Abstract The risk of pregnancy loss in mares leads to the use of exogenous hormones to help pregnancy maintenance. The objective was to evaluate the proportion of thyroid hormones and steroids in neonates, in the following postpartum period, born to mares fed with synthetic progesterone and to verify the existence of a correlation between the level of progesterone between mother and neonate. Twenty-seven mares and their foals were used. The animals were divided into 5 experimental groups: group 1 (control, without hormonal supplementation), group 2 (random samples fed to 120 days of pregnancy with long-term progesterone), group 3 (mares fed with short-term progesterone as of 280.º day of pregnancy), group 4 (mares fed with long-term progesterone as of 280.º day of pregnancy) and group 5 (mares fed with synthetic hormone [altrenogest] as of 280.º day of pregnancy). The animal’s blood collection took place immediately after parturition for the hormonal measurement. The hormones measured in neonates were total T3, free T4, TSH, progesterone and cortisone. In mares, only levels of progesterone. The groups of neonates showed no difference on levels of total T3, free T4, TSH and progesterone. There was no difference on levels of progesterone in mares among the groups. Neonates from groups 4 and 5 had higher and lower cortisone levels, respectively. No neonate showed clinical change. There was also no correlation between levels of progesterone in mares and foals. Thus, hormonal supplementation with long-term progesterone as of 280 days of pregnancy leds to an increase in the neonate's cortisone levels, in the meantime, supplementation with altrenogest as of 280 days of pregnancy caused a decrease on cortisone levels in foals, despite clinical signs have not been observed on these animals.

Abstract The corn cropping system can influence the natural enemy identity and the number of Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith, 1797 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) individuals infesting the cartridge, ear and stem of this plant. The objectives were to identify the S. frugiperda natural enemies and differences in the number of individuals infesting the cartridge, ear and stem of corn plants under conventional and organic cropping systems, in Brazil after an initial collection of adult males through semiochemical traps. We also evaluated key morphometrical parameters of the larva and factors contributing with the viability of S. frugiperda. A total of 16 and 136 adult males was trapped, and 1,124 and 1,112 larvae was recovered from conventional and organic systems with 4.7 and 6.7% of them parasitized by dipteran and hymenopteran, respectively. Most of the parasitoids recovered had occurrence in both cropping systems, except Cremastinae and Ophion flavidus Brullé, 1846 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), which were recorded only in organic and Campoletis sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) only in conventional corns. The number of parasitoids recovered was similar in corn plant samples between both cropping systems. A total of 152 and 31 larvae was recovered from corn ears under conventional and organic systems, respectively. Doru luteipes (Scudder, 1876) (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) was recovered from all samples under conventional system. The larva length was overall similar between cropping systems. Parasitism by dipteran and hymenopteran, infection by microorganisms, larva mortality by undetermined causes, and differences in viability of S. frugiperda stages were factors contributing with the supression of this pest. The new associations and parasitoids reported represent possibilities of expanding the biological control strategies to manage S. frugiperda in corn crops.

Doru luteipes (SCUDDER, 1876) é um dos principais inimigos naturais da Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), alimentando-se de seus ovos e lagartas pequenas. Para sua conservação é necessária a utilização de inseticidas seletivos a S. frugiperda e inócuos ao predador. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a toxicidade de inseticidas registrados para o controle de S. frugiperda. Foram conduzidos bioensaios com adultos de D. luteipes tratados diretamente com os inseticidas, exposição aos resíduos dos compostos aplicados em placas de vidro e consumo de ovos de S. frugiperda contaminados e ofertados uma, 24 e 48 horas após o tratamento. Os inseticidas foram classificados segundo índices propostos pela IOBC/WPRS. Para os adultos de D. luteipes tratados diretamente com os inseticidas, triflumurom foi inócuo (classe 1); clorfenapir e etofemproxi levemente nocivos (classe 2); teflubenzurom/α-cipermetrina e espinosade moderadamente nocivos (classe 3) e tiametoxam/λ-cialotrina nocivo (classe 4). No bioensaio de exposição de D. luteipes aos resíduos dos inseticidas aplicados em placas de vidro, todos os produtos foram nocivos ao predador, exceto triflumurom que foi levemente nocivo. A sobrevivência de adultos após o consumo de ovos contaminados com tiametoxam/λ-cialotrina foi de 46,7% (levemente nocivo ao predador); os demais inseticidas foram inócuos. Devido à baixa toxicidade do triflumurom a adultos do predador, este composto pode ser recomendado em programas de manejo integrado de pragas visando a preservação dessa espécie de inimigo natural. Os demais produtos devem ser avaliados em casa de vegetação e campo para comprovação de sua toxicidade.

