Fruit flies are pests of great agricultural concern, as they cause serious damage to the global fruit production. However, there are potential entomophagous organisms that can reduce the population of pest species such as Ceratitis capitata. Among the voracious and entomophagous Dermaptera predators, the species Pygidicrana v-nigrum displays a strong predatory potential to improve the agricultural handling by assisting the reduction of agrochemical use. This study aims to evaluate the biological development and quantification of P. v-nigrum consumption and predation of C. capitata during the fruit fly's immature stages. Larvae from the 3 rd instar and pupae of the Mediterranean fruit fly were used, where biological parameters were analyzed, including the duration and nymphal viability, adult insect size (length), sex ratio, survival of adults and egg production, and the ethology Original Research Article

Mortality of neonate larvae and eggs of Spodoptera frugiperda has an important contribution to the management of this pest. This work aimed to determine the development, quantify the consumption, the time of search and handling of eggs of S. frugiperda by Cereaochrysa cubana. The duration of development and the survival of C. cubana were determined using eggs of the alternative prey Anagasta kuehniella; eggs, newborn caterpillars and combined feeding of egg + newborn caterpillars of S. frugiperda. The daily and total consumption, the search and handling time were also evaluated, comparing eggs and caterpillars of S. frugiperda as prey. The duration of the larvae to adult phase of C. cubana was prolonged when the food was newborn caterpillars or eggs + newborn caterpillars of S. frugiperda (35.7 and 34.6 days) when compared to eggs of A. kuehniella and S. frugiperda (25.5 and 25.9 days). The predator's larvae showed a shorter larval and adult period when fed with eggs in relation to caterpillars. Larval viability of C. cubana was lower when fed with eggs + newborn caterpillars. Higher consumption and shorter search and handling time on newborn caterpillars of S. frugiperda, compared to prey eggs, are carried out by larvae of C. cubana during the third instar. Key words: biology; chrysopodes; fall armywormAspectos biológicos e comportamento da predação de Ceraeochrysa cubana sobre Spodoptera frugiperda RESUMO A mortalidade de ovos e larvas neonatas de Spodoptera frugiperda possui importante contribuição para o manejo desta praga. Este trabalho objetivou determinar o desenvolvimento, quantificar o consumo, o tempo de busca e de manipulação de ovos de S. frugiperda por Cereaochrysa cubana. A duração do desenvolvimento e a sobrevivência de C. cubana foram determinadas empregando-se ovos da presa alternativa Anagasta kuehniella; ovos, lagartas neonatas e alimentação combinada de ovos + lagartas neonatas de S. frugiperda. Também foram avaliados os consumos diário e total, o tempo de busca e de manipulação, comparando-se ovos e lagartas de S. frugiperda como presa. A duração da fase de larva a adulto de C. cubana foi prolongada quando o alimento foi lagartas neonatas ou ovos + lagartas neonatas de S. frugiperda (35,7 e 34,6 dias) comparado a ovos de A. kuehniella e S. frugiperda (25,5 e 25,9 dias). Larvas do predador apresentam menor período de larva-adulto quando alimentados com ovos em relação a lagartas. A viabilidade larval de C. cubana foi menor quando alimentadas com ovos + lagartas neonatas. O maior consumo e menor tempo de busca e de manipulação sobre lagartas neonatas de S. frugiperda, em comparação aos ovos da presa, são realizados por larvas de C. cubana durante o terceiro instar.

This study evaluated the development and reproduction of Ceraeochrysa cubana when fed the citrus blackfly Aleurocanthus woglumi. The study was carried out at the Laboratory of Entomology, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba – Areia/PB. It used a completely randomized design. The study was conducted in climate chambers, regulated to 26 ± 2°C and a relative humidity of 70 ± 10% with a 12 h photoperiod. The treatments were as follows: eggs, nymphs of only the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th instars, and nymphs of multiple instars (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th instars) of A. woglumi, with eggs of Sitotroga cerealella as a control. The 1st instar of C. cubana lasted 5.8 to 10.7 days, the 2nd instar lasted 6.0 to 13.3 days, and the 3rd instar lasted 8.2 to 18.5 days. The larvae of C. cubana did not survive when the food provided was only the eggs of A. woglumi, since the predator could not eat them. C. cubana, when provided nymphs of multiple instars (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th instars) of the citrus blackfly, had a shorter pre-pupal period and lower longevity than when consuming the eggs of S. cerealella, but the sex ratio and oviposition period were not affected. However, changes occurred in the pre-oviposition period, the total number of eggs, and the number of viable eggs.

Citrus BlackFly (CBF) always represented a threat to Brazil. The impact of the introduction in Brazil of the CBF has led to serious economic and environmental consequences. In this chapter, we will show relevant information on biological aspects, history of occurrence, and impact of CBF on Citrus in Brazil; data about dynamics populations and spatial distribution patterns and dependence will be presented. We are intending to emphasize in this chapter the main challenges and opportunities of some important tactics to promote sustainable management of CBF in citrus, such as: (i) biological control, (ii) chemical and others methods, and (iii) induced resistance.

Dimorphandra gardneriana, popularly known as fava d’anta, is a medicinal species whose fruits and seeds are used in the manufacture of medicines. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of clove (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry) and copaíba (Copaifera sp.) essential oils in antifungal treatment of seeds of D. gardneriana and their influence on physiological quality of the seeds. Two experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design using seeds treated with different concentrations of copaiba and clove oils (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mL) and two controls—seeds were treated with distilled water or fungicide. The variables analyzed were: incidence of fungi in seeds in the first experiment and seed germination and vigor (first germination, length and dry mass of root and shoot of the seedlings) in the second one. The incidence of fungi of the genera Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., and Rhizopus sp. in the seeds was elevated. The copaiba oil at the concentrations used did not satisfactorily reduce the incidence of fungi in the seeds of D. gardneriana, while the treatment of the seeds with clove oil at concentrations of 2.0 and 0.5 mL reduced the incidence of Penicillium sp. and Rhizopus sp., respectively. Seed germination and vigor increased at concentrations of 2 mL of clove oil and 1.25 mL of copaiba oil.