Abstract
Scarabaeidae defoliators are considered of great importance in Brazil because they seriously damage the leaf system of several plant species. The objective of this study was to report the occurrence of the defoliating beetle
Bolax campicola Machatschke, 1974 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) attacking ornamental plants in the urban area of municipality of Forestal, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The initial attack was observed on the ornamental palm species
Dypsis lutescens (Arecaceae) whose leaves were completely consumed, and then these insects began to feed on
Canna indica (Cannaceae), another ornamental species, which was found near to the first. However, in the same location newly planted fruit tree seedlings of
Plinia trunciflora (Myrtaceae),
Averrhoa carambola (Oxalidaceae) and
Malpighia emarginata (Malpighiaceae) were attacked and completely defoliated. This report of damage to plants in urban areas by
B. flavolineatus demonstrates the need for studies on the behavior and feeding preference of these insects, and even their ability to adapt to different host plants.
References
- ANJOS, N., SANTOS, G.P., ZANUNCIO, J.C. Pragas do eucalipto e seu controle. Informe Agropecuário 12: 51-58, 1986.
- BERTI FILHO, E., KRUGNER, T.L. Manejo integrado de pragas e doenças em povoamentos de Eucalyptus no Brasil. Silvicultura 11: 41-43, 1986.
- BORROR, J. & DELONG, D.M. Introduction to the Study of Insects 7th Edition. Cengage Learning 888p. 2004.
- FERNANDES, L.C. Biologia de Metaxyonyncha augusta (Perty) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) e efeitos do seu ataque em eucaliptos, num sistema agroflorestal. 86f. (Dissertação de Mestrado) Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil, 2004.
- GULLAN, P.J., CRANSTON, P.S. Os insetos: um resumo de entomologia. 4th ed. São Paulo: Roca, 440p. 2012.
- LOUZADA, J.N.C. Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) detritÃvoros em ecossistemas tropicais: biodiversidade e serviços ambientais. In: Moreirea, F.M.S., Siqueira, J.O. & Brussaard, L. (eds.) Biodiversidade do solo em ecossistemas brasileiros. Lavras, Editora UFLA. p.309-332, 2008.
- MEDRI, I. M.; LOPES, J. Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera) do Parque Estadual Mata dos Godoy e de área de pastagem, no norte do Paraná, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 18: 135-141, 2001.
- NOBLICK, L.R., BORGES, K.N., LEMOS, M.J.C. Levantamento das plantas ornamentais introduzidas no campus da Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana. Sitientibus Revista da Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana 3: 37-58, 1983.
- PIRES, E.M., CORASSA, J.N., Nogueira, R.M., Manica, C.L..M., Soares, M.A. New geographical distribution and seasonality of Costalimaita ferruginea (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Eucalyptus urograndis in Guiricema, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Scientific Electronic Archives 5: 1-4, 2014.
- PIRES, E.M., CORASSA, J.N., BARRETO, M.R., SOARES, M.A. New Report of Costalimaita ferruginea (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Eucalyptus sp. (Myrtaceae) in Sinop - Mato Grosso, Brazil. EntomoBrasilis 6: 89-90, 2013.