Daniela Carvalho dos Santos

Understanding the sublethal effects of insecticides on non-target insects is essential for integrated pest management (IPM). This study aimed to evaluate the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the testes of Ceraeochrysa claveri adults exposed to pyriproxyfen during the larval stage. Larvae (0–12 h) were fed Diatraea saccharalis eggs treated with pyriproxyfen (50 and 100 mg a.i. L⁻¹) for 10 days. After this exposure, the larvae were fed untreated eggs until pupation. The testes from the adults were extracted for RNA extraction, library construction, and sequencing. The reads were de novo assembled, and the genes annotated based on their ORF homology. A total of 46 DEGs were identified for the 50 mg a.i. L⁻¹ vs. control, 47 DEGs for the 100 mg a.i. L⁻¹ vs. control, and 64 DEGs for 50 mg vs. 100 mg a.i. L⁻¹ treatments. To validate the DEGs through RT-qPCR, the genes BPHL, Large2, MLX, and Talin-1 were selected. The results indicate that the exposure of C. claveri larvae to pyriproxyfen could alter the gene expression and lead to delayed effects in adults. This study provided a novel approach for assessing the sublethal effects of pyriproxyfen C. claveri and contributed valuable information to enhance IPM strategies.

Mammalian hair is a source of biological information and can be used in genetic, toxicological, hormonal, and ecological studies. However, non-invasive collection methods are still little explored. This study aimed to describe and validate a passive methodology for collecting hair from jaguars (Panthera onca) and evaluate its viability for different analyses. This study was conducted in the Northern Pantanal, where synthetic fiber mats were installed in strategic locations to passively capture hair. The presence of animals and the collection of samples were monitored by camera traps over a period of 30 days. The collected samples were subjected to morphological analyses by electron microscopy, molecular tests for genetic and sex identification, and isotopic and heavy metal analyses. The results showed that the collected hairs were well preserved, allowing the structural and molecular identification of the material. The analyses confirmed the viability of DNA for genetic studies and revealed specific concentrations of heavy metals and stable isotopes. The proposed methodology proved to be effective and is a promising alternative for obtaining samples without directly interfering with the behavior of the animals.

Plant-derived biopesticides have gained attention in agriculture as a pest control method that minimizes the negative effects caused by conventional synthetic insecticides to natural enemies. Azamax™ is one of the most commercialized biopesticides in Brazil, but little is known about its effects on non-target insects such as Ceraeochrysa claveri, a non-target insect that is economically important as a pest predator, used in this study. To evaluate the toxic effects of azadirachtin on fitness and ovarian development, a total of 450 C. claveri larvae were exposed by ingestion to subdoses (36 mg/L (0.3%) and 60 mg/L (0.5%) of azadirachtin for 15 days and after that, biological parameters and ovarian development were analyzed. The doses tested corresponded to the minimum and maximum concentrations used in the field. The results demonstrated that both tested doses of the biopesticide significantly reduced survival rates, delayed and extended larval and pupal development times, caused malformations in the body, altered the ultrastructure of adult ovaries, and induced cell death in ovarian follicles. Azamax™, a biopesticide marketed as a reduced-risk insecticide, was shown to have detrimental effects on the lifespan and ovarian development of C. claveri.

Cymbopogon nardus (citronella) essential oil (EO) has been widely used in the cosmetic and food industry due to its repellent and fumigant properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate its effects on the life cycle and midgut morphology of the natural predator Ceraeochrysa claveri. Larvae were fed on sugarcane borer eggs (Diatraea saccharalis) pretreated with citronella EO solutions (1–100 µg/mL in methanol, 5 s) or solvent and air-dried at room temperature for 30 min. Larval and pupal stage duration, the percentage of emergence of the insect, and malformed insects were recorded. One day after adults emerged from their cocoons, adult insects were used to obtain their midgut and analyzed using light microscopy. The chemical composition of C. nardus EO revealed that citronellal (25.3%), citronellol (17.9%), geraniol (11.6%), elemol (6.5%), δ-cadinone (3.6%), and germacrene D (3.4%) were the predominant compounds. Exposure to the EO produced a significant change in development duration for third instar and prepupa of the insect. The observed alterations in the lifecycle included prepupae with no cocoon formation, dead pupa inside the cocoon, and malformed adults. Several injuries in the midgut epithelium of exposed adults were registered, such as detachment of columnar cells leaving only swollen regenerative cells fixed on the basement membrane, and the formation of epithelial folds. In summary, these data suggest that C. nardus oil has adverse effects on the life cycle and midgut morphology of a beneficial predator.

