Bioprospecção, identificação e manejo de cochonilhas-farinhentas (Hemiptera: pseudococcidae) e insetos associados em agroecossistemas de videira no submédio do Vale do São Francisco

Abstract

Pests are considered a major obstacle to vine crop development in the Submédio São Francisco Valley. The correct species identification is a basic requirmeent in Integrated Pest Management programs. This study surveyed and identified species, host plants, natural enemies and ants associated with mealybugs Pseudococcidae and performed bioassays with natural products to control two the most abundant detected species. Insects and plants were collected in grape orchards and sent to experts for species identification. The mortality bioassays were performed in laboratory with the products Azact®, Azamax®, Matrix® and Orobor® using different concentrations and the species of mealybugs Planococcus citri Risso and Maconelicoccus hirsutus (Green) The mealybugs identified by morphological and by molecular analysis associated with the vine were M. hirsutus, P. citri, Phenacoccus solenospsis Tinsley, 1898 and Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell). Twelve species of ants were identified, Solenopsis saevissima Solenopsis saevissima Smith and Dorymyrmex bicolor Wheeler were the most abundant. The identified natural enemies were Gyranusoidea indica Shafee, Alam & Agarwal, Anagyrus kamali Moursi, Leptomastix dactylopii Howard, Cheiloneurus sp., Aenasius sp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), Aprostocetus sp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), Dendrocerus sp. (Hymenoptera: Megaspilidae), Eurydinoteloides sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Meneville, Tenuisvalvae notata (Mulsant), Cycloneda sanguinea (L.), Eriopis connexa Coccinellidae). Regarding the host plants, 37 species were identified comprising 24 plant species hosting M. hirsutus, 16 species hosting P. solenopsis, one species hosting either Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) or D. brevipes or P. citri. The tested products upon the two mealybug species were more toxic for 1st-instar nymphs when compared to adults. The results bring important information as foundation to design the Integrated Pest Management of vine orchards in the region.