Genetically modified (GM) maize was developed mainly to control lepidopteran pests such as the maize stem borer (Busseola fusca) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Since the first commercialization of GM crops with insecticidal properties, possible non-target effects such as the effect at the third trophic level on important predators for example lacewing species (Chrysoperla spp.) have been of concern. Contradicting results were reported in previous studies with regard to the effect of Cry 1Ab protein produced by Bt maize on the performance of lacewings. Some studies found that Bt proteins had no effect while others reported that C. carnea performed poorly if they consumed prey that consumed Cry 1Ab protein. In South Africa one of the most common chrysopid species in maize ecosystems is Chrysoperla pudica (Navás) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Evolution of Bt resistant pests, such as B. fusca in South Africa facilitates a new pathway for exposure of predators to healthy prey that consumes Cry 1Ab proteins. The aims of this study was to determine the effect of the Cry 1Ab protein expressed in Bt maize on a non-target organism‟s (C. pudica) biology via indirect exposure, and to determine the concentration of Cry 1Ab protein in the plant, prey and predator. Chrysoperla pudica larvae were indirectly exposed to the Bt-toxin through healthy Bt-maize feeding prey (B. fusca larvae) in two feeding experiments and lacewing survival and life history parameters recorded. Bt had a limited effect on some parameters that were evaluated. The larval and pupal periods of C. pudica larvae that were exposed to the Bt-toxin had a significant difference from that of the control treatment. The Bt-toxin had a significant effect on fecundity, fertility and malformation after emergence of C. pudica adults of which larvae fed only on Bt resistant B. fusca larvae, but not on the mortality rate. Cry 1Ab concentration was the highest in the plant, followed by the prey and lacewing larvae. This study showed that the Cry 1Ab protein had a slight adverse effect only on certain life parameters of C. pudica, and that Cry 1Ab protein was hardly detectable in C. pudica larvae. However, since this study represented a worst-case scenario where diverse prey was not available, insignificant effects is expected under field conditions where prey is diverse. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:30:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1487940 bytes, checksum: d95d0412987e018a2d5fe79a3afee5f1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Habitat diversification in agroecosystems by mantaining non-crop plants is a strategy which allows the increase of beneficial arthropods since it makes the environment more suitable for natural enemies, due to the availability of food resources, oviposition sites and refuge areas. Chili pepper Capsicum frutescens is a very important crop in Brasil, because of its profitability and social value. However, this crop needs phytosanitary stand and the growers use inadequate practices in attempt to control pests. Among the several beneficial arthropods, lacewings are highlighted by their natural occurrence in various agroecosystems and by their predatory ability. From this perspective, I carried out assessments in areas of chili pepper cultivation to determine: i) the influence of noncrop plants integrated to the field in the abundance of lacewings and of aphids compared to chili pepper crops without non-crop plants, ii) the identification of non-crop plants, present in the crop, associated to lacewings (food source, oviposition and/or refuge site) and to the absence or presence of aphids, and iii) intraguild predation in eggs of C. externa in the presence and in the absence of non-crop plants. Posteriorly, in chapter 2, I studied in laboratory the role of non-crop plant flowers of common occurrence in chili pepper crops (Bidens pilosa, Ageratum conyzoides and Sonchus oleraceus) in the survivor, development, fecundity and fertility of C. externa and Ceraeochrysa cubana. According to the results found in field, the abundance of lacewings in chili pepper crop areas was favoured by the presence of non-crop plants and there was no significant difference in the presence of aphids on chili pepper plants in the areas with or without non crop vegetation. Emilia sp. (average = 1 egg/plant) and Pennisetum sp. (average = 0.54 egg/plant) were the species with the greatest presence of lacewing eggs. In Pennisetum sp., Conyza bonariensis, Marsypianthes chamaedrys, Solanum lycocarpum, and Solanum americanum it was found the greatest presence of adults with average of 1.21, 1, 0.90, 0.85 and 0.83 adults/plant, respectively. Six out of 16 non-crop plants identified in chili pepper crops had