Background: In the search for alternative tools for integrated pest management, azadirachtin, a botanical insecticide, has been used with the most promising activity against Spodoptera spp., but the mechanism of cytotoxicity on reproductive organs remains unclear. Spodoptera eridania (Stoll, 1782) is a polyphagous pest with great economic importance that has become an important target to elucidate the action of azadirachtin on the reproductive organs of insect pests, helping to understand the deleterious effects caused by its exposure. This study evaluated the effects of chronic exposure to azadirachtin on the morphology and ultrastructure of S. eridania larval testes as well as larval development.Results: Azadirachtin exposure (6 or 18 mg a.i. L⁻¹) caused a progressive increase in cumulative mortality and reduced gain in body mass after 5 days. Testicular structure indicated a reduction in their size with internal morphological changes such as spermatogonia, spermatogonial, spermatocytes and spermatid cysts in degeneration. The occurrence of cell death in germ and somatic cells was evidenced by the TUNEL technique. Electron microscopy revealed changes in cystic cells, such as cytoplasmic membrane rupture and cytoplasmic vacuolization. Chromatin compaction, changes in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex cisternae were observed in germ cells. Apoptotic bodies occurred between germ cell cysts.Conclusion: Azadirachtin damaged the testes of S. eridania larvae, and these changes compromised spermatogenesis and consequently the development of the reproductive potential of this specimen, making azadirachtin a promising botanical insecticide for application in integrated pest management programs. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

The study combines a range of light and electron microscopy methods to access variation in secretion and ultrastructure in the secretory canals in the above- and belowground stems of Anacardium humile, which here serves as a model system. The aboveground stem canals show epithelial cells with ultrastructural characteristics typical of cells active in secretion, while in the belowground stems, the subcellular characteristics are typical of cells with low rates of metabolism. The secretory canals of the belowground stems show uniformity in size and shape, a large central vacuole, a cytoplasm reduced to a thin layer at the cell periphery, and a reduced population of organelles. The aboveground stem canals had voluminous nuclei with evident nucleoli, a very dense cytoplasm with free ribosomes, polyribosomes, mitochondria with developed cristae, and ellipsoid plastids with electron-opaque droplets surrounded by a periplastid reticulum. The vacuoles were of different sizes and often had membranous contents and the dictyosomes were very developed with dilated ends to the cisternae, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and numerous vesicles. The results show that particularities in above- and belowground environment have significant implications for ultrastructural morphology and functioning of secretory canals in the stems of A. humile.

