Leaves and fruit of nine apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) genotypes were evaluated for insect injury in 1998 and 1999. Foliar and fruit injury from 12 insect species was inconsistently affected by genotype. Spraying trees with oil affected neither fruit insect injury nor fruit phytotoxicity. In choice feeding assays, incidence of Japanese beetle (JB) feeding and leaf area consumed was greater for 'Liberty' than for 'York.' Genotypes did not differ in no-choice feeding assays. Choice and no-choice feeding assays between apple and oak indicated that JB could distinguish host plants in an artificial environment. Trichome density appeared different among three genotypes. 'York', the non-preferred genotype, had highest specific leaf weight and concentration of phloridzin, a feeding repellent. 'Liberty' the preferred genotype, had the lowest specific leaf weight, and had the highest concentration of quercitrin, a feeding stimulant. Olfactory stimuli of JB was evaluated with a Y-tube olfactometer. Beetles preferred the side of the Y-tube containing leaf tissue of apple or Virginia creeper over the side with no leaf. Beetles did not choose one plant species over the other. Bias test of beetle orientation in the Y-tube olfactometer indicated that in the morning, but not the afternoon, beetles preferentially moved into the left side of the Y-tube. Humidity did not affect beetle orientation. In darkness JB preferred a leaf disc over a paper disc and beetles tended to remain on the leaf. / Ph. D.

Despite research focused on the control of E. saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), it remains the most destructive pest of sugarcane in South Africa and therefore a shift in the approach to the control of this insect was required. Habitat management techniques were employed through trials to understand the mechanisms used by insect pests in their host plant oviposition behaviour. Indigenous and beneficial non-crop plants, which could be used to attract insect pests away from sugarcane were identified and tested. An African grass, Melinis minutiflora, shown to be repellent to lepidopteran stemboring pests, was used in field trials in sugarcane. Eldana saccharina was shown to be fairly indiscrimate in choosing host plant species. Oviposition trials showed that females made no choice for host plants oviposition based on the volatiles released by those plants. Females showed no preference for males over test plants. But did consistently move and make a plant choice more often than male moths. Moths were not attracted by the volatile stimuli of a host plant and the availability of cryptic sites might be a factor that influenced ovipositing females to choose a host plant. Field trials tested the repellent action of Melinis minutiflora against E. saccharina and were shown to be more effective over a big field with space for M. minutiflora to establish thick undergrowth alongside a field plot. The other field sites showed no significant effect from M. minutiflora intercropped into treatment plots, or a slight negative effect. Later sugarcane planting times in relation to the grass planting time was a possible reason for the positive result in only two field sites allowing the grass to grow and establish before the sugarcane competed with the grass for sunlight. A cost benefit analysis of planting a hectare of sugarcane with M. minutiflora showed an economic benefit linked to reduction in E. saccharina infestation. Field sites with low population pressure from E. saccharina would not yield the economic benefit of planting this grass. There was no significant loss in the height, density or sucrose yield (ERC% cane) between control and treatment plots in the field plots due to the presence of M. minutiflora. Comparison of weed biomass between treatment and control plots showed a significant reduction in the treatment plot where M. minutiflora out-competed the weeds already present. This grass was advantageous in the sugarcane field as it sometimes reduced moth infestation but did not significantly compete with sugarcane and showed weed suppressing potential.

Turkish Air Quality Control Regulation (AQCR) is in force since 1986. However, AQCR does not contain any standards for odour control. In order to respond to various odour complaints and handle odour problems in Turkey, a regulation for odour control is necessary. Since Turkey is a candidate country for European Union, environmental legislation of Turkey has to be improved to the standards of the other member countries. The purpose of this study is to investigate the &ldquo / odour problem&rdquo / in Turkey, specifically in Ankara, and to establish the odour measurement techniques. The techniques and information acquired throughout this study will form the basis of &ldquo / Odour Regulation&rdquo / in Turkey. For this purpose, odorous gas samples were collected from different industries in Ankara and these samples were analysed with the Olfactometer TO7. The results of the emission measurements have shown that there are numerous industries in Ankara which are discharging high concentrated odorous gases into the environment. Also, field measurements (immission measurements) were performed around a sugar factory in order to determine immission levels. At the end of the immission measurements, a setback distance (buffer zone) of 1.5 km is determined that should be around a sugar factory. The implementation of an odour regulation and odour control technologies in Turkey is expected in near future.

