The stingless bee Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) is an important pollinator for various crops, but constitutes an occasional pest of other plant species since it causes injury to leaves, stems, flowers and fruits while collecting nest materials. The aim of the present study was to determine the damage caused by T. spinipes to a broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica, Brassicaceae) growing on an organic farm. A significant number of plants (72.5 %) presented damaged inflorescences, while 39% of all of the inflorescences suffered some degree of injury. The activities of T. spinipes caused scarifications on the stems of the inflorescences, and these typically evolved to epidermal cicatrices up to 10 mm wide. In some cases, the lesions were sufficiently deep to cause partial destruction of the vascular tissues, and this lead to thinner (< 5 mm diameter) floral stems that may collapse. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the attack of broccoli plants by T. spinipes. The results obtained should serve to highlight the possibility that stingless bees could be responsible for direct and/or indirect damage to vegetable crops, and to stimulate the development of control strategies for these incidental pests.

Notifica-se a ocorrência de Pachycoris torridus (Scopoli, 1772) (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) em Igaci (Alagoas), atacando a cultura de pinhão-manso, Jatropha curcas L. O inseto, até então não constatado na região, assume relevância econômica pela natureza dos danos, ocasionando infestação em 100% das plantas.

The occurrence of Pachycoris torridus (Scopoli) (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) in Igaci (in the state of Alagoas, Brazil), is observed attacking the physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) The insect, until then not verified in the region, takes economic relevancy considering the nature of damage, causing infestation in 100% plants.

Extratos vegetais orgânicos e óleos emulsionáveis de Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae) (nim) foram estudados com o objetivo de avaliar seus efeitos no controle de fêmeas ingurgitadas de Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1887) em laboratório. Foram utilizados extratos orgânicos hexânicos e alcoólicos a 2% (peso/volume), em testes de imersão, durante 5 minutos, preparados com sementes, solubilizados em dimetilsulfóxido (DMSO) a 1%. O experimento foi inteiramente casualizado, sendo constituído por 6 tratamentos e 5 repetições, cada uma delas representada por 5 carrapatos. O grupo controle consistiu de fêmeas sem tratamento. Com base nos resultados deste trabalho, pode-se indicar que os tratamentos extrato de semente (hexano) e óleo emulsionável I¹, em concentração a 2%, possuem significativo potencial adjuvante de controle do carrapato bovino, pois ocasionam a mortalidade nos primeiros dias após o tratamento e interferem na reprodução, mostrando ser uma alternativa aos carrapaticidas normalmente utilizados.

Organic plant extracts and emulsified oil of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae) (neem) were studied to evaluate its effects in control of engorged females of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1887) in the laboratory. Hexane and alcoholic organic extracts, 2% (weight/volume) were used in tests of immersion for 5 minutes, prepared with seeds, solubilized in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) to 1%. The experiment was entirely randomized, consisting of 6 treatments and 5 replicates, each represented by 5 ticks. Control groups consisted of untreated females. Based on the results of this work, we can indicate that the seed extract (hexanic fraction) and óleo emulsionável I1 concentration to 2% have significant adjuvant potential to control the cattle tick, because, cause the mortality in the first days after the treatment and interfere in the reproduction, showing to be an alternative to acaricides normally used.

Se evaluó la eficiencia de varios extractos vegetales como controladores de la garrapata Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus en condiciones de laboratorio. Hembras ingurgitadas se recolectaron de bovinos y se aislaron en cajas de petri. Se emplearon extractos orgánicos alcohólicos al 1% (p/v) de semillas de Annona muricata (Annonaceae), flores de Syzygium malaccensis (Myrtaceae), hojas de Cymbopogon citratus (Poaceae), hojas de Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) y extracto hexánico de semillas de A. indica. El testigo consistió en hembras sin tratar y tratadas con agua destilada y esterilizada y dimetilsulfóxido (DMSO) a una concentración de 1%. El extracto de semillas de A. muricata mostró tener mayor poder acaricida, con 100% de eficiencia, seguido de los extractos de flores de S. malaccensis (75% y 57,25%) y semillas de A. indica (65% y 38,50%). Hubo 100% en la reducción de la eclosión de las larvas nacidas a partir de hembras tratadas con extracto de semillas de A. muricata.

The efficacy of various plant extracts in the control of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was evaluated in the laboratory. Engorged females were collected from cattle and were isolated in Petri dishes. Organic alcoholic extracts at 1% (weight/volume) were used from seeds of Annona muricata (Annonaceae), flowers of Syzygium malaccensis (Myrtaceae), leaves of Cymbopogon citratus (Poaceae), leaves of Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) and hexane extract 1% (weight/volume) of A. indica seeds. The control groups consisted of females either untreated or treated with distilled and sterile water and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at a concentration of 1%. The extract of A. muricata seeds showed the highest acaricide power, with 100% efficacy, followed by flower extracts of S. malaccensis (75% and 57.25%) and seeds of A. indica (65% and 38.50%). There was a 100% reduction in the eclosion of larvae from eggs of females treated with the seed extract of A. muricata.

Extratos vegetais foram estudados com o objetivo de avaliar suas eficiências no controle de Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1887) em laboratório. Fêmeas ingurgitadas de carrapato foram coletadas de bovinos e mantidas em placas de Petri. Foram utilizados extratos orgânicos alcoólicos 2% (peso/volume) de sementes de Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae) (graviola); flores de Syzygium malaccensis (L.) (Myrtaceae) (jambo); folhas de Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf (Poaceae) (capim-santo); folhas de Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae) (nim); e extrato hexânico na mesma concentração de A. indica (sementes). Os grupos-controle foram compostos por fêmeas sem tratamento e fêmeas tratadas com água destilada e esterilizada e dimetilsulfóxido (DMSO) a uma concentração de 1%. O extrato de A. muricata apresentou o maior poder acaricida, com eficácia de 100%, seguido dos extratos de S. malaccensis (75 e 59,24%) e A. indica (65 e 38,49%). Houve 100% de redução na eclosão das larvas quando se utilizou o extrato de sementes de A. muricata.

Plant extracts were studied to evaluate its efficiency in the control of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1887) in laboratory. Engorged female ticks were collected from the cattle, kept in Petri dishes. Organic alcoholic extracts 2% (weight/volume) were used: seeds of Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae) (soursop); flowers of Syzygium malaccensis (L.) (Myrtaceae) (iamb), leaves of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf (Poaceae) (holy grass), leaves of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Meliaceae) (neem) and hexane extract 2% (weight/volume) of A. indica (seeds). The control groups consisted of untreated females and females treated with distilled water and sterile and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) a concentration of 1%. The extract of A. muricata (seed) had the highest mortality with acaricide activity and 100% efficacy followed by extracts of S. malaccensis (75 and 59.24%) and A. indica (65 and 38.49%). The seed extract of A. muricata reduced 100% larvae hatch.