Interação da temperatura com o ácaro parasita Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross& Krantz) (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae) sobre o desenvolvimento de Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)

• Published in: Neotropical entomology 2007, Vol.36 (2), p.247-253
• Main Authors: Gonçalves, J.R, Faroni, L.R.D'A, Guedes, R.N.C, Oliveira, C.R.F. de, Garcia, F.M
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Subjects: Acarophenacidae; Acarophenax; Acarophenax lacunatus; biological control; biological control agents; Bostrichidae; insect control; integrated pest management; mites; Rhyzopertha dominica; storage insects; temperature; wheat
• ISSN: 1519-566X; 1678-8052

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different temperatures with the association of the mite Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross& Krantz) on the population suppression of Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius). The experimental units were petri dishes containing 40 g of whole wheat grains (13% moisture content) infested with 10 adults of R. dominica, under the temperatures of 20, 25, 30 and 35°C, with or without A. lacunatus, in five replicates. Relative humidity of 60 ± 5% and escotophase of 24h were used for all temperatures. Five days after the infestation, five mites were inoculated in each experimental unit. The evaluations were carried out at 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 days after R. dominica infestation. The interaction of the temperature with the parasite A. lacunatus was an important tool for the population suppression of R. dominica. In temperatures higher than 25°C, however, despite the reduction of the immature stages of R. dominica, there was a high grain weight loss after 120 days. The maintenance of the temperature of the wheat grains stored at 20°C can be used to complement the biological control of R. dominica with A. lacunatus.