Levantamento e análise de fatores climáticos sobre os níveis populacionais de moscas-brancas (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) na cultura da mandioca no Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

Brazil is the second world largest cassava producer and the largest South American producer. The aleyrodids, commonly known as whiteflies, are pests that affect cassava crops and might induce economic losses, due to high infestation levels. The objective of this work was to survey the whitefly species that occur feeding on cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) crops in Rio de Janeiro State, and to evaluate their population levels and the influence of the climate aspects on these levels as well. Sampling of leaves were realised fortnightly from April to December 2007 during visits to three commercial cassava farmlands located in the municipalities of Rio de Janeiro, Itaguaí and Japeri. The samples were collected and analysed under optical microscopy, in laboratory, applying a presence-absence methodology. The species identification was realised according to morphological characters of the 4th instar nymphs. Among the 16 aleyrodid species described feeding on cassava in the Neotropical region, Aleurothrixus aepim (Göldi, 1886) and Bemisia tuberculata Bondar, 1923 were identified occurring in the State. B. tuberculata is reported for the first time feeding on cassava crops in Rio de Janeiro State. Population peaks of A. aepim occurred from May to June and in December 2007 in all the farmlands analysed. B. tuberculata population levels got peaks in different periods, depending on the farmland analysed. Low temperatures registered in July 2007 suggest being the reason of the population density reduction of both species.