A Entomologia é a ciência que se dedica a estudar os insetos, pequenos invertebrados incluídos na classe Insecta (Hexapoda: Arthropoda). Estes se constituem no grupo de seres vivos com maior abundância e diversificação no planeta terra. Sabe-se que a Entomologia vem sendo alvo de interesse desde a Grécia antiga, expandindo-se progressivamente em todo o mundo na idade média, moderna e contemporânea. No que diz respeito aos dias atuais, verifica-se a existência de um grande salto qualitativo e quantitativo no entorno da construção de conhecimentos dessa área, o que proporcionou a sua consolidação como uma ciência autônoma, tendo contribuições nos campos da morfologia, fisiologia, etologia, ecologia, bem como, o apoio da genética, biofísica e bioquímica. Esse progresso está intimamente associado ao desenvolvimento de grupos de estudos e criação de programas de pós-graduação nas universidades em todo o mundo, inclusive no Brasil, os quais fomentam as pesquisas e produções nos diversos aspectos relacionado a Entomologia. Diante deste cenário, a presente obra intitulada “Coletânea Nacional sobre Entomologia 3” se constitui em mais uma iniciativa para difundir pesquisas no que tange aos insetos em todos os seus aspectos básicos e aplicados, abrangendo 20 capítulos escritos por pesquisadores de diversas áreas do Brasil. No capítulo “SCOLYTINAE (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) EM TRÊS FRAGMENTOS FLORESTAIS DA REGIÃO DE MOGI GUAÇU, SP” Silva e colaboradores estudaram a composição dos representante da subfamília Scolytinae, em três fragmentos florestais da região do planalto central paulista de Mogi Guaçu, São Paulo, visando fornecer subsídios para auxiliar o monitoramento ambiental, utilizando esse grupo de insetos como indicador ecológico. Grossi e Conte em “COMPOSIÇÃO DE BORBOLETAS FRUGÍVORAS (LEPIDOPTERA, NYMPHALIDAE) EM ÁREAS URBANA E RURAL DO MUNICÍPIO DE MANDAGUAÇÚ - PARANÁ – BRASIL” coletaram e analisaram a abundância e a riqueza de espécies de borboletas frugívoras em dois fragmentos de área urbana e dois fragmentos de área rural do município de Mandaguaçú, no estado do Paraná, buscando verificar e comparar a diversidade desse grupo de insetos em diferentes fragmentos. De autoria de Silva, Rodrigues e Maia, o capítulo “PRIMEIROS REGISTROS DE INSETOS GALHADORES (INSECTA, DIPTERA, CECIDOMYIIDAE) NA SERRA DO MENDANHA, RIO DE JANEIRO – RJ” discute sobre os Cecidomyiidae galhadores na Serra do Mendanha no Rio de Janeiro, apresenta as novas ocorrências das espécies para o município, e traz um compilado de dados sobre as localidades em que essas espécies já foram registradas. Silva, Celestino e Costa no capítulo “INFLUÊNCIA DO SISTEMA DE CULTIVO DE ALFACE SOBRE A DIVERSIDADE DA ENTOMOFAUNA” caracterizaram a distribuição da fauna de insetos em área de manejo orgânico e convencional com plantio de alface no povoado Flexeiras em Arapiraca, Alagoas. No capítulo intitulado “MANEJO AGROECOLÓGICO DE MOSCAS-DAS-FRUTAS EM GOIABEIRAS (PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L.) NO CEARÁ” Azevedo discorre sobre métodos de controles agroecológicos, como o controle cultural, comportamental, mecânico, físico e biológico conservativo para o manejo de moscas-das-frutas. Em “TÉCNICA PARA AVALIAÇÃO DA EFETIVIDADE DE FUNGOS ENTOMOPATOGÊNICOS NA REDUÇÃO DA POPULAÇÃO DE MOSCAS-DAS-FRUTAS EM CONDIÇÕES DE CAMPO” Silva e colaboradores descreveram uma técnica desenvolvida pela Embrapa Amapá para avaliar a efetividade de fungos entomopatogênicos na redução de sua população em condições de campo. Pimentel e colaboradores em “SUSCETIBILIDADE DE HÍBRIDOS DE MILHO BT A SITOTROGA CEREALELLA (LEPIDOPTERA: GELECHIIDAE) E PERDA DE PESO CAUSADA PELA INFESTAÇÃO” avaliaram a suscetibilidade de híbridos de milho Bt ao desenvolvimento de S. cerealella e a redução de peso em grãos oriunda da infestação. No capítulo “CRISOPÍDEOS: INTERFACE ENTRE BIOLOGIA E AMBIENTE AGRÍCOLA” Scudeler e colaboradores caracterizaram os crisopídeos, insetos pertencentes à família Chrysopidae, através de uma documentação de suas principais características durante seu ciclo de vida, englobando fase de ovo, larva, pupa e adulto, bem como, sua ocorrência em diferentes plantas com interesse econômico, e, apresentam as aplicações destes insetos em ensaios ecotoxicológicos. Azevedo, Macêdo e Evangelista Júnior discutem no capítulo “PRAGAS DO SAPOTIZEIRO E SPONDIAS” sobre as principais pragas destas culturas, contendo informações baseadas em trabalhos de pesquisa de instituições brasileiras, bem como em observações nas regiões produtoras. No capítulo “TRATAMENTO DE SEMENTES DE ALGODÃO COM INSETICIDAS PARA O CONTROLE DE PRAGAS INICIAIS” Trindade e colaboradores analisaram diferentes inseticidas no tratamento de sementes para o controle das pragas iniciais e a influência desses inseticidas no desenvolvimento inicial da cultura do algodão. Em “FLUTUAÇÃO POPULACIONAL E...