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The expansion of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), including biological control, has had several positive consequences for the agricultural environment and participants in the production chain. To enable successful operation and applications of biological control, production of insects used for rearing natural enemies (parasitoids and predators) must be optimized to reduce time and costs and improve production both qualitatively and quantitatively. The present study evaluated the effect of wheat varieties, the main component of artificial diets for Ephestia kuehniella, on the reproductive performance and biological parameters of this flour moth, which is used for mass production of Trichogramma spp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and other parasitoids and predators. Four varieties of wheat were compared: BRS 327, BRS Marcante, BRS Parrudo, and KBR, with and without the addition of corn E. kuehniella reared on 97% BRS 327 wheat flour + 3% nutritional yeast had the best biological parameters and substitution of corn for about half of the wheat increased the number of eggs per female.

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Studies of insect feeding behavior are useful in different areas of entomology such as plant resistance, biology, and insecticide efficacy. For chewing insects, this kind of technique is well established, but for sap-sucking insects, especially tiny ones such as whiteflies, aphids, and psyllids, these tests can be laborious. Manipulation is difficult and can damage the plant, affecting the results. We describe here three types of cages for tests with small insects, one for seedlings in pots, a second for larger plants or plants in the field, and a third for caging insects on part of a leaf. These cages have been useful for different types of studies in addition to feeding behavior and can facilitate research with small phytophagous sucking insects.

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Huanglongbing (HLB), the most destructive citrus disease worldwide, was first recorded in Brazil in 2004, and since then, more than 50 million trees identified with this disease have been eliminated. The disease is managed mainly by controlling the psyllid vector Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, 1908 (Hemiptera: Liviidae). Although the presence of the insect in commercial citrus groves is low, HLB infection rates increase in areas bordering the groves. The disease is transmitted by psyllids from host citrus plants in areas outside the managed groves, such as abandoned or organic groves and residential trees, and from orange jasmine plants in urban settings. In order to provide information to support HLB control, this study evaluated the biotic and abiotic variables that affect the dynamics of D. citri populations after releases of the parasitoid wasp Tamarixia radiata (Waterston, 1922) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in external sources of HLB inocula. The study was divided into two parts. After releasing the parasitoids in non-commercial areas, we determined the following: (a) the variables that significantly affected the number of nymphs collected on shoots in the same non-commercial area; (b) the variables that significantly affected the number of adult psyllids collected in a neighboring commercial citrus area. Our results indicated that the number of nymphs in external areas was affected only by the host plant and rainfall. However, periodic parasitoid releases significantly reduced the number of adult psyllids collected in the commercial area. The results indicate that the release of parasitoids in external sources of inocula has the potential to maximize actions for D. citri control, contributing to the reduction of psyllid populations in commercial areas. Consequently, this strategy may help to manage the disease infection without an increase in insecticide use.

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One method for controlling the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, the vector of the putative causal agent of Huanglongbing, uses the parasitoid Tamarixia radiata (Waterston). However, the general intensive use of insecticides has reduced the numbers of this parasitoid. This study evaluated the effect of the residual action of 24 insecticides on T. radiata and also determined the differential toxicity of insecticides to D. citri and T. radiata, using three bioassays. In the first, when adults of the parasitoid were exposed to residues of the 24 insecticides, ten were considered short-life (class 1), six slightly persistent (class 2), five moderately persistent (class 3), and three insecticides were considered persistent (class 4), under the IOBC/WPRS classification system. The second bioassay evaluated the sublethal concentrations of the persistent insecticides (formetanate, dimethoate, spinosad). Increasing the concentrations of the insecticides increased the number that were classified as persistent. In the third bioassay, evaluation of the differential toxicity of eight insecticides to the ACP and the parasitoid showed that chlorpyrifos and bifenthrin were more harmful to T. radiata. Therefore, these two insecticides are not recommended for application at the time of parasitoid release. Cypermethrin, imidacloprid, and dimethoate caused higher mortality of D. citri and are most often recommended in IPM programs. The choice of an insecticide for the control of citrus pests must be made with care, aiming to preserve the natural enemies in the ecosystem, and thereby contribute to the success of biological control.

