First Occurrence of Trichogramma bruni Nagaraja (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) Parasitizing Eggs of Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in Brazil.

The occurrence of Trichogramma bruni Nagaraja (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is described for the first time parasitizing eggs of the velvetbean caterpillar Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in Lapa, Paraná, Brazil. This parasitoid was successfully kept in the laboratory on eggs of the velvetbean caterpillar; previously, this species was mainly associated with forest and fruit trees environments, although snap beans and other annual crops were also recorded as hosting lepidopteran eggs parasitized by T. bruni. This is the sixth Trichogramma species recorded parasitizing eggs of A. gemmatalis on soybeans in Brazil.

Temperature-Dependent Parasitism, Survival, and Longevity of Five Species of Trichogramma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) Associated with Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma Westwood play an important role in the control of the velvetbean caterpillar Anticarisa gemmatalis Hübner in soybean crops in Southern Brazil. The effectiveness of Trichogramma species as biocontrol agents is dependent of several factors, but their adaptation to the climatic conditions of the region where they will be released is one of the most important. In this context, this study evaluated the effects of five constant temperatures ranging from 14 to 30°C on parasitism, age-specific survival, progeny production and longevity of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman & Platner, Trichogramma acacioi Brun, Moraes & Soares, Trichogramma lasallei Pinto, and Trichogramma rojasi Nagaraja & Nagarkatti. We demonstrate that temperature differently affected the species of Trichogramma investigated when using eggs of the velvetbean caterpillar. We also demonstrate that T. pretiosum and T. atopovirilia are better adapted to a wide range of temperatures than the other species evaluated, and are therefore better suited as biocontrol agents for applied biological control programs of A. gemmatalis.

Alkylphenols in sediments of the Atlantic Rainforest south-west of São Paulo, Brazil.

Concentrations of technical 4-nonylphenol, 4-n-octylphenol, and 4-tert-octylphenol were investigated in surface water and sediment samples of four reservoirs southwest of São Paulo. Three of them (Takimoto 1, Takimoto 2, Pedro) were established in intensively cropped landscapes, one (Morro Grande) was surrounded by dense forests. Total alkylphenol concentrations in sediments generally ranged between 1 and 10 microgkg-1dw with 4-tert-octylphenol being the dominant alkylphenol. Because 4-tert-octylphenol concentration patterns at Takimoto 2, Pedro, and in the Morro Grande forest reservoir were found to be quite similar (upto 5 microgkg-1dw), this value is considered as the ubiquitous background level. In contrast, the Takimoto 1 sediments showed significantly higher 4-tert-octylphenol concentrations, possibly due to accelerated inputs from adjacent intensively cropped fields. Analysed alkylphenols were not detectable in water samples.