aphids on them. Intraguild predation on eggs of C. externa was higher in the areas of chili pepper crops without non-crop plants (average = 2.91 predated eggs/card/plant) compared to the chili pepper crop areas with non-crop plants (average = 2.19 eggs/card/plant). In the laboratory assessments, both C. externa and C. cubana larvae survived for a longer time in the diets of A. conyzoides and B. pilosa with flowers compared to the remaining diets in which I offered non-crop plants without flowers. Larvae development was significantly affected by the offered diets, eight C. cubana larvae pupated in the diet of B. pilosa and two C. externa larvae pupated in the diet of S. oleraceus, the higher number of pupae being formed in the diets with flowers for each lacewing species. The diet with A. kuehniella eggs was the only treatment where more than 70% of the larvae survived, pupated and emerged as adults. The average survivorship of adults in all diets with non-crop plants was five days, with no oviposition. In the diet with yeast and honey, survivorship was higher than 60 days for both lacewing species tested, with total oviposition of 775.35 (±207.8) and 1108.12 (±106.8) eggs/female for C. externa and C. cubana, respectively. Maintaining non-crop vegetation in chili pepper crop areas favours the presence of lacewings and decreases the intraguild predation. The use of plant flowers as food for larvae of C. externa and C. cubana favours their survivorship and may be useful as complementary food in the diet of these predators. Therefore, maintaining non-crop plants in crop fields may improve natural enemy survivorhip e development. / A diversificação do habitat em agroecossistemas através da manutenção de plantas espontâneas é uma estratégia que permite aumentar populações de artrópodes benéficos ao tornar o ambiente mais adequado para os inimigos naturais, devido à disponibilidade de recursos alimentares, lugares para oviposição e áreas de refúgio em condições adversas. A pimenta-malagueta Capsicum frutescens é uma cultura de grande importância no Brasil, por sua rentabilidade e importância social. No entanto, a cultura carece de suporte fitossanitário e os agricultores incorrem em práticas inadequadas na tentativa de controle de pragas. Dentre os diferentes artrópodes benéficos, os crisopídeos (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) se destacam pela ocorrência natural em diferentes agroecossistemas e por sua capacidade predatória. A partir desta perspectiva foram realizadas avaliações em áreas de cultivo de pimenta-malagueta para estabelecer: i) a influência de plantas espontâneas integradas no campo de cultivo na abundância de crisopídeos e de pulgões comparada com plantios de pimenta-malagueta sem vegetação espontânea; ii) a identificação das plantas espontâneas presentes na cultura, sua associação com crisopídeos (fonte de alimento, lugar oviposição e/ou refúgio) e a presença de pulgões; e iii) a predação intraguilda em ovos de C. externa na presença e na ausência de plantas espontâneas. Posteriormente, no capítulo 2, estudou-se em laboratório o papel das inflorescências das plantas espontâneas de ocorrência comum em cultivos de pimenta (Bidens pilosa, Ageratum conyzoides e Sonchus oleraceus) na sobrevivência, no desenvolvimento, na fecundidade e fertilidade de C. externa e Ceraeochrysa cubana. De acordo com os resultados obtidos em campo, a abundância de crisopídeos nas áreas de pimenta-malagueta foi favorecida pela presença de plantas espontâneas e não houve diferença significativa na presença de pulgões em plantas de pimenta nas áreas com e sem vegetação espontânea. Emilia sp. (média= 1 ovo/planta) e Pennisetum sp. (média= 0,54 ovos/planta) foram as espécies com maior presença de ovos. Pennisetum sp., Conyza bonariensis, Marsypianthes chamaedrys, Solanum lycocarpum, e Solanum americanum foram as espécies com maior presença de adultos com médias de 1,21, 1, 0,90, 0,85 e 0,83 adultos/planta, respectivamente. Das 16 espécies de plantas espontâneas que foram identificadas no plantio de pimentamalagueta, seis tinham presença de pulgões. A predação intraguilda em ovos de C. externa foi maior nas áreas de pimenta sem vegetação espontânea (média= 2,9 ovos predados/cartão/planta) do que nas áreas de pimenta com vegetação espontânea (média= 2,2 ovos/cartão/planta). Nos experimentos em laboratório, tanto as larvas de C. externa como as de C. cubana sobreviveram mais tempo nas dietas A. conyzoides e B. pilosa com inflorescência do que nas outras dietas onde foram oferecidas plantas espontâneas sem inflorescência. O desenvolvimento das larvas foi significativamente afetado pelas dietas oferecidas, oito larvas de C. cubana empuparam na dieta B. pilosa e duas de C. externa na dieta de S. oleraceus, sendo o maior numero de pupas formadas