Larvae of the subfamily Hemileucinae possess urticating bristles capable of inducing stinging in humans. The objective of this report was to describe Solanum lycocarpum Saint Hilaire (Solanaceae) as a natural host of Leucanella memusae (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae: Hemileucinae) larvae in Brazilian mountain grasslands. Individuals of L. memusae complete their life cycle feeding on leaves of S. lycocarpum, and have the potential to migrate to agricultural crops in the region of Diamantina, Minas Gerais State.

Fungal diseases represent one of the major threats to citrus production, such as anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Fungal Trunk Diseases (FTDs) associated with Botryosphaeriaceae, with Neofusicoccum parvum being the most prevalent species. In response to the need to reduce chemical fungicide use, this study evaluated the antifungal activity of essential oil-based nanoemulsions (N-EOs) as alternative management methods. Seven N-EOs (citronella, clove, fennel, garlic, laurel, lavender and peppermint) were first screened in vitro against multiple isolates of both pathogens through mycelial growth and conidial germination assays. Based on estimated EC₅₀ and EC₉₀ values, clove and garlic N-EOs exhibited the highest inhibitory activity, while lavender displayed intermediate but promising efficacy, particularly against N. parvum. These N-EOs were subsequently evaluated in vivo on lemon fruits inoculated with C. gloeosporioides and on detached lemon twigs inoculated with N. parvum. In vivo assays largely confirmed the in vitro trends, with clove and garlic significantly reducing lesion development. In contrast, lavender displayed limited efficacy under in vivo conditions. The phytotoxic effects at higher concentrations limited the range of applicable doses. Overall, the results suggest that N-EOs, particularly those based on clove and garlic, may offer potential as alternative tools for citrus disease management. However, host tissue interactions, formulation stability, volatility, and validation under field conditions remain critical aspects requiring further investigation.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are widespread in Brazil, especially those related to resistance to herbicides and insects. This work aimed to evaluate herbicides’ effect on the emergence of maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in different maize genotypes. The experimental design was a 3 × 5 factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Genotypes of transgenic maize, Herculex® (TC1507) and PowerCore® (MON89034 × TC1507 × NK603) and an Isohybrid (non-transgenic) were used. The herbicides were Atrazine, Atrazine + Nicosulfuron, Ammonium Glufosinate, Nicosulfuron and a control treatment without herbicide application. The emergence of S. zeamais was observed in grains from each plot for 100 days, with 300 grams of maize grains. The Isohybrid was the most attractive to S. zeamais when no herbicide was applied. The application of Ammonium Glufosinate increased S. zeamais preference for Herculex® and Nicosulfuron for PowerCore®. The insertion of an exogenous gene and the application of herbicides in maize plants can alter components of the insect-plant interaction, changing the attractiveness to S. zeamais.