La perception de la flaveur des aliments dépend de la perception de plusieurs composés en mélange dans des proportions équilibrées. Interactions perceptives entre différents odorants ainsi que la libération dynamique des odorants par la matrice alimentaire sont les principaux facteurs qui influencent la perception globale. L’objectif de cette thèse de doctorat était d’étudier la perception du mélange d’odorants qui constituent l’arôme du fromage à pâte pressée, en prenant en compte les interactions perceptives et la dynamique de libération des composés par la matrice. Une stratégie, comprenant une caractérisation complète des odorants des fromages, suivie d’une recombinaison qualitative et d’une étude détaillée des rôles respectifs des composés clés, et finalement la prise en compte de la dynamique de libération par incorporation des composés dans une matrice fromagère, a été appliquée. Des caractérisations approfondies sensorielles et instrumentales nous ont permis de mettre en évidence des relations entre la perception sensorielle et la composition des composés volatils et proposer des hypothèses. La recombinaison des différents composés a été testée afin d’étudier le rôle de chacun en mélange. Aidés par des apprentis aromaticiens durant la phase des recombinaisons nous avons pu observer particulièrement que 12 composés étaient très importants pour l’odeur du fromage. Par la suite nous avons étudié des interactions entre odeurs en appliquant des techniques de stimulation odorante en phase gazeuse, puis la dynamique de libération des composés en incorporant l’arôme dans une matrice fromagère par des techniques permettant de mesurer la quantité libérée en fonction du temps. / Perception of the aroma of food products depends both the chemical composition of food and human neurophysiology. The perception of food flavour, including cheese often relies on the perception of several aroma compounds in mixture in balanced proportions. Perceptual interactions among aroma compounds in mixtures and also the release of aroma compounds from the food product are the main factors that influence the global perceived aroma of food. Hence, the objective of this PhD study was to investigate the mixture of aroma compounds representing the aroma of semi-hard cheese by taking into account perceptual interactions among odorants and the dynamic release of the compounds by the cheese matrix. A strategy involving a complete characterisation of the cheeses followed by a recombination and investigation of the role of the key-aroma compounds and the dynamic release of the aroma compounds from the cheese matrix was taken into account. Comparison of the sensory and instrumental characteristics was made in order to highlight relationships between sensory perception of the aroma and the volatile composition of the cheeses and thus point out the molecular origins of the perceived cheese aroma. Recombination of selected aroma compounds was tested, in order to study the role of each aroma compound within the mixture. Especially 12 compounds seemed important for the semi-hard cheese aroma. To investigate the odour-odour interactions, different odour-stimulation tools were applied and dynamic release of aroma compounds was taken into account by incorporating the aroma compounds into a cheese matrix by different techniques allowing measuring the quantities released as function of time.

No description available.

Harlequin bug (HB), Murgantia histrionica (Hahn), is a pest of cole crops. Alternative control strategies were investigated for control of HB, including trap cropping and systemic neonicotinoid insecticide applications. Potential trap crops, mustard (Brassica juncea "Southern Giant Curled" ), rapeseed (B. napus "Athena"), rapini (B. rapa) and arugula (Eruca sativa) were preferred over collard (B. oleracea "Champion"), and a non-brassica control, bean (Phaseolus vulgaris "Bronco") in field-cage choice tests. Harlequin bug could not complete development on bean, developed poorly on arugula but was found to complete development on mustard, collard, rapeseed and rapini. In the field, mustard was found to be an effective trap crop for reducing HB feeding injury on collard at three experimental sites in 2010 and 2011. Augmentation of the mustard trap crop with a systemic, neonicotinoid insecticide did not increase the level of control of harlequin bug for the duration of the ten week growing period. In olfactometer choice tests, male HB responded to plant volatiles of bean, collard and mustard, but preferred Brassica volatiles over those from bean. Female response to plant volatiles alone was weak and inconsistent. Both males and females preferred volatiles from other males feeding on Brassica host plant over plant volatiles alone, and were deterred by volatiles from males feeding on bean versus the plant alone. Laboratory toxicity assays revealed that the neonicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, and clothianidin were toxic to HB nymphs; LC50 = 0.57, 0.52, 0.39, and 0.39 mg ai/liter, respectively. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of these insecticides over time when applied as a one-time drench, and all were found to provide significantly higher mortality of HB for at least 14 days after application. / Ph. D.

