Euschistus heros (F.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) is the most prevalent stink bug pest in Brazil, and populations can be difficult to manage using organophosphates or endosulfan. Because E. heros is difficult to rear in the laboratory, no baseline insecticide susceptibility data have been published. Therefore, we conducted dose-mortality studies using field-collected insects, and, using the results from the dose-mortality studies, we surveyed susceptibility to acephate, methamidophos, and endosulfan in populations from southern and central Brazil. In addition, esterase activity was evaluated among populations as these enzymes have been related to organophosphate resistance. Finally, newer chemistries were evaluated for E. heros population management in small-plot field studies. In the dose-mortality bioassays, variation in susceptibility to methamidophos and endosulfan among populations was significant, but the variation in susceptibility to acephate was not. The population from Londrina (at the Embrapa Soybean Research Station, northern Parana state) was among the most susceptible, whereas the population from Pedrinhas Paulista (southwestern Sao Paulo state) was among the least susceptible. Significant variation among populations was observed in esterase activity with the population from Pedrinhas Paulista having the highest esterase levels and the population from Londrina having among the lowest levels. To survey populations, we used the dose-mortality data for the Londrina population (because it was, consistently, one of the most susceptible populations) to estimate the insecticide concentration that killed 99% of the population (LC99). The corresponding doses were 5.9 microg (AI) of acephate adult(-1), 0.7 microg (AI) methamidophos adult(-1), and 1,600 microg (AI) endosulfan adult(-1). The survey data confirmed the data from the dose-mortality bioassays in that the population from Pedrinhas Paulista was identified as one of the least susceptible and the population from Londrina was one of the most susceptible. The field tests confirmed that older chemistries provided minimal control (< 50% control), whereas the products containing mixtures of pyrethroids and neonicotinoids provided better control (> 60%).

This chapter covers integrated pest management (IPM) in wheat, stored grains, sugarcane and tomato in Brazil, and the biological, cultural and chemical control of Anticarsia gemmatalis (which include the use of A. gemmatalis nuclear polyhedrosis virus), stinkbugs and Sternechus subsignatus in soyabean in the region.

Neotropical Entomology 30(2): 317-320 (2001) Resistência do Percevejo Marrom Euschistus heros (F.) ABSTRACT -The Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), is usually controlled by organophosphate (OP) and cyclodiene (endosulfan) insecticides. Some unsuccessful control cases lead us to search for resistance to these insecticides in E. heros, the most common stink bug in the soybean growing regions of Paraná State, São Paulo State and Central Region of Brazil. Bioassays were performed with endosulfan, monocrotophos and metamidophos against adults. The most susceptible population was found in Londrina. Populations from Pedrinhas Paulista (SP) showed the highest resistance ratio (RR) to endosulfan (RR= 8.7) and metamidophos (RR=2.7); resistance to monocrotophos was detected on bugs from Centenário do Sul (PR) (RR= 3.1). Stink bugs collected from Toledo (PR), showed susceptibility to metamidophos comparable to those from Londrina.

Limited information exists on the insecticide susceptibility of redbanded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), despite its impact on soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., production in Brazil and the United States. Therefore, this study set out to 1) determine baseline levels of susceptibility to currently recommended pesticides using topical and vial bioassays, 2) determine the levels of esterase activity in populations in the United States and Brazil, and 3) compare control among products in field trials. In topical bioassays conducted in the United States using technical grade materials, the LC50 values of lambda-cyhalothrin, acephate, and methamidophos were 4-25, 141-295, and 40-151 ng per insect, respectively. The LC50 values of imidacloprid and thiamethoxam were 11 and 27 ng per insect, respectively. In vial bioassays conducted in the United States using technical grade materials, the LC50 values of cypermethrin, acephate, and methamidophos were 0.4-0.9, 3.8, and 1.6 microg per vial, respectively. In topical bioassays conducted in Brazil by using commercially formulated products, the LC50 values of acephate, methamidophos, endosulfan, and imidacloprid were 0.90-1.9, 0.4-0.6, 1.5-6.6, and 0.2-0.3 microg per insect, respectively. In vial bioassays conducted in Brazil using commercially formulated products, the LC50 values of endosulfan, methamidophos, and lambda-cyhalothrin were 4-32 and 2-24 microg/cm2 for thiamethoxam and imidacloprid. Esterase activity in Louisiana (United States) populations ranged from 251 to 658 nmol alpha-naphthol formed/min/mg protein. Esterase activity levels in Londrina (Brazil) populations averaged 163 nmol/min/mg. In field tests, P. guildinii in Louisiana were controlled by organophosphates thiamethoxam and imidacloprid and in Brazil, with combinations of neonicotinoids and pyrethroids.

The incidence of soybean bud blight in soybeans in Brazil is sporadic in most of the production areas but is endemic in a few others. Tobacco streak virus (TSV), the causal agent, is transmitted by thrips. The vector population starts declining everytime the amount of accumulated rain is over 300 mm. A four year trial (1986—1990) indicated that by delaying the sowing time it was possible to drastically reduce the incidence of the disease, allowing farmers to grow a cash crop. Significant correlations were observed between percentage of infection, number of days with rain, total of accumulated rain and total of thrips surveyed. A multiple linear regression (y = 23.93 + 0.7 × 1—0.06 × 2) that accounted for 80 % of the variation was obtained, considering percentage of infected plants (y), total of thrips (×1) and total of accumulated rain (×2). Results indicated that farmers should sow during the month of December, in areas where the disease is endemic.