Population Dynamics of Lepidoptera Pests in Eucalyptus urophylla Plantations in the Brazilian Amazonia

Abstract

Forestry companies study the population dynamics of insect pests in Integrated Pest Management for cost effectiveness. The objective of this study was to obtain qualitative and quantitative information on population fluctuation of the Lepidopteran defoliators of Eucalyptus urophylla plants in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. In all, 402 species were collected, of which 10 were primary pests, nine were secondary pests, and the remaining bore no definite relevance to eucalyptus. Primary pests formed a low percentage of the total species, although they recorded a high percentage of the total number of individuals. The abundance of secondary pests, except in Caracuru, was less than 150 specimens annually. Primary pests showed higher population peaks during periods of low precipitation. The small number of species and the high abundance of primary and secondary pests could be due to the availability of food, or a deficiency in natural biological control. This suggests the possibilities of population outbreaks in the eucalyptus plantations. The period of highest occurrence for insect species in these crops OPEN ACCESSForests 2014, 5 73 must be identified so that suitable strategies can be developed for Integrated Pest Management.

Environmental Determinants Affecting the Occurrence of Defoliator Caterpillars onEucalyptus(Myrtaceae) plantations in the Brazilian Amazonian Region

“…However, the abundance of these defoliating insects could also be related to this reduction in growth. This correlation confirms reports that most of the outbreaks of Lepidoptera defoliators were observed in eucalyptus plantations with low productivity, such as those in sandy soils or with non-adapted clones and species (Zanuncio et al , 2014a. Furthermore, these reports reinforce the importance of selecting plants with good quality genotypes, especially those adapted to growth in various soil types and those resistant or tolerant to damage by pests and diseases (Silva et al 2013).…”

“…Light traps are commonly used for monitoring, collecting, and defining methods of controlling insects. These traps have been used to evaluate Lepidoptera populations in eucalyptus crops (Pereira et al 2001;Zanuncio et al 1993Zanuncio et al , 2001aZanuncio et al ,b, 2003Zanuncio et al , 2014a, native forests (Ignatov et al 2011;Santos et al 2015;Vieira et al 2015), and grazing areas (Delfina & Teston et al 2013). They also are effective in the assessment of biodiversity.…”

Selectivity of deltamethrin doses on Palmistichus elaeisis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) parasitizing Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

“…Lepidoptera defoliators are pests in eucalyptus plantations 1 with sporadic or outbreak infestations 2 , and are mainly controlled using insecticides. Herbivorous insects don’t have economic intervention thresholds based on damages and intervention costs for eucalyptus in Brazil.…”

Can the Understory Affect the Hymenoptera Parasitoids in a Eucalyptus Plantation?

“…The large number of Hymenoptera families with individuals captured in the E . grandis plantations, with or without an understory, indicates the presence and diversity of the lepidopteran defoliators or other arthropods groups in these forest systems [ 34 , 35 ], because of their association with their hosts [ 36 ]. The physical factors of the habitat, cultural practices and pesticides to control the pests and the diseases can affect the diversity of the parasitoids [ 37 ].…”