Author(s): TORRES, J. B.; PEREIRA, F. F.; PASTORI, P. L.; WERMELINGER, E. D.; RAMALHO, F. de S.; ZANUNCIO, J. C.; SEDIYAMA, C. A. Z.

Summary: Lepidoptera pests can cause significant damage to eucalyptus plantations in Brazil (Zanuncio et al. 1993, 1998, 2001, Bernardino et al. 2007). Euselasia eucerus (Hewitson, 1872) (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae), also reported as Euselasia apisaon (Dalman, 1823) (Zanuncio et al. 1990, Murta et el. 2008), is a Brazilian native insect and its caterpillars are commonly found in Eucalyptus spp. plantations in São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Minas Gerais States, Brazil in outbreaks conditions (Zanuncio et al. 1994). The entire developmental cycle of E. eucerus takes place on Eucalyptus trees, this insect lays its egg clusters on their leaves and its caterpillars are gregarious and pupate on leaves of Eucalyptus spp. (Zanuncio et al. 1990). Euselasia eucerus eggs are parasitized by Trichogramma maxacalii Voegelé and Pointel, 1980, Trichogramma demoraesi Nagaraja, 1983 and Trichogramma acacioi Brun, Moraes and Soares, 1984 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae); its caterpillars and its pupae are predated by Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas, 1851), Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret, 1852), Supputius cincticeps (Stål, 1860) and Alcaeorrhynchus grandis (Dallas, 1851) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) and its pupa are parasitized by the fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize) (Brun et al. 1983, Oliveira et al. 2000, Murta et al. 2008). However, pupal parasitism of E. eucerus and the impact of other biological factors (Zanuncio et al. 1998a, b) onmortality of this pest have not been studied.

Publication year: 2009

Types of publication: Offprints

Unit: Embrapa Cotton

Keywords: Eulophidae, Fungo, Ichneumonidae, Scelionidade, Trichogramma