<b>Effects of environmental and architectural diversity of <i>Caryocar brasiliense</i> (Malpighiales: Caryocaraceae) on <i>Edessa ruformaginata</i> (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and its biology

Abstract

We studied the effect of environmental complexity and plant architecture on the abundance and biology of Edessa rufomarginata (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) bugs in pastures and cerrado areas. We observed higher numbers of bugs on Caryocar brasiliense (Malpighiales: Caryocaraceae) trees in the cerrado than in the pasture areas. The bugs were more abundant on leaves and branches than they were on fruits. The fruit production of Caryocar brasiliense was higher in the pastures than in the cerrado areas. The abundance of bugs was affect positively by aluminum, organic matter, and tree height but was affected negatively by soil pH. The productivity of C. brasiliense was correlated negatively with aluminum, pH, and number of bugs but was correlated positively with phosphorus and calcium. The number of eggs per clutch was 14.3, the viability was 93% and the embryonic period was 6.9 days. We observed four nymphal instars, the sex ratio was 0.43, and the duration of the life cycle of E. rufomarginata was 156 days. We did not obtain eggs from the adults (F1), which indicated that the leaves were not a good food resource. A diverse environment and high plant crown structure favored populations of E. rufomarginata. The abundance of and the damage caused by this insect indicate that E. rufomarginata is a potential pest on C. brasiliense trees.

Sucking insects and their predators on tree canopies of a monocultural stand of Caryocar brasiliense

“…Moreover, the prevailing wind direction in Montes Claros is from the northeast to the east (Leite et al, 2006) and the prevailing sunlight radiation is on the north side in the Southern Hemisphere (Vianello and Alves, 2012). Both features might have strong desiccant effects in this municipality, with low relative humidity and high temperature (Leite et al, 2006), which in turn, can influence sucking insect populations (Leite et al, 2015a). These factors should explain the non-preference of sucking insects to attack the north side (horizontal axis), apical part (vertical axis), and adaxial surface leaf, resulting in a lower diversity of species, as related for Aethalion reticulatum (L., 1767) (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae), Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott, 1923) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), and Mahanarva posticata (Stal., 1855) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) on Acacia mangium (Willd.)…”

“…Nevertheless, conservation of C. brasiliense is serious threatened due to habitat loss caused by land-use change during the expansion of agricultural activities (Ratter et al, 1997;Collevatti et al, 2001;Leite et al, 2006;Melo Junior et al, 2012). Isolated C. brasiliense individuals embedded in agro-landscapes are subject to higher leaf, flower and fruit damage by sucking insects than those located in native areas (Leite et al, 2012a(Leite et al, , 2015a(Leite et al, , b, 2016. Thus, sucking insects constitute an important ecological driver that potentially negatively affect C. brasiliense survival in degraded environments.…”

Ocorrência De Antracnose Em Pequizeiro Na Região Do Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais

“…Pode ser encontrado em quase todo Centro-Oeste do Brasil e em parte dos estados de Minas Gerais, Tocantins, Rondônia, nos Cerrados de São Paulo e Paraná, e na chapada do Araripe do Ceará. No estado de São Paulo, a espécie já é constatada na lista de espécies ameaçadas (LEITE et al, 2016).…”

Edessa rufomarginata (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) feeding on Solanum lycocarpum (Solanaceae) in rupestrian fields of the Brazilian Cerrado biome

“…This stink bug has been widely studied in Argentina, where it feeds on both wild and cultivated plants, mainly of the Solanaceae family such as Nicotiana tabacum Linnaeus, Solanum lycopersicum L., Solanum melongena L. and Solanum tuberosum L. (Rebagliati et al, 2003). In Brazil, E. rufomarginata has been reported in the Cerrado biome (savanna) on Caryocar brasiliense Cambessèdes (Caryocaraceae) as an important pest of this native plant (Leite et al, 2016).…”