nas dietas com inflorescências para cada uma das espécies de crisopídeos. A dieta com ovos de A. kuehniella foi o único tratamento onde mais do 70% das larvas sobreviveram, empuparam e os adultos emergiram. A sobrevivência média dos adultos em todas as dietas com plantas espontâneas foi de cinco dias por tanto não houve oviposição. Na dieta de levedo e mel a sobrevivência foi superior aos 60 dias para as duas espécies de crisopídeos testadas, com oviposição total de 775,35 (±207,8) e 1108,12 (±106,8) ovos/fêmea para C. externa e C. cubana, respectivamente. A manutenção da vegetação espontânea na cultura da pimenta-malagueta favorece a presença de crisopídeos e reduz a predação intraguilda. O uso das inflorescências como alimento para larvas de C. externa e C. cubana favorece a sua sobrevivência e pode ser útil como alimento complementar na dieta destes predadores. Assim, a manutenção de plantas espontâneas no campo de cultivo pode incrementar a sobrevivência e o desenvolvimento destes inimigos naturais.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:25:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-02-15Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:13:35Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 lavagnini_tc_me_jabo.pdf: 549020 bytes, checksum: e38c026a1cc6fc8bb5122d61b6349138 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Os crisopídeos são insetos com grande potencial para uso em programas de controle biológico de pragas agrícolas. Populações de Chrysoperla externa apresentam ampla distribuição geográfica, abrangendo desde o sul dos Estados Unidos até o sul da América do Sul, ocorrendo em diferentes ambientes. Contudo, há relativamente poucos estudos buscando compreender a estrutura genética de agentes de controle biológico, especialmente insetos predadores. Desta forma, os principais objetivos deste trabalho foram caracterizar geneticamente as populações de C. externa por meio de sequências do gene mitocondrial COI e compreender sua estrutura populacional nos municípios amostrados no Estado de São Paulo. Para tanto, indivíduos adultos foram coletados em pomares de citros, e da região torácica foi extraído o DNA total. O gene COI foi amplificado por meio da técnica de PCR e as amostras foram purificadas e sequenciadas. As populações de C. externa analisadas apresentaram elevada diversidade genética, bem distribuída entre os municípios amostrados. Esta homogeneização pode ser decorrência de fluxo gênico, ação antrópica, correntes de ar, proximidade das fazendas com matas nativas e elevado potencial reprodutivo de C. externa. A partir dos resultados obtidos é possível inferir que o agroecossistema, por ser um ambiente homogêneo, esteja contribuindo para a perda de estruturação que havia entre estas populações quando elas viviam em ecossistemas nativos, sendo assim, é fundamental que as populações de C. externa sejam estudas neste ambiente, para que possam ser compreendidas em seu habitat de origem e sem a influência da ação antrópica / The green lacewings are insects with great potential for use in programs of biological control of agricultural pests. Populations of Chrysoperla externa are widely distributed geographically, being found from the southern United States until the southern South America, occurring in different environments. However, there are relatively few studies trying to understand the genetic structure of biological control agents, especially predatory insects. Thus, the main objectives of this work were to characterize genetically the populations of C. externa through COI mitochondrial gene sequences and to understand its population structure in sampled municipalities in the State of São Paulo. For this purpose, adult individuals were collected in citrus orchards, and from its torax were extracted the total DNA. The COI gene was amplified by PCR and the samples were purified and sequenced. The populations showed high genetic diversity, well distributed among the municipalities. This homogenization may be due to gene flow, human action, action of winds, proximity of farms to native forests, and high reproductive potential of C. externa. From the results, is possible to infer that the agroecosystem, a homogeneous environment, may be contributing to the loss of structure that existed among the populations when they lived in native ecosystems, and therefore, the populations of C. externa must be studied in this environment, so they could be understood in its natural habitat and without the influence of the human action