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AIM: To assess the computed tomography (CT) findings of solitary cavitary lesions which could potentially aid in differentiating malignant from non-malignant lung disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of patients diagnosed with a solitary lung cavity at two university hospitals, who underwent multidetector CT examinations of the chest between 2012 and 2014, was performed. Lesions were evaluated for maximum diameter, maximum wall thickness, and associated findings. Statistical analyses were then conducted and a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated to select the most accurate cut-off value for malignant and non-malignant lesions. RESULTS: CT and clinical records from 96 patients were reviewed. The most frequent aetiologies of non-malignant and malignant lung cavities were mycobacterial infection sequelae (50%, 33/66) and primary lung carcinoma (94%, 28/30), respectively. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found between malignant and non-malignant cases when comparing the averages of maximum wall thickness (15.2 and 7.8 mm, respectively) and maximum diameter of lesions (51 and 35 mm, respectively). The presence of either perilesional consolidation or centrilobular nodules favoured the diagnosis of non-malignant conditions (p<0.05). Maximum wall thicknesses thresholds of ≤7 or ≥24 mm were the most accurate in suggesting non-malignant and malignant aetiologies, respectively. CONCLUSION: Malignant and non-malignant solitary lung cavities differ significantly at CT. Non-malignant lesions tend to exhibit thinner walls, but more perilesional consolidation and centrilobular nodules than malignant lesions. The results reveal that maximum wall thicknesses of ≤7 and ≥24 mm are indicative of non-malignant and malignant disease, respectively.

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Avaliou-se financeiramente um modelo de sistema produtivo de leite produzido em pasto na região Norte Fluminense - RJ. Foi elaborada uma planilha de fluxo de caixa (horizonte de 20 anos), a partir da qual calcularam-se os indicadores: valor presente líquido (VPL a 6 e 10 por cento) e taxa interna de retorno (TIR). Cada fator envolvido nas receitas ou nas despesas do projeto foi submetido à análise de sensibilidade para que fossem identificados aqueles com maiores pesos na redução dos indicadores calculados. Realizou-se simulação de Monte Carlo, visando avaliar a probabilidade de ocorrência para determinados valores financeiros associados ao risco de divergências nos itens do projeto. Os resultados demonstraram viabilidade financeira para o sistema proposto (VPL a 6 e 10 por cento, R$197.880,00 e R$8.067,00, respectivamente, e TIR 10,2 por cento). A rentabilidade foi afetada, em ordem decrescente, pelos fatores: preço do leite, aquisição de vacas nos primeiros anos do projeto, preço das vacas descartadas, mão-de-obra e preço do concentrado para os animais adultos. Os resultados da simulação de Monte Carlo demonstraram elevada probabilidade (39 por cento) de a rentabilidade do projeto ser inferior ao rendimento da poupança, representando alto risco na adoção do sistema.

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Avaliou-se financeiramente um modelo de sistema produtivo de leite produzido em pasto na região Norte Fluminense RJ. Foi elaborada uma planilha de fluxo de caixa (horizonte de 20 anos), a partir da qual calcularam-se os indicadores: valor presente líquido (VPL a 6 e 10%) e taxa interna de retorno (TIR). Cada fator envolvido nas receitas ou nas despesas do projeto foi submetido à análise de sensibilidade para que fossem identificados aqueles com maiores pesos na redução dos indicadores calculados. Realizou-se simulação de Monte Carlo, visando avaliar a probabilidade de ocorrência para determinados valores financeiros associados ao risco de divergências nos itens do projeto. Os resultados demonstraram viabilidade financeira para o sistema proposto (VPL a 6 e 10%, R$197.880,00 e R$8.067,00, respectivamente, e TIR 10,2%). A rentabilidade foi afetada, em ordem decrescente, pelos fatores: preço do leite, aquisição de vacas nos primeiros anos do projeto, preço das vacas descartadas, mão-de-obra e preço do concentrado para os animais adultos. Os resultados da simulação de Monte Carlo demonstraram elevada probabilidade (39%) de a rentabilidade do projeto ser inferior ao rendimento da poupança, representando alto risco na adoção do sistema.(AU)

The study aimed to evaluate milk production under grazing system in the North Region of Rio de Janeiro State. The net present worth (NPWs of 6 and 10%) and internal rate of return (IRR) were calculated from the cash flow chart on a 20-year basis. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of the income or expense factors on the net present worth (6 and 10%) and the internal rate of return. A Monte Carlo Method was carried out to evaluate the probabilities of occurrence for certain financial values associated to the risk of deviation in the project itens. The results showed financial feasibility for the proposed system (NPWs of 6% and 10% R$197,880.00 and R$8,067.00, respectively; IRR 10.2%). The profitability was affected in decreasing order by the following factors: price of milk, purchase of cows in the first years of the project, price of culled cows, labor and the price of the concentrate for adult animals. The results of the Monte Carlo simulation indicated high probabilities (39%) of the profitability to be smaller than the interest of the saving account, showing high economic risk of the production system.(AU)

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