RESUMOCom o objetivo de avaliar o rendimento do pimentão adubado com esterco bovino na presença e ausência do biofertilizante, conduziu-se um experimento na UFPB, Areia, PB, no período de janeiro a junho de 2004. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados, com três repetições em parcelas subdivididas. Nas parcelas se avaliaram seis doses de esterco bovino (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 e 50 t ha -1 ) e, nas subparcelas, os efeitos das aplicações do biofertilizante no solo e via foliar e sua ausência, além de um tratamento adicional com adubação mineral e orgânica. A parcela compunha de 32 e a sub-parcela de 16 plantas, espaçadas 1,00 x 0,50 m. Na ausência de biofertilizante a dose estimada de 28 t ha -l de esterco bovino foi responsável pela produção máxima de frutos por planta (389 g) e produtividade máxima de frutos comerciais (7,8 t ha -l ), enquanto na sua presença aplicado via foliar, as doses de 14,5 e 14,0 t ha -l de esterco bovino, respectivamente, proporcionaram produção máxima de frutos por planta de 485 g e produtividade máxima de frutos comerciais de 9,6 t ha -l . Na presença de biofertilizante aplicado no solo, obteve-se produção média de 410, 6 g de frutos por planta e produtividade de 8,3 t ha -l de frutos comerciais, em função das doses de esterco bovino. A combinação esterco bovino e biofertilizante aplicada via foliar, foi a melhor forma de fertilização orgânica no pimentão, com incrementos de 1,8 e 1,3 t ha -l a mais na produtividade de frutos, em relação apenas ao emprego de esterco bovino. Palavras-chave: Capsicum annuum, adubação orgânica, rendimentoBell pepper yield fertilized with cattle manure and biofertilizer ABSTRACTWith the objective of evaluating bell pepper fertilized with cattle manure with and without biofertilizer, an experiment was carried out from January to June 2004, in Quarts Psamment at UFPB, Areia, PB, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized block, with three replications in sub-divided plots. The plot was constituted by 32 and the sub-plot by 16 plants, spaced at 1.00 x 0.50 m. In the plots, six levels of cattle manure (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 t ha -1 ) were appraised, while in the sub-plots the forms of application of the biofertilizer (with and without application of biofertilizer in the soil and spraying on the leaves) and an additional treatment with mineral and organic fertilizer. In the absence of biofertilizer, 28 t ha -l estimated level of cattle manure was responsible for maximum yield of fruits per plant (389 g) and for commercial fruits (7.8 t ha -l ), while biofertilizer used in spray application, the levels of 14.5 and 14.0 t ha -l of cattle manure, respectively, promoted maximum production of fruits per plant of 485 g and maximum productivity of commercial fruits of 9.6 t ha -1 . The biofertilizer presence into the soil, promoted mean production of 410 g of fruits per plant and productivity of 8.3 t ha -1 of commercial fruits, in function of cattle manure. The combination cattle manure and biofertilizer in the leaves was the best organic fertilizat...

Entomopathogenic fungi are frequently used as an alternative method for insect pest control. However, only a few studies have focused on the effect of these fungi on bees and on the selectivity of fungi to beneficial organisms in agroecosystems. The objective of the present study was to assess the susceptibility of worker bees of the species Melipona scutellaris (locally known as "uruçu") to the isolate (Biofungi 1) of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. The experiment was carried through indirect contact between the fungal suspension and newlyemerged bees and topical application of the fungal suspension on the back of newly-emerged bees. The sampling design was completely randomized and comprised five treatments, which included four different concentrations of the fungus: 1 x 10 5 , 1 x 10 6 , 1 x 10 7 , 1 x 10 8 conidia/ml, and a control composed of distilled water. Each treatment had five replicates. The mortality data were subjected to an analysis of variance and a probit regression analysis, which provided an estimate of the lethal dose to 50% of the population (LD 50). The adjustment of the curves to the model was tested with a chi-squared test and differences between curves were tested with a test for parallelism. Beauveria bassiana was virulent to uruçu bees, killing the bees at the lowest dose used. These findings may help minimize the impact of this entomopathogen and, therefore, contribute to the maintenance of natural populations of these insects.

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The present study aimed to evaluate changes in the locomotor activity of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) populations exposed to surfaces treated with the insecticide chlorantraniliprole under laboratory conditions. Diamondback moth populations from municipalities incorrectly using the insecticide [Camocim de São Félix, PE (CSF); Sairé, PE (SR); and Lajedo, PE (LJ)] and two laboratory populations from Recife, PE (RCF), and Viçosa, MG (VÇS) were exposed to dry insecticide residues in increasing concentrations. The following behavioral parameters of the populations were analyzed: walking time (WT), mean walking speed (MWS), and rest time (RT). Regarding RT, the SR and CSF populations demonstrated a behavior of irritability and increased WT with increased exposure concentration. The RCF population presented a contrasting response. The MWS values in the SR and CSF populations showed a decreasing trend with increased exposure concentration. The LJ and RCF populations showed no changes in terms of MWS. The RT values in the SR population decreased with increased insecticide concentration. In general, the SR and CSF populations presented a behavioral pattern different from that of laboratory populations. The changes in locomotor activity observed may result in lower control efficacy of the insecticide due to repellency or escape of insects. Regarding the effect of insecticide concentrations used in the populations, a defined pattern was not observed, and the effect alternated between an increase, a decrease, and an undefined pattern for the variables studied.

Wasps contribute to environmental quality and ecosystem services, and play a key role in the functioning of many environments. The present study identified the diversity of species of solitary wasps that occupied trap-nests in farming environments. as well as the architecture of the nests found. The study focused on three areas of agroecosystem, where 30 blocks of trap-nests, with four diameters (5 mm, 7 mm, 9 mm, and 11 mm), were installed. A total of 56 nests were occupied by solitary wasps, with the most frequent species being Trypoxylon sp.1 (N=100, 54.9%), Pachodynerus cf. brevithorax (N=31, 17.0%), Trypoxylon sp.2 (N=27, 14.8%) and Caenochrysis nigropolita (N=9, 4.9%). The wasps occupied preferentially the trap-nests of 5 mm and 7 mm in diameter. Six wasp families were recorded, with the most abundant being the Crabronidae with 127 individuals, followed by the family Vespidae (N=36). Reduced number of species was recorded in the study area with frequent use of pesticides, and farming practices, which may damage nesting sites. These findings provide important guidelines for the use of agricultural practices, and emphasize the need for the adoption of effective strategies for the conservation and sustainable management of the populations of these potentially beneficial insects. KEY-WORD: Conservation, hymenopterans, agroecosystems.