African dung beetle Onthophagus gazella Fabricius (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) esterase isozymes

African beetles Onthophagus gazella from both sexes were analyzed by electrophoresis for an investigation of esterase isozymes using alpha-naphthyl propionate and methylumbelliferyl propionate as substrates. Only one of the esterases (Est. 6) reacted with one of the substrates (alpha-naphthyl propionate). Six areas of activity were found, two of them being polymorphic (Est. 3 and Est. 4). For presence of Est. 3, 337 individuals were analyzed, including descendants of 32 controlled crossings: two alleles were identified, whose frequencies are Est. 3A = 0.447 and Est. 3B = 0.553. The population is in equilibrium for this locus (qui-square = 4.18; 0.2 > P > 0.1). For Est. 4, 338 individuals, descendants of 32 controlled crossings, were analysed. In this case, three alleles were identified whose frequencies are: Est. 4A = 0.277; Est. 4B = 0.661; and Est. 4C = 0.062. The population is not in equilibrium for this locus (qui-square = 40.259; p < 0.001). Two esterases were detected only in the pupal stage and another one in larvae. Of the 23 loci analyzed in these insects up to now, 3 are polymorphic (13%), which indicates very low variability in the population here studied.

Phyllophaga and Related Species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Collected in Black-light Traps in Alabama Pastures

This study reports the occurrence of the adults of Phyllophaga spp. and other major scarab species in three different geographic regions of Alabama. Thirty-three species of Phyllophaga were found during the trapping study. Five species accounted for 97% of the specimens of Phyllophaga trapped in Marion Junction: P. crinita (Burmeister), P. forbesi (Glasgow), P. hirtiventris (Horn), P. mississippiensis Davis, and P. perlonga Davis. Two species accounted for 55% of the specimens trapped in Camp Hill: P. micans (Knoch) and P. hirticula (Knoch). At Winfield, P. crenulata (Froelich), P. ephilida (Say), P. latifrons LeConte, P. micans, and P. quercus (Knoch) were the most abundant species, making up 49% of the specimens. Of these 11 most abundant species, 5 species were collected in spring (March, April and/or May): P. crenulata, P. hirticula, P. micans, P. mississippiensis, and P. perlonga. Phyllophaga hirtiventris adults were collected in late May–June. Adults of P. crinita were collected in June and early July, and were abundant in each year, suggesting that the species has an annual life cycle in Alabama. Phyllophaga ephilida, P. forbesi, P. forbesi, P. latifrons and P. quercus adults were collected in mid-summer (June, July and/or August). Six species of Phyllophaga found during this study have not been previously reported from Alabama: P. bipartita Horn, P. congrua (LeConte), P. hirtiventris, P. mississippiensis, P. praetermissa (Horn), and P. soror Davis. Cyclocephala lurida Bland, Dyscinetus morator (F.), Euetheola humilis rugiceps (LeConte), and Ligyrus gibbosus gibbosus (DeGeer), other potential pests of grasses, were abundant in the black-light traps. The dung beetle, Onthophagus gazella F., an African species that was purposely introduced into the United States, was abundant at all three sites.

Efeito de carrapaticidas/inseticidas "pour-on" sobre adultos do besouro coprófago africano Onthophagus gazella Fabr. (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae)

Em 1989, o besouro Onthophagus gazella Fabr. foi importado dos Estados Unidos, para compor o programa de controle integrado de helmintos e da mosca-dos-chifres, Haematobia irritans L. Por não se ter conhecimento de que os piretróides ou os seus resíduos, quando eliminados pelas fezes, poderiam estar afetando o besouro africano, testaram-se alguns inseticidas "pour-on" que vêm sendo utilizados no combate à mosca-dos-chifres. Quinze animais machos, Nelore com cerca de 24 meses de idade, foram distribuídos, aleatoriamente, em cinco grupos de três animais cada um. Um desses grupos não foi tratado, servindo como controle. Os demais foram tratados, respectivamente, com Alfametrina, Cialotrina, Deltametrina e Flumetrina. Amostras de fezes (cerca de 100 gramas), coletadas diretamente do reto de cada animal, foram colocadas, separadamente, em recipientes de vidro de 500 ml e mantidas em laboratório. Em cada um destes recipientes foram colocados 10 adultos de O. gazella, para avaliar sua sobrevivência após 1, 4, 8, 11, 15 e 18 dias do tratamento dos animais. Observou-se que ocorreu mortalidade de besouros significativamente superior (P<0,01) em todos os produtos utilizados quando comparados ao grupo controle e, que a mortalidade foi maior até o 8º dia após o tratamento dos animais. Após este período a mortalidade de besouros decresceu apesar de continuar sendo significativamente superior (P<0,01) à do grupo testemunha até o 18º dia. Observou-se também que não houve diferença significativa (P>0,01) na mortalidade de besouros entre os produtos utilizados.