Jose Wagner Silva Melo

Despite the benefits of multiple mating to females, many moths appear to be monandrous. A curious case involves the tomato fruit borer, Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée); this species is supposedly monogamous particularly due to its short adult lifespan. However, N. elegantalis males can engage in a second courtship and copulate 1 day after their first mating. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that N. elegantalis is monandrous rather than monogamous, as previously suggested. We tested this hypothesis by determining whether (1) altered sex ratios affect mating frequency and (2) whether repeated mating opportunities impose a longevity cost on males while assessing the occurrence of female remating. Our results showed that (i) increasing the number of males did not increase the propensity of females to remate; (ii) males that copulated only once lived longer than those that copulated twice; and (iii) only four of the 96 females accepted a second mating opportunity despite repeated exposure to virgin males. Because only four females remated, the effects of multiple mating on female longevity and fecundity could not be evaluated robustly. These findings support the conclusion that N. elegantalis exhibits a predominantly monandrous mating system.

Phoresy, a common dispersal strategy among arthropods, involves complex relationships between hosts and symbionts that influence ecological dynamics. Investigating the structure of phoretic mite communities and their population fluctuations is particularly relevant for widely distributed agricultural pests, such as the coconut palm weevil, Rhynchophorus palmarum . This study investigated the community of phoretic mites associated with R. palmarum in its native Neotropical range, aiming to characterize population patterns, evaluate the influence of host attributes, and analyze interspecific dynamics. A total of 14 mite taxa were recorded, all exhibiting high prevalence and strong aggregation. The mite Centrouropoda cf. brasiliana stood out as the dominant species, with individual loads exceeding 2,800 mites per beetle. Although host sex and body size did not affect total phoretic load, body size selectively influenced the abundance of certain taxa ( Lasioseius sp., Macrocheles mammifer , Gamasina sp. 1, and Crenamargo binuseta ). The temporal variation of C. cf. brasiliana were negatively modulated by C. binuseta and Rhynchopolipus rhynchophori , suggesting mechanisms of competitive exclusion or microhabitat partitioning. These findings highlight a complex community in which biotic interactions play a central role in structuring the phoretic acarifauna of R. palmarum , emphasizing the need for further investigations into the functional effects of these relationships.

Megninia ginglymura (Mégnin, 1877) (Acariformes: Analgoidea: Analgidae) is a common feather mite of laying hens and a potential contributor to plumage damage and reduced productivity, yet its population dynamics and microhabitat use remain insufficiently characterized under modern commercial conditions. We conducted a year-long assessment of M. ginglymura abundance and intra-host distribution across three major production systems (Automated, Californian (two localities), and Cage-free), situated along a tropical–semi-arid gradient in a major poultry-producing region Pernambuco, Brazil. Monthly sampling of hens revealed pronounced temporal fluctuations in mite abundance, with peak infestations occurring during discrete periods of the production cycle and varying among systems. Cage-free flocks consistently exhibited the lowest infestation levels, whereas Automated and Californian systems showed higher abundances during the early months of monitoring. Female mites were evenly distributed across the five body regions examined, but eggs showed a strong and statistically supported concentration on wing feathers in all systems. This represents the first quantitative demonstration of spatially structured oviposition in M. ginglymura , revealing a clear mismatch between female distribution and egg deposition. These results have both ecological and applied implications: they suggest active microhabitat selection during oviposition and identify the wing region as a particularly sensitive diagnostic target for surveillance. By integrating temporal dynamics, housing effects, and spatial organization on the host, this study advances the understanding of M. ginglymura ecology and provides practical guidance for monitoring strategies in modern laying hen production.

Mites of the genus Megninia Berlese, 1883 (Sarcoptiformes: Analgidae) are known ectoparasites of birds in intensive production systems, however, their distribution in Brazil remains poorly documented. This study reports the first record of the feather mite Megninia ginglymura (Mégnin, 1877) (Sarcoptiformes: Analgidae) in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Samples were collected from two farms with different rearing systems: Vertical Automatic, Californian and Cage Free. Monthly surveys were conducted between January and November 2024, totalizing 11 collections. M. ginglymura appears to be prevalent among poultry farms in Brazil; however, limited efforts has been made to mitigate its impacts, primarily due to a lack of targeted research. Baseline studies such as this are essential for guiding future research aimed at characterizing populations in poultry systems and reducing the impacts caused by Megninia mites.

Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma is a type IV generalist predatory mite with a dietary preference for pollen. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that different prey, even if phylogenetically related and reared on the same host, can influence the predator’s fitness by affecting its development and reproduction. We evaluated the biological performance of E. citrifolius when fed on Ricinus communis pollen and prey-based diets. Prey-based diets consisted of Oligonychus punicae and Tetranychus urticae reared on grapevines, as well as pollen. The following parameters of E. citrifolius were evaluated: developmental time of immature stages, longevity, reproduction, cumulative percentage of adults, mean oviposition rate, life-table parameters, and fertility. Oligonychus punicae and T. urticae diets resulted in a longer development time from egg to adult, increased longevity, higher oviposition rate, higher cumulative percentage of adults, and higher daily oviposition than the pollen diet. Although the pollen diet was less efficient at reproduction, it promoted higher viability. The net reproduction rate, intrinsic rate of increase, and mean generation time were higher in prey-based diets (O. punicae and T. urticae) than in the pollen diet. Overall, both prey diets supported the biological performance of E. citrifolius. These findings provide valuable insights for future research on the mass production of E. citrifolius and its potential for controlling O. punicae and T. urticae in grapevines.

Direct and indirect ecological interactions, environmental factors, and the phenology of host plants can shape the way mites interact. These relationships interfere with species occurrence and consequently alter the structure and stability of the intraplant community. As predatory mites act as regulators of herbivorous mites, we hypothesized that these mites may occupy a central position in a network of interactions among mite species associated with mango trees, and the occurrence of these species is mediated by environmental variables and the phenological stage of the host plant. We evaluated the global structure of the interaction network of mites associated with individual Mangifera indica plants and analyzed the interspecific relationships of the species using an undirected Bayesian network approach. Additionally, we observed a correlation between mite population density and plant phenological stage. Environmental variables, such as average monthly temperature, monthly precipitation, and average monthly relative humidity at different sampling date were used in the correlation analysis. The modularity at the mite-plant network level showed a low specialization index H₂ = 0.073 (generalist) and high robustness (R = 0.93). Network analysis revealed that Amblyseius largoensis, Bdella ueckermanni, Parapronematus acaciae, and Tuckerella ornata occupied central positions in the assembly of mites occurring on mango trees. Environmental variables, average monthly temperature, and monthly precipitation were correlated with the occurrence of Brachytydeus formosa, Cisaberoptus kenyae, Oligonychus punicae, T. ornata, and Vilaia pamithus. We also observed a correlation between the plant phenological stage and population densities of Neoseiulus houstoni, O. punicae, P. acaciae, and V. pamithus.

The red palm mite (RPM), Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), is an invasive species in several American countries and has a wide range of hosts, causing significant damage, mainly to coconut and banana crops. Previous studies conducted in America have focused on the biological control of RPM through predatory mites and insects. Stethorus tridens Gordon (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is considered a promising biocontrol agent of phytophagous mites it has been observed on several cultures, and has a high predatory capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate S. tridens preferences among different developmental stages of RPM and estimating the functional and numerical responses of S. tridens over its most preferred prey-stage. Furthermore, the prey preference of S. tridents was examined between eggs of Tetranychus evansi Baker and Pritchard (its natural prey) and eggs of RPM through two-choice and non-choice experiments. The results showed that S. tridens prey on all developmental stages of RPM, with a marked preference for eggs over other stages of RPM. The functional response of this predator was type III, as consumption increased rapidly at intermediate egg densities. Predation on RPM eggs was unable to stimulate S. tridens reproduction, even at the highest densities. When we compared the food preference of S. tridens to eggs of T. evansi and RPM, we found that the predator preferred tetranychids. The results of this study suggested that RPM can be used as alternative prey to S. tridents, serving as a source of energy and allows for maintenance but not its reproduction.

Flower emission pattern in the dwarf cashew tree (Anacardium occidentaleL.) is essential for understanding the possible differences in the number, distribution over time, and/or proportion of the types of flowers affecting the reproductive dynamics of the species during the flowering. Our study aimed to explain the flowering pattern of the dwarf cashew tree, especially the emission and development of the male and hermaphrodite flowers and the influence of the flower distribution in the canopy for fruit production. Therefore, the canopy quadrants (north, south, east, and west) in two flowering seasons and two years (2018 and 2019) were considered. In each bloom, 120 panicles (one per quadrant of each plant) were randomly selected and monitored, in a randomized block design with 10 genotypes and three blocks, where each plant represented a repetition. There were significant differences in the effects of crop and canopy positions on the dwarf cashew tree. The dwarf cashew tree showed similar fluctuations in the average and cumulative number of flowers over time, regardless of flower type, but with a different pattern in the emission of male and hermaphrodite flowers. Male flowers required more time for anthesis during the harvests. Also, the northern quadrant of the crown had a greater quantity of flowers hermaphrodites, possibly due to a higher incidence of radiation because of the predominant path of the sun in the region. However, fruit production in the quadrants showed greater trends in the east and west quadrants, indicating that the flowering and fruiting patterns diverged.