Biological and Ecological Consequences of Diolcogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Parasitizing Agaraea minuta (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) and the Effects on Two Costus (Costaceae) Plant Species in Brazil

Authors

  • Wagner De Souza Tavares
  • Geraldo Salgado-Neto
  • Jesusa Crisostomo Legaspi
  • Francisco De Sousa Ramalho
  • José Eduardo Serrão
  • José Cola Zanuncio

Abstract

Costus spicatus (Jacq.) Sw. and Costus spiralis (Jacq.) Roscoe var. spiralis (Costaceae) are economically important plants due to their pharmacological and medicinal properties and ornamental value. These plants are natives from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest and are fed upon by Agaraea minuta Schaus, 1892 (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). This study describes the damage done by A. minuta on C. spicatus and C. spiralis and the biological and ecological aspects of parasitism of A. minuta by Diolcogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Twenty stems of C. spicatus and C. spiralis with 100 last-instar caterpillars of A. minuta, were collected per plant in each of 2 years. The stem heights (F, P > 0.05), leaf lengths (F, P > 0.05), leaf widths (F, P > 0.05) and the number of leaves per stem (F, P > 0.05) of both plant species; number of pupae obtained from caterpillars of A. minuta (F, P > 0.05), adult emergence of this defoliator (F, P > 0.05) and of Diolcogaster sp. (F, P > 0.05) were similar during the 2 study periods. Agaraea minuta fed on C. spicatus and C. spiralis, and Diolcogaster sp. was shown to be a parasitoid suppressor of populations of this defoliator.

Resumo: Costus spicatus (Jacq.) Sw. e Costus spiralis (Jacq.) Roscoe var. spiralis (Costaceae) são plantas economicamente importantes devido às suas propriedades farmacológicas e medicinais e valor ornamental. Essas plantas são nativas da Mata Atlântica brasileira e alimento para Agaraea minuta Schaus, 1892 (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). Esse estudo descreve o dano por A. minuta sobre C. spicatus e C. spiralis e aspectos biológicos e ecológicos de seu parasitismo por Diolcogaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Vinte hastes de C. spicatus e C. spiralis, com 100 lagartas de último estádio de A. minuta, foram coletadas por planta em cada um de dois anos. A altura das hastes (F, P > 0,05), comprimento das folhas (F, P > 0,05), largura das folhas (F, P > 0,05) e o número de folhas por haste (F, P > 0,05) de ambas as espécies de plantas; número de pupas obtidas de lagartas de A. minuta (F, P > 0,05), emergência de adultos desse desfolhador (F, P > 0,05) e de Diolcogaster sp. (F, P > 0,05) foram semelhantes durante os dois períodos de estudo. Agaraea minuta pode se alimentar de plantas de C. spicatus e C. spiralis, e Diolcogaster sp. mostrou ser um parasitóide supressor de populações desse desfolhador.

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Published

2012-12-01

Issue

Vol. 95, No. 4 (December 2012)

Section

Research Papers

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