ABSTRACT. The brown stink bug Euschistus heros is the most abundant species of the soybean-sucking bugs, and causes large economic losses. Applying different chemical groups of organosynthetic insecticides for its control increases the potential for resistance. Esterases are a group of enzymes that play a variety of roles in insects, and some of them are related to the metabolism of xenobiotics. The aim of this study was to analyze the esterase isoenzyme system of this species and investigate its response to Engeo ™ Pleno (thiamethoxam and lambda-cyhalothrin), which is the most widely used pesticide in soybean crops. Two strains were analyzed: the EB strain, which had been free of insecticides for several generations; and the MA strain, which was collected in a 11079-11088 (2015) location exposed to agrochemicals. By analyzing the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profile, seven different esterases in adults and nymphs of both strains were found. Eight gene loci were responsible for the synthesis of these enzymes. The differences in esterases between the two strains and enzyme changes in insects exposed to Engeo ™ Pleno suggest that EST-2 and EST-4 are related to the metabolism of the agrochemical used and are mechanisms of resistance.

In addition to being used as food, honey has been used as an alternative medicine for thousands of years. Honey has a great potential to be used as a medicine because it is not suitable for microorganisms , it is very acidic and has a very high sugar content, which causes an osmotic effect that prevents the growth of some microorganisms , moreover, in some honey, hydrogen peroxide is found, which has a strong antibacterial effect. However, properties and appearances of honey vary greatly according to the floral source in which the bee collects the nectar, so some honey also have a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Recently, there are several studies, mainly in vitro, that prove the effectiveness of honey for various medical purposes due to its components and its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antifungal, and anticancer properties.

Modern farming techniques have increased the crop yield, but natural habitats of the pollinator were destroyed, affecting their populations compared to native vegetation. A simple, low-cost, and efficient way to determine the presence of insecticide residues from farming is the honeybee as a bioindicator. However in Brazil, there is another species of bee, the stingless bees. The insecticide toxicity analyses the beneficial insect species as pollinators which are performed to the Apis mellifera. Stingless bees are native to tropical and subtropical zones, and they are more sensitive to pesticides than honeybees. We present some results of contamination in these bees compared to Africanized honeybees, and pose an important question Why does the pesticide industry not make assays with stingless bees too? When insecticides were in larger concentrations, bees did not feed. When the concentration of the insecticide was smaller, Africanized honeybees consumed the polluted honey, resulting in the death of some. Finally, we report several experiments concerning honeybees, and mainly stingless bees, and the effect of pesticides in them results show stingless bees are more sensitive than honeybees. Our Bee Research Group studied this point, and we hope to contribute for understanding this relation between bee, pesticide, and environment.

This work carried out to evaluates the polymorhism in the silkworm of different lineages using the isoenzymes electrophoresis to detect biochemical markers and to investigate the genetics of populations for those lineages. They were used as samples individual extracts of silk glands of second day old larvas of the fifth instar, originating from seven Japanese lineages and eight pure Chinese lineages maintained by the Cocamar-Cooperativa Agroindustrial de Maringá. The isozymes acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and carbonic anhydrase (CA) they were submitted to the electrophoresis in starch gels 14%. The esterases (EST) were analyzed in polyacrylamide gels to 10% and stained with α and β-naphtyl acetate. The total of 21 loci was detected, and 04 (19.05%) they are polymorphic, Est-11, Acp, Akp, Ca. The fixation index (F is ) for the analyzed isozymes it was 0.0751, indicating excess of homozygotes. The value of F st (0.6128) it shows that the lineages are well differentiated. The dendrogram obtained with the values of genetic distance didn't separate the Chinese and Japanese lineages analyzed totally. That preliminary evaluation of the lineages of B. mori shows that they present genetic material that it can be used in breeding programs that have the purpose of producing hybrid for silk production.Análise genética de polimorfismos bioquímicos em linhagens do bicho da seda (Bombyx mori L.) RESUMO. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o polimorfismo em lagartas do bicho-da-seda de diferentes linhagens utilizando a eletroforese de isoenzimas para detectar marcadores bioquímicos e investigar a genética de populações para essas linhagens. Foram utilizados como amostras extratos individuais de glândulas sericígenas de lagartas do segundo dia da quinta idade, de sete linhagens japonesas e oito linhagens chinesas puras mantidas pela Cocamar-Cooperativa Agroindustrial de Maringá. As isozimas fosfatase ácida (ACP), fosfatase alcalina (AKP) e anidrase carbônica (CA) foram avaliadas por meio de eletroforese em géis de amido de milho a 14%. As esterases (EST) foram analisadas por meio de eletroforese vertical em géis de poliacrilamida a 10% e coloração com α e β-naftil acetato. Foram observados 21 locos, dentre os quais quatro (19.05%) são polimórficos, Est-11, Acp, Akp, Ca. O índice de fixação (F is ) para as isozimas analisadas foi 0.0751, indicando excesso de homozigotos. O valor de F st (0.6128) permite sugerir que as linhagens estão bem diferenciadas. O dendograma obtido a partir dos valores de distância genética não separou totalmente as linhagens chinesas e japonesas analisadas. Essa avaliação preliminar das linhagens de B. mori mostra que elas apresentam material genético que pode ser utilizado em programas de cruzamentos que tenham a finalidade de produzir híbridos para produção de seda.Palavras-chave: bicho-da-seda, polimorfismos genéticos, isoenzimas.

Resumo. O café é uma planta perene e de regiões quentes, principalmente dos trópicos. Seu fruto é uma importante commodity no mercado mundial de produtos agrícolas, sendo o segundo maior gerador de riquezas do planeta, perdendo apenas para o petróleo. As espécies Coffea arabica e Coffea canephora são as de maior interesse econômico. A presença de polinizadores, como as abelhas, garante uma maior produtividade e qualidade dos grãos, atendendo assim a demanda do mercado. A abelha Apis mellifera é apontada como o polinizador de maior importância agrícola no mundo por ser uma espécie generalista, essa mesma espécie foi a mais frequente nas observações realizadas em plantações de café. Assim, tendo em vista estes aspectos, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo reunir dados referentes à cultura do café e sua produtividade no Brasil.