1.) Sentinel traps were used to survey for parasitoids of frugivorous drosophilids in Virginia fruit cropping systems, and determine if parasitoids were attacking invasive flies Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) and Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in the field. Two parasitoids of frugivorous drosophilids, Leptopilina boulardi (Barbotin, Carton, and Kelner-Pillault) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), were reared, but only one P. vindemiae was reared from D. suzukii, and no parasitoids were reared from Z. indianus. Most parasitoids were reared from alternate host Drosophila melanogaster Meigen and other wild drosophilids. 2.) The ability of these parasitoids to attack D. melanogaster, D. suzukii and Z. indianus under controlled conditions was tested. Larval parasitoid L. boulardi did not develop on D. suzukii or Z. indianus, just D. melanogaster. Pupal parasitoid P. vindemiae successfully developed on all three fly species, but also increased pupal fly mortality. 3.) Olfactometry was used to ascertain if L. boulardi and P. vindemiae are selective about the type of fruit their hosts feed in. Results showed that among cherry, raspberry, blueberry, grape, and banana, L. boulardi preferred raspberry and banana to cherry, and preferred grape least, but no fruit was most preferred. Insufficient data were obtained for P. vindemiae. We conclude that parasitoids of Virginia are unlikely to provide effective biological control for D. suzukii or Z. indianus, and classical biological control should be investigated as a pest management option. Olfactometry results indicate tritrophic selectivity by Drosophila parasitoids, suggesting multiple parasitoids could be required for effective biological control. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

A presente pesquisa teve como objetivos aprimorar a amostragem de Spodoptera frugiperda através do uso de armadilhas com feromônio sexual, verificar a capacidade de dispersão de Trichogramma atopovirilia como agente de controle biológico desta praga bem como avaliar a atratividade de Amaranthus sp. às fêmeas de T. atopovirilia. Para aprimorar a amostragem de S. frugiperda, os estudos foram conduzidos em dois campos comerciais de produção de milho, sendo um composto de 36,3 ha (denominado de MIP e com 30 pontos de amostragem) e outro de 10 ha (denominado de convencional e com 10 pontos de amostragem). Nestes campos foram instaladas armadilhas com feromônio sexual, distribuídas de forma aleatória e na proporção de 1 armadilha / ha. As avaliações foram realizadas duas vezes por semana durante todo o desenvolvimento das plantas, considerando-se: número de adultos machos coletados pelas armadilhas, injúria dos insetos às plantas, número de posturas e de larvas (pequenas, médias e grandes). O número de adultos coletados nas armadilhas foi correlacionado com os níveis de injúrias, número de posturas e densidade larval. O número de larvas observadas não apresentou diferença entre áreas e pontos de amostragem. A injúria dos insetos às plantas, número de posturas e de larvas pequenas não apresentaram correlação com os adultos capturados pelas armadilhas. Houve correlação significativa entre o número de larvas grandes (4o e 5o ínstares) e o número de plantas apresentando o cartucho furado ou destruído. Não houve correlação da coleta de adultos nas armadilhas com a infestação ou níveis de injúria, demonstrando que as larvas ainda precisam ser contadas para determinar o momento do seu controle. A capacidade de dispersão de T. atopovirilia foi estudada em 3 fases distintas de desenvolvimento das plantas de milho, quando estas possuíam de 4 a 6 folhas, 8 a 10 folhas e pendoamento. Em cada fase foi realizada uma infestação artificial com posturas (até 24 h) de S. frugiperda nas plantas localizadas em distâncias que variaram de 6 a 24 m do ponto de liberação do parasitóide. Logo após esta infestação, foi realizada somente uma liberação de adultos do parasitóide para cada fase da cultura e sempre no período mais fresco do dia (manhã ou entardecer). O parasitismo foi permitido durante até 48 horas quando as posturas eram recolhidas e acondicionadas em câmara climatizada até a emergência dos adultos. Os resultados indicaram que as plantas em suas diferentes fases de desenvolvimento afetaram a capacidade de dispersão dos