Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a major barrier to fruit production and exportation. In Brazil, the native parasitoid Aganaspis pelleranoi (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and the exotic parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) stand out as biological control agents. Knowledge of the factors that affect interactions among parasitoids, A. fraterculus, and host fruits may enhance the use of these agents in biological control programmes. This study evaluated the chemotaxis and parasitism of A. pelleranoi and D. longicaudata females reared on A. fraterculus larvae and kept on an artificial diet, red guava (Psidium guajava) or apple (Malus domestica). Females of both parasitoid species that emerged from larvae raised on artificial diet, guava or apple, were tested to Y olfactometer choice tests. In the parasitism tests, both parasitoid species were made to choose between A. fraterculus larvae brushed with water, apple pulp or guava pulp. D. longicaudata females from artificial diet (control) did not distinguish between fruit odours; however, females of D. longicaudata from larvae kept in apple or guava directed to the odours of their original fruit. The greatest parasitism for D. longicaudata occurred in the units that contained the pulp in which the larvae grew. A. pelleranoi from artificial diet preferred guava odours, including the females kept in apple. Similar results were observed in the parasitism bioassays. Our results found that A. fraterculus larval feeding influenced search behaviour and parasitism of D. longicaudata, whereas A. pelleranoi rearing experience did not affect its host choices.

Males and females of Grapholita molesta (Lep., Tortricidae) are polygamous. in order to evaluate the effects of polyandry and polygyny in the reproductive performance of this species, newly-emerged adults were submitted to either of two treatments: monogamous couples together until death or males and females receiving virgin partners one or three days old every day until death. The fecundity and fertility of all females were evaluated daily. Mean fecundity was similar in both monogamic and poliandric females; however, females paired with one day old males presented the lowest mean fertility. Similarly, fecundity and fertility means were significantly lower in females paired with polygynic males, in comparison to monogamic females. A negative correlation was found between male age and the number of copulated females. Males presented the highest number of copulations between three and eight days of age. oviposition patterns were similar in the polyandric and in the monogamic groups, with the highest number of fertile eggs being observed after day three of initial pairing. females of G. molesta do not need to copulate with additional virgin males to enhance their fertility rates. After their third day of life, males are able to copulate with a high number of females, keeping themselves fertile for a long period.

The South American fruit fly, Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an economically important pest of fruit production in Southern Brazil. In organically managed orchards the species has traditionally been controlled with oils, plant extracts, and solutions such as pyroligneous extract and lime sulfur. The objectives of this study were to examine the possible deterrent effect of pesticides with the highest electroantennographic bioactivity on fruit flies and to assess their effects on the viability of pupae in treated fruits. Antennae were exposed to pyroligneous extract (BioPirol7M®, 0.4%), lime sulfur solution (SulFertilizantes, 1%), neem (Organic Neem®, 0.5%), and rotenone (Rotenat®, 0.6%), taking into account fly sex, age and reproductive status. Pupal viability was assessed for larvae reared in papaya (Carica papaya var. Calyman) and guava (Psidium guajava var. Paluma) fruits treated with the pesticides that generated the strongest electrophysiological responses. The bioactivity of A. fraterculus antennae was highest when stimulated with pyroligneous extract and lime sulfur solution, for young and mated flies. Neither substance inhibited oviposition and larval development in treated fruits, a result that has important implications for A. fraterculus management in organic systems.

Resumo. Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), conhecido como um dos principais predadores de pequenos artrópodes como tripes, pulgões, ácaros e pequenas lagartas sendo uma espécie polífaga, que pode ser encontrada em diferentes agroecossistemas.  Este predador é mundialmente usado para controle de populações de pulgões, os quais podem ser vetores de diversas viroses que ocorrem em tabaco. A sobrevivência de predadores pode estar associada à sua capacidade de utilizar pistas químicas provenientes das presas ou das plantas em herbivoria para localizar sítios de alimentação. A emissão de voláteis de defesa indireta de plantas é um dos mecanismos utilizado para atrair inimigos naturais e também pode ser ativado na presença de fitormônios, como metil jasmonato e ácido salicílico. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as respostas quimiotáxicas de fêmeas de O. insidiosus frente a plantas Nicotiana tabacum L. (Solanaceae) infestadas ou não com Myzus persicae (Sulzer)(Hemiptera:Aphididae), ao odor do pulgão e a plantas aspergidas com ácido salicílico e metil jasmonato. As fêmeas foram avaliadas em olfatômetro de dupla escolha, expostas, individualmente, a cada um dos tratamentos contrastando com o controle em sala climatizada (25 ± 5 ºC, 60 ± 10% UR). As fêmeas somente foram atraídas para plantas quando estavam infestadas (p < 0,001), porém o odor de pulgões, isoladamente, não teve efeito atrativo (p = 0,4386). Plantas aspergidas com fitormônios não atraíram as fêmeas do predador (p > 0,05).  Voláteis produzidos por plantas de tabaco sob a ação da herbivoria de M. persicae atraem O. insidiosus o que evidencia que esta espécie utiliza sinomônios como estratégia de busca e localização de presas.Responses of Orius insidiosus (Say) to Nicotiana tabacum L., Myzus persicae (Sulzer) complex and phytohormonesAbstract. Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) is one of the major predators of small arthropods such as thrips, aphids, mite, eggs and small caterpillars. It is a polyphagous specie, and can be find in many agrosystems. This predator is used globally to control populations of aphids, which can be vectors of several viruses that occur in tobacco. The predator's survival may be associated with their ability for use chemical cues from the prey or plants damaged by herbivores to locate feeding sites. The emission of volatile chemical compounds is one of the defense mechanisms of plants to attract natural enemies. The emission of volatiles from plants associated with indirect defense is used to attract natural enemies and can also be activated in the presence of phytohormones such as methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid. This work aimed to evaluate the chemotactic responses of O. insidiosus females against plants Nicotiana tabacum L. (Solanaceae) infested and not infested with Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), odor of aphid and plants sprayed with salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate. The females were evaluated in a double-choice olfactometer, individually, exposed to each of the treatments, contrasting with the control in a labor room (25 ± 5 ºC, 60 ± 10% RH). Females were only attracted to plants when they were infested (p <0.001), but the aphid odor alone had no attractive effect (p = 0.4386). None of the plants with phytohormones attracted females (p> 0.05). Volatile compounds produced by tobacco plants under the action of herbivory of M. persicae attract O. insidiosus indicating that this species uses synomones as search strategy and location of prey.