SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterología ISSN: 0300-5267 [email protected] Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterología España Tavares, W. S.; Hansson, C.; Mielke, O. H. H.; Serrão, J. E.; Zanuncio, J. C. Parasitism of Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle, 1993 on pupae of Methona themisto (Hübner, [1818]) reared on two hosts (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae; Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterología, vol. 41, núm. 161, marzo, 2013, pp. 43-48 Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterología Madrid, España Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=45528755002 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative 43-48 Parasitism of Palmistichu 10/3/13 18:39 Página 43 SHILAP Revta. lepid., 41 (161), marzo 2013: 43-48 CODEN: SRLPEF ISSN: 0300-5267 Parasitism of Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle, 1993 on pupae of Methona themisto (Hübner, [1818]) reared on two hosts (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae; Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) W. S. Tavares, C. Hansson, O. H. H. Mielke, J. E. Serrão & J. C. Zanuncio Abstract Previous studies showed that larvae of Methona themisto (Hübner, [1818]) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) display a showy yellow color to avoid predation. In addition, these larvae absorb secondary compounds when feeding on Brunfelsia uniflora (Pohl) D. Don (Solanaceae) plants, although this does not prevent pupal parasitism by Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle, 1993 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). The aim of this study was to assess in the laboratory parasitism by P. elaeisis on pupae of M. themisto after their larvae fed on a new host plant, Inga edulis Martius (Fabaceae) (T1) cultivated in the herbarium of the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil or on plants of B. uniflora (T2) cultivated in the campus of the UFV. The percentage of emergence, developmental time, number of individuals emerged and sex ratio of adults of P. elaeisis and the length and width of the pupae of M. themisto were similar between treatments (P > 0.05). Palmistichus elaeisis showed good reproductive performance when reared on pupae of the host M. themisto independently of larval food. KEY WORDS: Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Hymenoptera, Eulophidae, Biological control, Brunfelsia uniflora, defoliation, emergency, Fabaceae, Inga edulis, natural enemies, parasitism, pupal parasitoid, Solanaceae. Parasitismo de Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle, 1993 sobre pupas de Methona themisto (Hübner, [1818]) observados sobre dos anfitriones (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae; Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) Resumen Estudios anteriores indicaron que las larvas de Methona themisto (Hübner, [1818]) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) muestran un marcado color amarillo para evitar ser víctimas de predadores. Por añadidura estas larvas absorben compuestos secundarios al alimentarse de plantas de Brunfelsia uniflora (Pohl) D. Don (Solanaceae), aunque esto no evita que las pupas sean parasitadas por Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle, 1993 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). El objeto de este estudio era valorar en el laboratorio el parasitismo de P. elaeisis sobre las pupas de M. themisto después de que sus larvas se alimentaran de una nueva planta huesped, Inga edulis Martius (Fabaceae) (T1), cultivada en el herbolario de la Universidad Federal de Vicosa (UFV), en Vicosa, Estado Minas Gerais, Brasil, o, alternativamente, de plantas de B. uniflora (T2) cultivadas en el campus de la UFV. El porcentaje de emergencia, tiempo de desarrollo, número de individuos emergidos, ratio de sexos de adultos de P. elaeisis y ancho y largo de pupas de M. themisto fueron similares durante los tratamientos (P > 43 43-48 Parasitism of Palmistichu 10/3/13 18:39 Página 44 W. S. TAVARES, C. HANSSON, O. H. H. MIELKE, J. E. SERRÃO & J. C. ZANUNCIO 0.05). Palmistichus elaeisis muestra buen comportamiento reproductor cuando se cría sobre pupas de M. themisto, independientemente del alimento larvario. PALABRAS CLAVE: Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Hymenoptera, Eulophidae, control biológico, Brunfelsia uniflora, defoliación, emergencia, Fabaceae, Inga edulis, enemigos naturales, parasitismo, parasitoide pupal, Solanaceae. Introduction Inga edulis Martius (Fabaceae) is an Amazonian plant. Its trees reach 15 m high (DAWSON et al., 2008). This species that achieves rapid growth, with open canopy, branches and leaves with leaflets attached to a rust-coloured hair shaft of rust-colored. Abundant white and green scented flowers throughout the year (HOLL et al., 2011; IGLESIAS et al., 2011). Green-colored 0.8 and 1.0 m fruit in pods, and seeds surrounded by an aerated and sweet aril (ALEXANDER & USMA, 1994; SOMARRIBA & BEER, 2011). Inga edulis is common at edges of rivers and lakes and has a scent attractive to wildlife and humans, as well as to bees (LARBI et al., 2000). Brunfelsia uniflora (Pohl) D. Don is a tree of the Solanaceae family originating in the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil (MARTINS et al., 2009). Its leaves are small and permanent, with an average rate of growth and it can reach about 3 m height, with a 2 m diameter rounded crown (DUARTE & WOLF, 2010). Flowering occurs from September to March and produces white and lilac flowers. The fruit is of capsule type. This species is widely used as an ornament for its beauty and fragrance (MORAES et al., 2009). Methona themisto (Hübner, [1818]) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) fly around moist and shaded places of the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. This insect play dead to stay alive when they are caught, displaying a warning coloration and remaining static for a few minutes, to avoid predators (MASSUDA & TRIGO, 2009). Females of M. themisto lay white colored eggs on the abaxial face of the leaves. Black caterpillars with yellow rings, larval and adult period of 30 days. Wings of adults with yellow, black and white dots and translucent regions (CORSATO-ALVARENGA et al., 1987; MASSUDA & TRIGO, 2009). Methona themisto adapts to urban environments on ornamental plants grown in parks and gardens, such as Araucaria araucana (Molina) K. Knoch, 1873 (Araucariaceae), B. uniflora and Brunfelsia pilosa Plowman (Solanaceae), Cordyline terminalis (L.) Kunth (Liliaceae), Dypsis lutescens (H. Wendl.) Beentje & J. Dransf. (Arecaceae), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (Malvaceae), Philodendron hastatum K. Knoch & Sello (Araceae), Pilea cardieri Gagnep. & Guillamin (Urticaceae), Rhododendron simsii Planch. (Ericaceae), Spiraea spp. and Tectona grandis L. f. (Verbenaceae) (CORSATO-ALVARENGA et al., 1987; RUSZCZYK & NASCIMENTO, 1999). These plants may be larval hosts and/or source of nectar for adults of this species. A new genus of Tetrastichinae, including a new species named Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle, 1993 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) was described in the Neotropical region (DELVARE & LASALLE, 1993). The first report of parasitism of this Eulophidae was on pupae of Hispoleptis subfasciata Pic., 1938 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), defoliating pest of oil palm Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (Arecaceae) (LE VERDIER & GENTY, 1988). This gregarious pupal endoparasitoid of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera is reared on alternative hosts and is used in the biological control of pests in various agricultural and forest crops (ANDRADE et al., 2010; PEREIRA et al., 2008, 2010, 2011). The hypothesis is that the biological parameters of P. elaeisis are different with M. themisto reared on I. edulis or B. uniflora. The objectives of this paper were: First, to assess the parasitism by P. elaeisis on M. themisto reared on Fabaceae or Solanaceae plants in the laboratory. Second, to report I. edulis as a new host for this Lepidoptera defoliator. Material and methods Fifty first instar larvae of M. themisto were collected on the adaxial face of leaves on an adult plant fruited of I. edulis in the herbarium of the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) in Viçosa, Minas Gerais 44 SHILAP Revta. lepid., 41 (161), marzo 2013 43-48 Parasitism of Palmistichu 10/3/13 18:39 Página 45 PARASITISM OF PALMISTICHUS ELAEISIS DELVARE & LASALLE, 1993 ON PUPAE OF METHONA THEMISTO (HÜBNER, [1818]) State, Brazil and hung on branches on an adult flowered plant of B. uniflora in the campus of the UFV (20º 45’ S, 42º 51’ W, 651 m - above sea level). These hosts were chosen because they are common in the region. This area has little sharp relief, fragments of secondary forest and diversified fauna (TAVARES et al., 2011a, 2012, 2013). These insects were brought to the Laboratory of Biological Control of Insects (LCBI) of UFV (25 ± 1 ºC temperature, 12 hours photoperiod and 70 ± 10% relative humidity of air) and placed in plastic cups with branches of I. edulis or B. uniflora until pupation. Forty newly formed pupae of this insect (20 - I. edulis and 20 - B. uniflora) were exposed for two days to parasitism by 10 mated females of P. elaeisis according to the methodology proposed for Tenebrio molitor L., 1758 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) (ZANUNCIO et al., 2008). Each pupa was placed in a test tube. These tubes were closed with cotton swab and a drop of honey was placed per recipient as food for the parasitoids. Ten pupae of M. themisto were left in plastic cups until adulthood for species identification. Palmistichus elaeisis adults were obtained from a first generation emerged from pupae of Thagona tibialis Walker, 1855 (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) collected from an adult