of aggregate distribution only on conventional cotton, since there was no adjustment to the data on Bt crop. This indicates that Bt cotton has altered the aphids normal pattern of dispersion in the crop

The importance of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is not only due to the damage it can cause, but also to its difficult control. It is essential to know the pest population parameters, such as its standard scattering in the crop, because depending on the space arrangement of the insects in the area, different sampling methods are required. For the present work, three experimental fields were installed in different areas: the first one had 66 plots with seven plants each; the second one had 55 plots with four plants each; and the third field had 55 plots with six plants each. The presence or absence of the pest in the plant was evaluated in the samples. According to the data observed, either to the scattering index or to the theoretical scattering models, S. frugiperda dispersion is scattered at random and strongly depends on the infestation level.

This study aimed to know the patterns of spatial distribution of Anastrepha spp. and establish a criterion for determining the appropriate time for pest control. For this, 90 McPhail traps were used as Sampling Units (SU) divided into three commercial orchards of Novo Milênio guava with a total area of 14 ha. Traps were interspersed between the rows of plants, systematically in the orchards, hung and baited with 5% hydrolyzed corn protein with weekly collections. We caught 8,170 Anastrepha spp. in 840 SU. The mean infestation index was compared to the three types of distribution: random, uniform, aggregate, and fit by the theoretical frequency distributions of Poisson, negative binomial and positive binomial. The populations of Anastrepha presented aggregate distribution according to the mean variance method (I), tested by distance from randomness. The economic damage risk potential of Anastrepha spp. was associated with the aggregate distribution behavior. The most appropriate moment for the use of control techniques is when reaching 20 flies by the negative binomial. On the other hand, number of fruit fly adults per trap per day (FTD), underestimates population index, which will allow population growth, leading to risk of crop production loss.