Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) can control pests due to mutualistic association with bacteria that reproduce and kill the host from septicemia, making the environment favourable for nematode development and reproduction. The objective of this study was to identify an EPN isolate collected in eucalyptus cultivation and to determine its pathogenicity with regard to Gonipterus platensis Marelli (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Four steel-mesh traps with two seventh-instar Galleria mellonella larvae were buried 5 cm deep in the soil in a commercial Eucalyptus plantation. After 7 days, the traps were packed in plastic bags and transported to laboratory to isolate the EPNs using White traps. The obtained nematodes were multiplied in G. mellonella larvae and identified by sequencing their D2/D3 expansion of the 28S rDNA region by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and specific primers for ITS regions. Steinernema diaprepesi was identified and inoculated into G. platensis pupae at doses of 500, 1000 and 5000 infective juveniles (IJs) to determine its pathogenicity to this pest. At 8 days after inoculation, the mortality rate of the G. platensis pupae was 80% with the lowest concentration and 100% with the others. The emergence of nematodes and the rapid degradation of G. platensis pupae were observed in those inoculated with IJs. The pathogenicity to the G. platensis pupae indicates potential for using this nematode in the integrated management of this insect.

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 parasitic nematodes have become one of the main problems in the tomato cultivation. Among these, Meloidogyne enterolobii presents great challenges to the farmer, since it is a polyphagous species and difficult to control. The entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) present as potential for biological control of this pathogen. The objective of the study was to evaluate the interference of EPNs S. brazilense, S. feltiae, S. rarum, H. amazonensis and H. bacteriophora on hatching and mortality of M. enterolobii. 500 eggs of this nematode and 1.000 infective juveniles of each EPN species were placed in a plastic pot totaling 25 mL of suspension and kept in an incubator at 25 degrees C. The number of juveniles hatched in the suspension was counted every 2 days, until 10 days. After 10 days of evaluations, the remaining suspension (15 mL) containing M. enterolobii and EPNs was inoculated into Rutgers tomato seedlings. The suspension contained approximately in 300 eggs of M. enterolobii occasional juveniles and 600 IJ of each nematode species. Sixty days after inoculation were evaluated gall indexes, egg mass indexes, total number of eggs and juveniles of M. enterolobii and reproductive factor was calculated. In the mortality experiment, 500 infective juveniles of M. enterolobii and 1.000 juveniles of each EPN species were placed in a plastic pot totaling 25 mL of suspension. The evaluation of juvenile mortality was performed by counting of the mobile and immotile nematodes, by adding two drops of NaOH to the nematode suspension. It was verified that on the 10th day all ENPs provided reduction in the hatching of M. enterolobii. In the pot experiment it was found thato gall index, egg mass indexm, nematodes total number and reproduction factor were significantly reduced in treatments with all species of EPNs tested. However, in the mortality test, only EPNs S. brazilense and S. rarum provided mortality on the second day and H. bacteriophora affected mortality on the 4th day. In the other evaluations, there was no statistical difference. The results highlight the potential of the use of EPNs in programs of integrated management of M. enterolobii in tomato.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la actividad insecticida de los aceites esenciales Citrus aurantium (Linnaeus) (Rutaceae), Citrus sinensis (Linnaeus) (Rutaceae) y el componente mayoritario Limoneno, y aceites esenciales Piper spp. (Linnaeus) (Piperaceae), Syzygium aromaticum (Merrill & Perry) (Myrteraceae), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Presl) (Lauraceae), Zingiber officinale (Roscoe) (Zingiberaceae) y Rosmarinus officinalis (Linnaeus) (Lamiaceae) sobre larvas de primer instar de H. armígera. La extracción de los aceites esenciales se realizó mediante la técnica de hidrodestilación utilizando el Clevenger modificado. Se proporcionaron 2 ml de la solución de cada aceite esencial a una concentración del 2% (v.v^¹) sobre larvas de primer instar de H. armígera, utilizando un aerógrafo con presión de 15 lb/in². Se realizaron diez réplicas por cada tratamiento, con diez larvas por cada repetición. Se evaluó la toxicidad aguda de los aceites esenciales mediante el recuento de larvas muertas después de 48 horas de ser tratadas. Los aceites esenciales C. aurantium, el componente mayoritario Limoneno, C. sinensis, R. officinalis, C. zeylanicum, S. aromaticum, Z. officinale y Piper spp. mostraron mortalidad de 97, 94, 87, 9, 8, 3, 2 y 0%, respectivamente. Los aceites esenciales del género Citrus spp. presentaron un alto porcentaje de mortalidad, y son una alternativa para el desarrollo de nuevas moléculas activas a partir de compuestos orgánicos, que pueden incorporarse dentro de un programa de control biológico para H. armígera.

The tomato root-knot nematode is one of the main phytosanitary problems in crops. Chemical control is the phytosanitary method most used by farmers, and the study of alternative management of phytonematodes is crucial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of silicon dioxide (SiO2) on the initial development of tomato plants, as well as to determine the best dose of SiO2 for inducing resistance to parasitism by M. incognita. This experiment was set up under a completely randomized design with ten treatments and five replicates in a 5×2 factorial arrangement consisting of five concentrations of SiO2 (0, 0.15, 0.3, 0.45 and 0.6 g dm-³ of soil) with the presence and absence of M. incognita, under greenhouse conditions. The following variables were evaluated: plant height; number of leaves; fresh and dry weight of shoot; percentage of shoot dry matter; root fresh weight; number of galls; final population of nematodes; and population per gram of root. The M. incognita infection affected plant height, number of leaves and shoot fresh weight, while the application of SiO2 negatively affected the formation of galls in the roots of the inoculated plants and the population per gram of root, reducing the final population of nematodes in the root system. SiO2 also provided greater development in the tomato plants, with a significant effect on plant height. The ideal dose was 0.34 g dm-3 of SiO2.

The coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari, 1867) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is one of the main pests of world coffee growing. For the purpose of monitoring the presence of this insect, colored traps and attractives have been developed. Then, the objective of this work was to determine the association between trap colors and ethanol: methanol proportions in the CBB catch, and also to determine the infestation in the coffee plantation by the H. hampei. Painted traps of red, green and colorful (red upper half + green lower half) and six volatile mixtures were used. The reference mixtures consisted of ethanol: methanol (E:M), in the proportions of 1:1 and 1:3, with addition of 0.002 and 0.004 kg of pure caffeine powder. The infestation in the coffee plantation was determined by the H. hampei number count into the fruits and the traps. The insects caught number showed significant interaction between the factors color and mixtures of volatile compounds (F107:85 = 2.46; p < 0.05). The peaks of H. hampei infestation occurred in the stages of grain formation (January) and maturation (April). The red traps with attractive E:M 1:1 + Benzoic Acid had the most significant effects in the H. hampei catch.Key words: Monitoring; pest; semiochemicals; volatile attractive.