Doru luteipes (SCUDDER, 1876) is considered one of the best natural enemies of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), feeding on their eggs and small caterpillars. For its conservation it is necessary to use selective insecticides to S. frugiperda and harmless to the predator. Therefore, objective of the present work was to evaluate the toxicity of insecticides registered to control of S. frugiperda. It was conducted bioassays with D. luteipes adults treated with insecticides directly by exposure to residues of compounds applied on glass plates and the consumption of eggs of S. frugiperda contaminated and offered each one, 24 and 48 hours after treatment. The insecticides were classified according to indices proposed by IOBC/WPRS. For adults D. luteipes treated directly with insecticides, triflumuron was harmless (class 1); chlorfenapyr and etofenprox as slightly harmful (class 2) teflubenzuron/α-cypermethrin and spinosad moderately harmful (class 3) and thiamethoxan/λ-cyhalothrin harmful (class 4). In bioassay exposure of D. luteipes residues of insecticides applied to glass plates, all products were harmful to the predator, except triflumuron which was considered slightly harmful. The survival of adults after consumption of contaminated eggs was 46.7% for the insecticide tiametoxam/λ-cialotrina considered slightly harmful to the predator. The other insecticides were innocuous. Due to the low toxicity presented by the triflumuron to the D. luteipes adults, this compound can be recommended in programs aimed at integrated pest management the preservation of this natural enemy. All other products must be evaluated in greenhouse and field to prove its toxicity.

Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) passa a maior parte de seu ciclo biológico no interior do colmo da planta hospedeira, onde fica protegida contra a ação dos métodos convencionais de controle. O controle biológico tem sido considerado uma alternativa viável para o controle desta praga em cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.) e milho (Zea mays L.), dois hospedeiros preferenciais. Este trabalho relata a ocorrência no Brasil de Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff) (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) parasitando pupas de D. saccharalis em colmos de plantas de milho. Ele também inclui dados preliminares sobre alguns aspectos biológicos do parasitóide. Uma fêmea de T. howardi foi capaz de produzir até 66 descendentes em uma única pupa do hospedeiro e, aparentemente, não faz distinção entre diferentes idades da pupa. O ciclo de vida do parasitóide foi ao redor de 25,5 dias. A presença do parasitóide no Brasil abre uma nova perspectiva sobre a supressão da broca da cana, considerando os resultados promissores já obtidos em países asiáticos. O inseto é bem adaptado à condição de laboratório, podendo ser produzido em grande número, tornando assim, uma opção adicional para o manejo integrado nas culturas onde D. saccharalis é praga chave, tais como a cana-de-açúcar, milho e sorgo (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench).

Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) spends the largest part of its life cycle inside the stalk of the host plant,which provides protection against the action of conventional control methods. Biological control has been considered a viable alternative to control this pest in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) and corn (Zea mays L.), two pest preferential hosts. This paper reports the occurrence in Brazil of Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff) (Hymenoptera; Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) parasitizing pupae of D. saccharalis obtained from corn plants. It also includes preliminary biological data about the insect. A single female of T. howardi is able to produce up to 66 offspring using a single pupa of the host D. Saccharalis and apparently does not distinguish between the host pupae of different ages. The life cycle of the parasitoid was around 25.5 days. The presence of the parasitoid in Brazil opens a new perspective on suppression of the sugarcane borer, considering the promising results already obtained in Asian countries. The insect is well adapted to laboratory conditions, can be produced in large scale and may became an additional option for the integrated pest management in those crops where D. saccharalis is a key pest such as the sugarcane, corn and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench).