RESUMO
The giant cicada Quesada gigas (Olivier, 1790) (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) is a major pest of coffee plants in Brazil. To ensure the rational management and ecological equilibrium, information about the behavior, dispersion, and reproduction of giant cicada is fundamental. The present work was conducted in an area of 97 ha planted with Coffea arabica L. to investigate adult dispersion as well as mating and oviposition behaviors of Q. gigas. A sound trap was placed at a 'release point' used for the attraction, marking, and release of adults in the area. The recapture of insects was performed with the same sound trap positioned at 20 points distributed at 100, 250, 400, and 1,000 m from the release point. The highest recapture rates of Q. gigas were observed at 100 m from the release point, and the lowest recapture rates were observed at 1,000 m. The presence of Eucalyptus plants in the area apparently influenced dispersion, as high recapture rates were observed at the sites close to Eucalyptus plants. One copulation of Q. gigas lasted 41.6 ± 0.43 min, and the period of a single oviposition bout was 30.0 ± 0.20 min. Quesada gigas adult longevity in the field was estimated to be 49 d. Both males and females were observed performing multiple matings.
Assuntos
Coffea , Hemípteros , Animais , Brasil , Café , Feminino , Masculino , OviposiçãoRESUMO
Some species of large cicadas (Hemiptera) emerge in huge numbers during particular periods, and thus become an abundant food source for several vertebrate species that dwell in the same areas. I record here a small assemblage of six bird species that preyed on the season's first giant cicadas (Quesada gigas) from early September to mid November 2007 in an urban park of Campinas, São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. The Plumbeous Kite (Ictinia plumbea) was the most ubiquitous cicada predator. It waited high on perches or patrolled on wing and hunted adult cicadas only. Three cuckoo species (Crotophaga ani, Guira guira, and Piaya cayana) foraged on cicadas both on vegetation and on the ground, the first one also taking nymphs that emerged from a pond bank. The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) preyed mostly on nymphs on the pond bank, although it also preyed on adult cicadas that fell in the water, which was the case of the Green Heron (Butorides striata) as well. With the exception of the Plumbeous Kite, which may specialize on cicadas during the breeding season, the remainder birds behaved as opportunistic predators on this seasonal and abundant food source.
Algumas espécies de cigarras (Hemiptera) emergem em grande número durante certos períodos, assim constituindo um recurso alimentar abundante para diversas espécies de vertebrados que ocorrem nas mesmas áreas. Registro aqui um pequeno conjunto de seis espécies de aves que apresaram as primeiras cigarras gigantes (Quesada gigas) da temporada, entre início de setembro a meados de novembro de 2007 em um parque urbano de Campinas, São Paulo. O gavião-sovi (Ictinia plumbea) foi o predador mais ubíquo, espreitando em ramos ou patrulhando em vôo e apresando apenas cigarras adultas. Três espécies de Cuculidae (Crotophaga ani, Guira guira e Piaya cayana) caçaram cigarras adultas na vegetação ou no chão, o primeiro também apresando ninfas emergentes na margem de um lago. O frango-d'água (Gallinula chloropus) apresou principalmente ninfas que emergiam na margem do lago, embora também apanhasse adultos caídos na água, caso também do socozinho (Butorides striata). Com exceção do gavião-sovi, que pode se especializar em cigarras durante a temporada de reprodução, as demais aves comportaram-se como predadores oportunistas deste abundante recurso sazonal.