O crisopídeo Ceraeochrysa cubana (Hagen, 1861) é um importante predador na cultura dos citros. Apesar da grande importância de C. cubana, pouco se conhece sobre a biologia e o efeito dos inseticidas a este crisopídeo, o que seria fundamental para um programa de Manejo Integrado de Pragas. Com essa pesquisa objetivou-se avaliar o efeito: a) letal e subletal de inseticidas aplicados sobre ovos com 3 idades diferentes; b) letal e subletal de inseticidas sobre larvas de primeiro instar; c) letal e subletal de inseticidas aplicados sobre pupas e adultos; d) do manejo de Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) na população de crisopídeos; e) de seis temperaturas sobre a biologia de C. cubana. Verificou-se que não houve diferença significativa das variáveis avaliadas entre os tratamentos, dentre os ovos com 24, 72 e 120 horas. O produto Lorsban® 480 BR afetou a viabilidade dos ovos das três idades e foi o inseticida que mais afetou o predador quando aplicado sobre os ovos, classificado como moderadamente nocivo (classe 3). Em larvas, os inseticidas Lorsban® 480 BR e Malathion® 1000 EC tiveram efeito letal, causando 100% de mortalidade 24h após a aplicação e os inseticidas Azamax® e Engeo Pleno® foram os únicos produtos que tiveram efeito subletal sobre as pupas oriundas das larvas tratadas e nenhum dos produtos testados foram classificados como inócuos (classe 1) ao predador. Nenhum dos inseticidas testados teve efeito letal e subletal quando aplicados sobre as pupas, sendo classificados como inócuos, já, quando aplicados sobre adultos, os inseticidas Actara® 250 WG, Ampligo®, Engeo Pleno®, Lorsban® 480 BR e Malathion® 1000 EC causaram 100% de mortalidade e todos os produtos testados sobre os adultos foram nocivos, exceto Evidence® 700 WG, Imidan® 500 WP e Tiger® 100 EC, que foram classificados como moderadamente nocivos. Nas coletas de crisopídeos feitas em campo, a espécie Ceraeochrysa cincta (SCHNEIDER, 1851) foi a mais coletada, observou-se também que na propriedade com manejo menos intensivo de D. citri foi coletado um número maior de indivíduos comparado com a propriedade com manejo rigoroso. Em relação à biologia, verificou-se um aumento na velocidade do desenvolvimento das fases do predador em função da temperatura e a viabilidade da fase de ovo e larva não foi afetada, porém, a temperatura de 18°C afetou a viabilidade da pupa e no ciclo ovoadulto, além dessa temperatura, a de 32°C também afetou a viabilidade. Para o ciclo total de C. cubana foram necessários 354,61 GD e a temperatura base (Tb) foi de 12,72°C. / The lacewing Ceraeochrysa cubana (Hagen, 1861) is an important predator of citrus pests. Still, little is known about the biology and the effect of insecticides on this green lacewing, which is essential for an Integrated Pest Management program. The aim of this study was to evaluate: a) lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides applied on eggs at 3 different ages, b) lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides on the first larval instar c) lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides applied to pupae and adults; d) effects of the management of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) in a lacewing population e) effects of six temperatures on the C. cubana biology. We found no significant differences for the variables in the treatments for eggs at 24, 72 and 120 hours. The insecticide Lorsban® 480 BR affected the viability of the eggs at the three ages and most affected the predator when applied on the eggs, classified as moderately harmful (class 3). On the larvae, the insecticides Lorsban® 480 BR and Malathion® 1000 EC had lethal effect, occurring 100% mortality of the larvae 24h after application of insecticides, and Azamax® and Engeo Pleno® were the only products that presented sublethal effects on pupae from treated larvae and none of the products tested were classified as harmless (class 1) to the predator. None of the insecticides tested had lethal and sublethal effect when applied on the pupae, and were classified as harmless. When applied to adults, insecticides Actara® 250 WG, Ampligo®, Engeo Pleno®, Lorsban® 480 BR and Malathion® 1000 EC caused 100% of mortality of the adult predator and all products tested on adults were harmful, except for Evidence® 700 WG, Imidan® 500 WP and Tiger® 100 EC, which were classified as moderately harmful. In the collections of green lacewings in the field, the species Ceraeochrysa cincta was predominant. We also observed that in orchards under less intensive management of D. citri, a larger number of individuals were collected compared to the orchards under a strict management system. Regarding biology, we observed an increase in growth speed in instars of the predator due to temperature, but the viability of eggs and larvae were not affected. However, the temperature of 18°C affected the pupae viability and the eggadult cycle. The temperature of 32°C also affected viability. For total cycle of C. cubana took 354.61 degrees day (DD) and thermal threshold (Tb) was 12.72°C.

