ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL OF THE GRASSHOPPER Cornops aquaticum (ORTHOPTERA) AS A BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT OF Eichhornia crassipes (PONTEDERIACEAE)

作者：de Souza Braga Carlos Elias; Nunes Gutjahr Ana Lucia; de Morais Jose Wellington; Adis Joachim

来源：Interciencia, 2013, 38(8): 590-596.

The semi-aquatic grasshopper Cornops aquaticum develops its life cycle in association with the aquatic macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes. To evaluate the potential of the grasshopper as a biological control agent for E. crassipes, a study was conducted during April-August 2007 in the lakes Camaleao and Janauari, Amazonas, Brazil. The experiment consisted of grasshoppers (C. aquaticum) raised in cages (size 60x60x80cm) using a net mesh of 1.0mm, floating along with E. crassipes in three different treatments: I (lower grasshopper density; 22.22 individuals/m(2)), II (higher density; 88.89 individuals/m2) and III (control group; no grasshoppers). The results indicated the positive control of E. crassipes by C. aquaticum for both lakes, and its efficiency was even more evident in group II (reductions >90% of the leaf area and of 60% in the biomass of E. crassipes). Therefore, the results demonstrate that C. aquaticum can be considered to be an effective biological agent for the control of E. crassipes. However, the phenotypic plasticity of the grasshopper and its host plant, as well as its surrounding environment, have to be considered and evaluated before using these insects for the biological control of E. crassipes.

• 出版日期2013-8