parasitóides. As posturas localizadas nos pontos mais distantes somente foram atingidas pelos parasitóides durante a fase de desenvolvimento da cultura em que as plantas de milho estavam menores (4 a 6 folhas). Nas outras fases, os índices de parasitismo foram maiores naquelas posturas localizadas mais próximas do ponto de liberação. A atratividade de quatro espécies de Amaranthus (A. retroflexus, A. viridis, A. hybridus e A. spinosus) às fêmeas de T. atopovirilia foram avaliadas utilizando-se olfatômetro Peterson. Estas plantas foram testadas em período de desenvolvimento vegetativo e reprodutivo. Adotou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com 40 repetições (considerando-se um inseto/ repetição) e cada inseto foi observado durante o tempo máximo de 600 segundos. As espécies mais atrativas foram A. viridis e A. retroflexus, nos estádios vegetativo e reprodutivo, respectivamente. Quando testadas simultaneamente, as espécies de plantas não demonstraram atratividade ao parasitóide. Estes resultados sugerem a viabilidade do uso destas plantas ou seus derivados no manejo de habitats de hospedeiros e aumento de parasitismo em programas de manejo integrado de pragas. / The objectives of this research were the improvement of cross-section Spodoptera frugiperda using pheromone traps to verify the capacity of dispersion of Trichogramma atopovirilia as an agent for biological pest control as well as evaluating the attractiveness of Amaranthus sp. to T. atopovirilia females. To improve cross-section of S. frugiperda, the studies were carried out in two commercial corn field plantations, one made up of 36,3 ha (called MIP and with 30 points of sampling) and another of 10 ha (called conventional and with 10 points of sampling). In these fields pheromone traps were randomly displaced (ratio of 1 trap/ha). The evaluations were realized twice a week during the whole plant development, considering : number of male adults collected by the traps, insect injury to plants, egg masses and larval densities (small, medium and large). The numbers of adults collected were correlated to the insect injury, egg masses and larval density. The larval occurrence did not show difference between areas and sampling points. The injury levels, egg masses and small larva densities did not show correlation to adult caught by traps. There was significant correlation between large larvae (4th and 5th instars) and the number of plants showing whorl holes and/or destroyed ones. There were no correlations observed among adults caught by traps and insect infestation or injury, so demonstrating that larvae should be counted for timing pest control. The capacity of dispersion of T. atopovirilia was studied in 3 distinct phases of corn plant development, when they had 4 to 6 leaves, 8 to 10 leaves and tassel. In each stage was applied an artificial infestation with egg masses (< 24 h) of S. frugiperda on plants located 6 to 24 m from a parasitoid release point. Right after this artificial infestation, was applied only one parasitoid adult release to each distinct corn plant phase , always early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The parasite contamination was allowed during 48 h and then the egg masses were retrieved and taken into a climatic chamber until emerging adulthood. The results showed that plants affected the parasitoid dispersal. The egg masses placed farthest from the release point were parasited only during the 4 to 6-leaf stage. In the others stages, only egg masses next to the release point were parasited. The attractiveness of four species of Amaranthus (A. retroflexus, A. viridis, A. hybridus and A. spinosus) to the females of T. atopovirilia was evaluated by a Petersons olfactometer. These plants were evaluated in both vegetative and reproductive stages. Complete randomized procedure was adopted with 40 replications (considering one insect/replication) and each insect was observed during 600 seconds. The most attractive species were A. viridis and A. retroflexus during vegetative and reproductive stage, respectively. When plants were tested simultaneously, the species did not show attractive properties to the parasitoids. These results suggest the viability of the use of these plants or its derivatives to change host habitat and parasite increase for biological control in integrated pest management.

