Dolichopodidae abundance in different cover crop species

Orcial Ceolin Bortolotto,Adriano Thibes Hoshino,Katyuscia Cristine Kubaski Silva,Renato Soares Capellari,Ayres De Oliveira Menezes Junior

doi:10.1590/0103-8478cr20201062

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the Dolichopodidae abundance in different cover crop species. For this, the following species were used in treatments: Crotalaria (Crotalaria spectabilis), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), castor bean (Ricinus communis) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum). The survey was carried out in a field during two seasons 2012/2013 (November/December to March) and 2013/2014 (October/November to February). The Dolichopodidae abundance were evaluated weekly using a sweep net and Moericke traps. In addition, the phytophagous abundance (Thysanoptera: Thripidae; Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae and Hemiptera: Aphididae) was quantified, to allow for an inference about density-dependence. In total, 13,987 long-legged flies (96.5% in Moericke traps) were captured, represented only by the species Condylostylus erectus Becker, 1922 (Diptera: Dolichopodidae). In general, the higher abundance of C. erectus was observed in buckwheat and cowpea. Regarding the phytophagous species, 48,371 individuals [Thripidae (77.5%), Aleyrodidae (20.2%), and Aphididae (2.5%)] were quantified and a clear correlation with the C. erectus population was not evidenced. Thus, these results suggested that buckwheat and cowpea make resources available to long-legged flies, as discussed in our research. Finally, the buckwheat and cowpea sowing are options to increase the abundance of C. erectus predator populations in agroecosystems.

Highlights

Dolichopodidae family stands out for being constituted by several predatory species (ULRICH, 2004; BICKEL, 2009)
The following species were used in treatments: Crotalaria (Crotalaria spectabilis), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), castor bean (Ricinus communis) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)
These biological control agents feed on a range of arthropods (ULRICH, 2004), which characterizes their importance in agroecosystems (BOONE et al, 2008; LUNDGREN et al, 2014; CICERO et al.,2017)

Summary

Introduction

Dolichopodidae family (long-legged flies) stands out for being constituted by several predatory species (ULRICH, 2004; BICKEL, 2009) These biological control agents feed on a range of arthropods (ULRICH, 2004), which characterizes their importance in agroecosystems (BOONE et al, 2008; LUNDGREN et al, 2014; CICERO et al.,2017). Further studies are needed, it was observed that a long-legged fly can feed on one aphid per minute in a peach orchard (RATHMAN et al, 1988), indicating their ability to reduce the pest population For this reason, it is important to know conservative strategies that allow the preservation and maintenance of these predators in the agroecosystem, so that they can assist in the biological control of pests

Methods

Results

Conclusion