Aspectos da biologia, captura e caracterização de Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpintero & Dellapé (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) em eucalipto

Abstract

The bronze bug Thaumastocoris peregrinus is originated in Australia and was detected in Brazil in 2008, causing damages in eucalyptus plantations. The bug sucks the sap, mostly of the oldest leaves, where are formed chlorotic spots that, later, become bronze spots. In extreme cases, deleafing can occur. The works on the behavior of the insect are still few, considering the registers of damages in eucalyptus plantations. In the face of that, the biology of the T. peregrinus was evaluated in ten different materials of eucalyptus, planted commercially in Rio Grande do Sul, with the goal of knowing which would be the preferred in feeding the bronze bug. Other than that, as there are no registers in the world about the eating behavior of the T. peregrinus using the electronic monitoring technique. 98 insects were evaluated, where it was sought to determine some wave patterns that will serve as basis for future studies about the plants' resistance to the bronze bug. Also, with the use of different colors for adhesive traps, it was sought to determine which would be the best color to be used in the monitoring of T. peregrinus in eucalyptus plantations. Out of the materials offered for the T. peregrinus to eat, Eucalyptus dunnii was the one that conferred greatest longevity, number adults, eggs and their viability. The white and yellow colored traps are efficient for the monitoring of field infestations and ought to be installed close to the trees' crowns, seven meters high and on the edge of the plots. Through the electronic monitoring technique, it was possible register four wave patterns, similar to those already existing for aphids, leafhoppers and white flies, signaling to be a promising technique to register the resistance of different eucalyptus' materials to the bronze bug.