A presente pesquisa teve como objetivos aprimorar a amostragem de Spodoptera frugiperda através do uso de armadilhas com feromônio sexual, verificar a capacidade de dispersão de Trichogramma atopovirilia como agente de controle biológico desta praga bem como avaliar a atratividade de Amaranthus sp. às fêmeas de T. atopovirilia. Para aprimorar a amostragem de S. frugiperda, os estudos foram conduzidos em dois campos comerciais de produção de milho, sendo um composto de 36,3 ha (denominado de MIP e com 30 pontos de amostragem) e outro de 10 ha (denominado de convencional e com 10 pontos de amostragem). Nestes campos foram instaladas armadilhas com feromônio sexual, distribuídas de forma aleatória e na proporção de 1 armadilha / ha. As avaliações foram realizadas duas vezes por semana durante todo o desenvolvimento das plantas, considerando-se: número de adultos machos coletados pelas armadilhas, injúria dos insetos às plantas, número de posturas e de larvas (pequenas, médias e grandes). O número de adultos coletados nas armadilhas foi correlacionado com os níveis de injúrias, número de posturas e densidade larval. O número de larvas observadas não apresentou diferença entre áreas e pontos de amostragem. A injúria dos insetos às plantas, número de posturas e de larvas pequenas não apresentaram correlação com os adultos capturados pelas armadilhas. Houve correlação significativa entre o número de larvas grandes (4o e 5o ínstares) e o número de plantas apresentando o cartucho furado ou destruído. Não houve correlação da coleta de adultos nas armadilhas com a infestação ou níveis de injúria, demonstrando que as larvas ainda precisam ser contadas para determinar o momento do seu controle. A capacidade de dispersão de T. atopovirilia foi estudada em 3 fases distintas de desenvolvimento das plantas de milho, quando estas possuíam de 4 a 6 folhas, 8 a 10 folhas e pendoamento. Em cada fase foi realizada uma infestação artificial com posturas (até 24 h) de S. frugiperda nas plantas localizadas em distâncias que variaram de 6 a 24 m do ponto de liberação do parasitóide. Logo após esta infestação, foi realizada somente uma liberação de adultos do parasitóide para cada fase da cultura e sempre no período mais fresco do dia (manhã ou entardecer). O parasitismo foi permitido durante até 48 horas quando as posturas eram recolhidas e acondicionadas em câmara climatizada até a emergência dos adultos. Os resultados indicaram que as plantas em suas diferentes fases de desenvolvimento afetaram a capacidade de dispersão dos parasitóides. As posturas localizadas nos pontos mais distantes somente foram atingidas pelos parasitóides durante a fase de desenvolvimento da cultura em que as plantas de milho estavam menores (4 a 6 folhas). Nas outras fases, os índices de parasitismo foram maiores naquelas posturas localizadas mais próximas do ponto de liberação. A atratividade de quatro espécies de Amaranthus (A. retroflexus, A. viridis, A. hybridus e A. spinosus) às fêmeas de T. atopovirilia foram avaliadas utilizando-se olfatômetro Peterson. Estas plantas foram testadas em período de desenvolvimento vegetativo e reprodutivo. Adotou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com 40 repetições (considerando-se um inseto/ repetição) e cada inseto foi observado durante o tempo máximo de 600 segundos. As espécies mais atrativas foram A. viridis e A. retroflexus, nos estádios vegetativo e reprodutivo, respectivamente. Quando testadas simultaneamente, as espécies de plantas não demonstraram atratividade ao parasitóide. Estes resultados sugerem a viabilidade do uso destas plantas ou seus derivados no manejo de habitats de hospedeiros e aumento de parasitismo em programas de manejo integrado de pragas. / The objectives of this research were the improvement of cross-section Spodoptera frugiperda using pheromone traps to verify the capacity of dispersion of Trichogramma atopovirilia as an agent for biological pest control as well as evaluating the attractiveness of Amaranthus sp. to T. atopovirilia females. To improve cross-section of S. frugiperda, the studies were carried out in two commercial corn field plantations, one made up of 36,3 ha (called MIP and with 30 points of sampling) and another of 10 ha (called conventional and with 10 points of sampling). In these fields pheromone traps were randomly displaced (ratio of 1 trap/ha). The evaluations were realized twice a week during the whole plant development, considering : number of male adults collected by the traps, insect injury to plants, egg masses and larval densities (small, medium and large). The numbers of adults collected were correlated to the insect injury, egg masses and larval density. The larval occurrence did not show difference between areas and sampling points. The injury levels, egg masses and small larva densities did not show correlation to adult caught by traps. There was significant correlation