Agricultural pests of some parasitoids collected Brazil

T he occurrence of different parasitoids of some insect pests were studied in southern Goiás and southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. T he parasitoids were obtained from tomatoes, corn and fruits. Parasitoids of eggs, larvae and pupae were obtained.

Leptoglossus zonatus, known in Brazil as maize bug, also feeds on several other species (14 families of fructiferous, forage and ornamental plants) showing characteristics of polyphagia and adaptation to different feeding resources (Souza and Amaral Filho, 1999a;1999b) Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae) seems to be the only species spreading out around the globe, mainly due to the international fruit trading. T his Drosophilidae is probably from Africa, where it was registered in fruits of 74 plants of species. T he first record published on the occurrence of this fly in the American continent some references on samples observed in persimmon fruit in Santa Isabel, São Paulo. Its poliphagy and relatively fast development in hot weather environment have contributed for its setting and dispersion through this. T he fig production recorded a loss of 50% in the state of São Paulo due to this fly (Mcalpine, 1983;T sacas, 1980;Lachaise and T sacas, 1983;Vilela et al., 1999;Vilela et al., 2001).
T he present study aimed to identify the parasitoids collected in insect pests in agricultural area in southern Goiás and in southern of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Farm, an area of one hectare was divided into 44x20m plots for each of the seven samplings. Fifty ears of maize were randomly collected weekly on each farm, a total of 700 ears. T hese ears were collected on different plots. T he ears were individualized in plastic bags and taken to the laboratory of the Instituto Luterano de Ensino Superior for collection of the naturally infested host eggs. All ears were individually checked for the presence of Hemiptera egg masses. T hese egg masses were then transferred, together with a small piece of maize foliar sheath, to glass flasks that were maintained in the laboratory, under room temperature, until the emergence of parasitoids and/or nymphs of the host insect. emergence of adults and/or their parasitoids , which were subsequently identified.

3-RESULT S AN D DISCUSSION 3-RESULT S AN D DISCUSSION
A total of 113 eggs of L. zonatus were collected from January to February 2002, from which 40 nymphs (35.4%) of the host species and 64 parasitoids (56.6%), from five different species, emerged (T able 1). Nine of the eggs (8.0%) did not produce either nymphs or parasitoids.
Among the parasitoids collected, Gryon gallardoi (Brethes) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)mwas the most frequent species representing 79.6% of the specimens, probably influenced by the seasonal variation. Gryon gallardoi is also a parasitoid of eggs of other Hemiptera belonging to the Coreidae family that, in Brazil, attack rice, potato, tobacco, tomato and papaya (Loiacono, 1980).
Species of the genus Leptopilina, well-known parasitoids of Drosophilidae, may also be reared from rotting fruit (Wharton et al., 1998). influence of seasonal variation. T omato plant infestation inside the greenhouse occurred because the windows allowed both pests and parasitoids insects to enter.
T he natural occurrence of the genera Bracon, Earinus, and Conura inside the greenhouse suggests a close interaction among these species and their tomato leaf miner host. T he nature of this relationship, however, has to be further studied in order to better evaluate the impact of these parasitoids on the insect pest population. Since these parasitoids are natural enemies of insect pests, the feasibility of their use as biological control agents in the tomato crop should be investigated.
Larvae belonging to 40 species were collected Lonomia sp., Of which seven Hymenoptera were parasitized by ectoparasites being four per Anastatus sp. (Eupelmidae) and three Aprostocetus sp. (Eulophidae) was the most frequent specie Anastatus sp. to 57.1% (T able 1). Given the importance of this lepidopteran, there is a great need for knowledge of their biogeographically distribution, as well as their enemies natural, which may be part of biological pest control programs (Oliveira Júnior et al., 2007).
T he nature of this relation, however, has to be deeper studied in order to permit a better evaluation of the impact of these parasitoids on the insect pest population. Since these parasitoids are natural enemies of insect pests, the feasibility of their use as biological control agents on the fig is an encouraging possibility.