O crisopídeo Ceraeochrysa cubana (Hagen, 1861) é um importante predador na cultura dos citros. Apesar da grande importância de C. cubana, pouco se conhece sobre a biologia e o efeito dos inseticidas a este crisopídeo, o que seria fundamental para um programa de Manejo Integrado de Pragas. Com essa pesquisa objetivou-se avaliar o efeito: a) letal e subletal de inseticidas aplicados sobre ovos com 3 idades diferentes; b) letal e subletal de inseticidas sobre larvas de primeiro instar; c) letal e subletal de inseticidas aplicados sobre pupas e adultos; d) do manejo de Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) na população de crisopídeos; e) de seis temperaturas sobre a biologia de C. cubana. Verificou-se que não houve diferença significativa das variáveis avaliadas entre os tratamentos, dentre os ovos com 24, 72 e 120 horas. O produto Lorsban® 480 BR afetou a viabilidade dos ovos das três idades e foi o inseticida que mais afetou o predador quando aplicado sobre os ovos, classificado como moderadamente nocivo (classe 3). Em larvas, os inseticidas Lorsban® 480 BR e Malathion® 1000 EC tiveram efeito letal, causando 100% de mortalidade 24h após a aplicação e os inseticidas Azamax® e Engeo Pleno® foram os únicos produtos que tiveram efeito subletal sobre as pupas oriundas das larvas tratadas e nenhum dos produtos testados foram classificados como inócuos (classe 1) ao predador. Nenhum dos inseticidas testados teve efeito letal e subletal quando aplicados sobre as pupas, sendo classificados como inócuos, já, quando aplicados sobre adultos, os inseticidas Actara® 250 WG, Ampligo®, Engeo Pleno®, Lorsban® 480 BR e Malathion® 1000 EC causaram 100% de mortalidade e todos os produtos testados sobre os adultos foram nocivos, exceto Evidence® 700 WG, Imidan® 500 WP e Tiger® 100 EC, que foram classificados como moderadamente nocivos. Nas coletas de crisopídeos feitas em campo, a espécie Ceraeochrysa cincta (SCHNEIDER, 1851) foi a mais coletada, observou-se também que na propriedade com manejo menos intensivo de D. citri foi coletado um número maior de indivíduos comparado com a propriedade com manejo rigoroso. Em relação à biologia, verificou-se um aumento na velocidade do desenvolvimento das fases do predador em função da temperatura e a viabilidade da fase de ovo e larva não foi afetada, porém, a temperatura de 18°C afetou a viabilidade da pupa e no ciclo ovoadulto, além dessa temperatura, a de 32°C também afetou a viabilidade. Para o ciclo total de C. cubana foram necessários 354,61 GD e a temperatura base (Tb) foi de 12,72°C. / The lacewing Ceraeochrysa cubana (Hagen, 1861) is an important predator of citrus pests. Still, little is known about the biology and the effect of insecticides on this green lacewing, which is essential for an Integrated Pest Management program. The aim of this study was to evaluate: a) lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides applied on eggs at 3 different ages, b) lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides on the first larval instar c) lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides applied to pupae and adults; d) effects of the management of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) in a lacewing population e) effects of six temperatures on the C. cubana biology. We found no significant differences for the variables in the treatments for eggs at 24, 72 and 120 hours. The insecticide Lorsban® 480 BR affected the viability of the eggs at the three ages and most affected the predator when applied on the eggs, classified as moderately harmful (class 3). On the larvae, the insecticides Lorsban® 480 BR and Malathion® 1000 EC had lethal effect, occurring 100% mortality of the larvae 24h after application of insecticides, and Azamax® and Engeo Pleno® were the only products that presented sublethal effects on pupae from treated larvae and none of the products tested were classified as harmless (class 1) to the predator. None of the insecticides tested had lethal and sublethal effect when applied on the pupae, and were classified as harmless. When applied to