between large larvae (4th and 5th instars) and the number of plants showing whorl holes and/or destroyed ones. There were no correlations observed among adults caught by traps and insect infestation or injury, so demonstrating that larvae should be counted for timing pest control. The capacity of dispersion of T. atopovirilia was studied in 3 distinct phases of corn plant development, when they had 4 to 6 leaves, 8 to 10 leaves and tassel. In each stage was applied an artificial infestation with egg masses (< 24 h) of S. frugiperda on plants located 6 to 24 m from a parasitoid release point. Right after this artificial infestation, was applied only one parasitoid adult release to each distinct corn plant phase , always early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The parasite contamination was allowed during 48 h and then the egg masses were retrieved and taken into a climatic chamber until emerging adulthood. The results showed that plants affected the parasitoid dispersal. The egg masses placed farthest from the release point were parasited only during the 4 to 6-leaf stage. In the others stages, only egg masses next to the release point were parasited. The attractiveness of four species of Amaranthus (A. retroflexus, A. viridis, A. hybridus and A. spinosus) to the females of T. atopovirilia was evaluated by a Petersons olfactometer. These plants were evaluated in both vegetative and reproductive stages. Complete randomized procedure was adopted with 40 replications (considering one insect/replication) and each insect was observed during 600 seconds. The most attractive species were A. viridis and A. retroflexus during vegetative and reproductive stage, respectively. When plants were tested simultaneously, the species did not show attractive properties to the parasitoids. These results suggest the viability of the use of these plants or its derivatives to change host habitat and parasite increase for biological control in integrated pest management.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Knowledge about biology and animal behavior is critical to understanding how a particular organism interacts with its environment. Identifying the sex of individuals is an essential step in conducting behavioral studies. An integral part of animal behavior is communication, which can be intermediated by pheromones. Within different groups, insects are the animals use pheromones the most in order to carry out their fundamental activities. Cratosomus flavofasciatus, a Coleoptera of the Curculionidae family, popularly called the Orange-tree-borer, is considered one of the main citrus pests, occurring in Sergipan orchards. The objective of this work was to evaluate the morphological characteristics that allow the sexual differentiation of C. flavosfaciatus and to evaluate the attractiveness of C. flavosfaciatus to the synthetic compounds that make up the pheromone of this species. To verify the sexual dimorphism of C. flavofasciatus, a geometric morphometry analysis was first made using 80 adult individuals of each sex. There were 27 landmarks in the ventral region in each individual. The anatomical landmarks 2, 9, 10, 11, 18, 21 were the ones that contributed most to the distinction between males and females, which represent the region of the rostrum, the final portion of the abdomen and the end of the thorax. For sex confirmation, a withdrawal of the genitalia of both sexes was also performed. In females it was possible to recognize the following structures: sternite VIII and bursa copulatrix. In males, it was possible to observe the gastric spicule and the aedeagus with a pair of parammero. The Procrustes Anova showed significant differences between the sexes (P<0.001) and the size (centroid) in relation to sex (P <0.001), but there was no difference in shape in relation to size (P = 0.229) and the form in relation to sex in conjunction with the size (P = 0.707). Principal component analysis demonstrated an evident differentiation between the genders based on the ventral region of the species. The first two main components explained 51.909% (PC1 + PC2: 39.563% + 12.346%) of the shape variation. The discriminant analysis indicated a significant difference (permutation test = 10,000 permutations; P < 0.001) for the sexual dimorphism of the ventral region. The determination of the adult sex of C. flavofasciatus through the last abdominal sternum is as accurate as the dissection of the genitalia. The behavioral response of C. flavofasciatus to synthetic pheromonal compounds (a mixture of 2-((1R, 2S)-1-methyl-2-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclobutil)ethanol (grandisol), (E)-2-(3,3-dimethyl-cyclohexylidene)ethanol (alcohol E) and (Z)-2-(3,3-dimethyl-cyclohexylidene)ethanol (alcohol Z)) and for their host plants Cordia curassavica (Maria-Preta) and Citrus sinensis (Orange Tree) were evaluated by olfactory tests performed on a Y-tube olfactometer. Both sexes were significantly more attracted to C. sinensis stalks (P <0.05) than to filtered air. Tests with C. curassavica stalk attracted only males (P = 0.02). When the insects had the opportunity to choose between C. curassavica stalks and C. sinensis stalks, males preferred those from C. curassavica (P = 0.01), whereas females showed no significant preference (P> 0.05). The combination of the C. curassavica and C. sinensis volatiles associated with the synthetic pheromone at 100ppm concentration was more attractive for both sexes (P <0.05) than for the control (hexane together with the host plant). On the other hand, at the concentration of 10ppm, only the association with C. curassavica attracted males (P = 0.009). These results can be used as a basis for field testing, contributing to the development of an environmentally safe and effective method for monitoring orange tree borer. / O conhecimento sobre a biologia e o comportamento animal é fundamental para compreensão de como determinado organismo interage com o seu ambiente. A identificação do sexo dos indivíduos é um passo essencial na execução de estudos comportamentais. Um ponto integrante do comportamento animal é a comunicação, a qual pode ser intermediada por feromônios. Dentre os vários grupos, os insetos são os animais que mais utilizam os feromônios para desempenhar suas atividades fundamentais. Cratosomus flavofasciatus, um coleóptero da família Curculionidae, popularmente chamado de broca-da-laranjeira, é considerado uma das principais pragas do citros, apresentando grande ocorrência em pomares sergipanos. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar características morfológicas que permitam a diferenciação sexual de C. flavosfaciatus e avaliar a atratividade de C. flavosfaciatus aos compostos sintéticos que compõem o feromônio de agregação dessa espécie e à suas plantas hospedeiras. Para verificar o dimorfismo sexual de C. flavofasciatus, primeiramente foi feito uma análise de morfometria geométrica utilizando 80 indivíduos adultos de cada sexo. Foram feitos 27 marcos anatômicos (landmarks) na região ventral em cada indivíduo. Os marcos anatômicos 2, 9, 10, 11, 18 e 21 foram os que mais contribuíram para a distinção entre machos e fêmeas, os quais representam a região do rostro, a porção final do abdômen e o final do tórax. Para confirmação do sexo, foi realizada também a retirada da genitália de ambos os sexos. Nas fêmeas foi possível o reconhecimento das seguintes estruturas: esternito VIII e bursa copulatrix. Já nos machos foi possível observar a espícula gastral e o edeago com par de parâmeros. A Anova de Procrustes demonstrou diferença significativa da forma (P < 0,001) e do tamanho (centróide) (P < 0,001) entre os sexos, porém não houve diferença da forma em relação ao tamanho (P = 0,229) bem como da forma em relação ao sexo em conjunto com o tamanho (P = 0,707). A análise de componentes principais demonstrou uma evidente diferenciação entre os sexos com base na região ventral da espécie. Os dois primeiros componentes principais explicaram 51,91% (PC1 + PC2: 39,56% + 12,35%) da variação da forma. A análise de discriminantes indicou diferença significativa (teste de permutação = 10000 permutações; P < 0,001) quanto ao dimorfismo sexual da forma da região ventral. A determinação do sexo em adultos de C. flavofasciatus através do último esternito abdominal é tão precisa quanto à dissecação da genitália. A resposta comportamental de C. flavofasciatus aos compostos feromonais sintéticos (mistura de 2-((1R, 2S)-1-metil-2-(prop-1-en-2-il)ciclobutil)etanol (grandisol), (E)-2-(3,3-dimetilciclohexilideno)etanol (álcool E) e (Z)-2-(3,3-dimetilciclohexilideno)etanol (álcool Z)) e para suas plantas hospedeiras Cordia curassavica (Maria-Preta) e Citrus sinensis (Laranjeira) foi avaliada por meio de testes olfativos realizados em um olfatômetro em “Y”. Ambos os sexos foram significativamente mais atraídos para os caules de C. sinensis (P < 0,05) que para o ar filtrado. Já os testes com caules de C. curassavica atraíram significativamente somente os machos (P = 0,02). Quando os insetos tiveram a oportunidade de escolher entre caules de C. curassavica e caules de C. sinensis, os machos preferiram os de C. curassavica (P = 0,01), já as fêmeas não apresentaram preferência significativa (P > 0,05). A combinação dos voláteis de C. curassavica e C. sinensis associadas ao feromônio sintético na concentração de 100ppm foi mais atrativa para ambos os sexos (P < 0,05) que para o controle (hexano juntamente com a planta hospedeira). Por outro lado, na concentração de 10ppm, somente a associação com C. curassavica atraiu apenas os machos (P = 0,009). Tais resultados podem ser utilizados como base para testes de campo, contribuindo para o desenvolvimento de um método ambientalmente seguro e eficaz para o monitoramento da broca-da-laranjeira.