adults, insecticides Actara® 250 WG, Ampligo®, Engeo Pleno®, Lorsban® 480 BR and Malathion® 1000 EC caused 100% of mortality of the adult predator and all products tested on adults were harmful, except for Evidence® 700 WG, Imidan® 500 WP and Tiger® 100 EC, which were classified as moderately harmful. In the collections of green lacewings in the field, the species Ceraeochrysa cincta was predominant. We also observed that in orchards under less intensive management of D. citri, a larger number of individuals were collected compared to the orchards under a strict management system. Regarding biology, we observed an increase in growth speed in instars of the predator due to temperature, but the viability of eggs and larvae were not affected. However, the temperature of 18°C affected the pupae viability and the eggadult cycle. The temperature of 32°C also affected viability. For total cycle of C. cubana took 354.61 degrees day (DD) and thermal threshold (Tb) was 12.72°C.

The Tasmanian lacewing (Micromus tasmaniae Walker) is one of the most common aphid predators occurring in lucerne crops in New Zealand. A comparison of sampling techniques, and the output from a simulation model, suggest that the abundance of this lacewing may have been significantly underestimated in the past. Although the occurrence of aphid predators was erratic M. tasmaniae occurred more often and in far greater numbers (up to 100 m⁻²) than any other predator species. A simulation model for lacewing development in the field indicated that the large adult populations which occurred could be accounted for on the basis of reproductive recruitment. Independent evidence that immigration was not involved in the occurrence of these large populations was gathered using directional flight traps around the field perimeter. The major factors influencing lacewing population dynamics were the availability of aphid prey and, in the autumn, parasitism. Otherwise, survival of all life-histoty stages was high with no evidence of egg or larval cannibalism. Several instances of high lacewing mortality were identified by the model and the lack of any obvious cause for these highlights inadequacies in the understanding of lacewing bionomics. The model, which used a linear relationship (day-degrees) between development and temperature, was incapable of accurately predicting lacewing emergence under field temperatures which fluctuated outside the linear region of the development rate curve. Temperature thresholds and thermal requirements estimated under fluctuating temperatures similar to those in the field produced almost identical model output to those estimated under constant temperatures in the laboratory. Prey species was capable of influencing the rate of lacewing development. M. tasmaniae has the attributes necessary to produce large populations in the short time available between lucerne harvests. The asymptote of the functional response curve is low but the efficiency at converting aphids to eggs is high. Therefore, the lacewing is able to attain maximun reproductive output at low prey densities. A low temperature threshold for development (4-5° C), rapid development and short preoviposition period results in a short generation time (49 days at 15° C). Long adult life, high fecundity and the absence of any form of estivation or diapause, results in complete overlap of generations and multiple generations per year. M. tasmaniae's role as an aphid predator is restricted by its low appetite for prey and by the lucerne management regime currently practiced in New Zealand. Because it consumes relatively few aphids per day the lacewing's ability to destroy large aphid populations is limited. However, this may be offset by its ability to attack aphids early in the aphid population growth phase, and by the large numbers of lacewings which may occur. Under the present lucerne management schemes the large lacewing populations which do occur are forced out of the fields, or die, following harvest. A number of management options for increasing the lacewings impact as an aphid predator are briefly discussed.