Marcelo Picanço

Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) | UFV · Departamento de Entomologia

At the global level, Sorghum bicolor (L.), is one of the most important crops, which ranks fifth among all cereals. It is cultivated in Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, where it serves as a source of food and feed for humans and animals, respectively. However, production is constrained by several factors including pests and diseases. Among t...

Tropical crops face significant challenges from abiotic and biotic stressors, resulting in substantial losses. This study aimed to assess the yield and losses in Bt soybean crops in Tocantins state, northern Brazil, during the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 growing seasons. We monitored and estimated yield losses and their contributing factors in commerci...

In precision agriculture, sub‐areas of fields with similar features are called management zones and the inputs applied similarly in these zones. Such notion of management zones is applicable to high‐output soybean fields where thrips are an emerging problem leading to losses up to 15%. Management zones are an agricultural management strategy that c...

Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) is a vector for serious diseases in tropical regions. This pest is mainly controlled by commercial larvicides but the application of such products has led to environmental problems. Essential oils (EO) have been consistently reported as molecules with insecticidal activity and can be used to produce more enviro...

Ants belonging to the genus Solenopsis are highly significant invasive pests worldwide. The control of these insects has historically relied on the use of synthetic insecticides, which, unfortunately, has led to a range of ecological repercussions. In light of these challenges and the limited availability of registered products for managing these p...

Cashew ( Anacardium occidentale ) is one of the main tropical fruit trees, and its chestnuts are the most consumed in the world. Cashew orchards are managed under irrigated and unirrigated conditions, and pesticides are applied manually (hand sprayer) or by a tractor‐powered sprayer. The chestnut moth Anacampsis phytomiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiida...

Decision-making systems are essential to integrated pest management (IPM) programs, particularly in the context of soybean (Glycine max), the world’s most cultivated legume. As agricultural practices change, including adopting new cultivars, planting seasons, and planting regions, the challenges in pest management, mainly caterpillars (Lepidoptera...

The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), is one of the most important coffee pests, and is present in almost all countries producing this crop, causing annual losses of US$350 million. Natural factors regulate H. hampei populations in coffee crops. Ecological life table analysis is a robust tool that allows th...

There has been an excitement toward novel eco-friendly alternatives to pest management, particularly formulations based on essential oils (EOs). Here, the biological activity of an EO-based emulsion derived from patchouli, Pogostemon cablin, was assessed against Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a devastating and invasive pest in...

Parasitoids are among the main natural enemies of crop pests. Copidosoma truncatellum (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is a parasitoid of Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae), which is an important pest of soybean, bean, cotton, sunflower, tomato and potato. Copidosoma are parasitoids of lepidopteran egg‐larva, especially th...

Knowledge about the critical production components and the key loss factors is essential for adequately managing the Common beans crop. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and quantify the losses in the production components, determining the critical components and key loss factors for three growing seasons and two planting systems and associat...

Maize (Zea mays) is the most consumed food in the world. The leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis, (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is one of the most important maize pests, and due to its direct and indirect damage, it can cause losses of up to 100%. Sampling plans are essential components for integrated pest management programs. The first two components to be de...

Erthesina fullo (Thunberg) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is an invasive pest that has recently been detected in Europe (2017) and South America (2021). Due to polyphagia and temperature adaptation, this pest has a high risk of establishing in introduced areas. However, despite recent invasion events, there are no data on potentially suitable areas for...

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a global pest, well-known for its capacity to transmit begomoviruses during sap sucking (<24h). Chemical control is mainly adopted, aiming to kill the insect before it acquires and transmits virus. In the present study, we evaluated the toxicity of 17 insecticides on B. tabaci and subsequently determined the lethal ti...

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are social insects and important pests in the urban environment. The main groups of pest ants in the urban environment are leafcutter and house ants. Leaf-cutter ants cause crescent-shaped defoliation of plants, where in the urban environment it causes problems in gardens and ornamental plants. Domestic ants cause hum...

Ants of the genus Solenopsis are important invasive pests in the world. Due to their high dispersion capacity, aggressive behavior and because they feed on various sources of vegetable and animal protein, these insects have caused serious damage to public health and agriculture. The control has usually been carried out through the use of organosynt...

The mango weevil, Sternochetus mangiferae (Fabricius) (Curculionidae), pest present in Brazil and is restricted to some municipalities in the Rio de Janeiro State. This curculionid attacks the mango crop exclusively and puts mango production globally at risk, especially those destined for export. Using ecological modeling tools, this study is the f...

1. Terrestrial gastropods (slugs and snails, Mollusca: Eupulmonata) are destructive pests of brassica crops. These organisms defoliate plants and contaminate the har-vest, leading to reduced crop yield and marketability. Losses caused by molluscs have escalated in recent years in Brazil. 2. We aimed to determine the seasonal activity of gastropods...

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is an efficient vector of “Candidatus Liberibacter” species, the causative agents implicated in citrus greening or huanglongbing (HLB). HLB is the most devastating citrus disease and has killed hundreds of millions of citrus trees worldwide. Classical biological contro...

Biological control is a growing branch in Brazil, and with it comes the need to obtain efficient enemies in the control of pests. The use of entomopathogens has expanded and with it comes the need to investigate their selectivity to non-target organisms. The present work was conducted in a pinecone (Annona squamosa L.) orchard with the objective of...

BACKGROUND Corn is one of the main crops grown globally to produce food for human consumption and animal feed, including raw materials for bioenergy. Effective pest management is critical for the economic viability of corn production. The leafhopper Dalbulus maidis and the diseases transmitted by it have become relevant to corn production. Our stud...

Cerotoma arcuata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) has been a notorious issue in the previous soybean (Glycine max) season in South America. Geostatistical analyses explore insect spatiotemporal dynamics by settling populations’ spatial dependence. Investigating the spatiotemporal dynamic of C. arcuata provides accomplishments about its regulation factor...

Coffee is considered one of the most important commercial commodities globally, and in 2020, it moved to a global market of USD 102.02 billion. However, the attack of pests in coffee production can cause significant economic losses. Leucoptera coffeella is a critical pest in coffee-producing countries, with productivity losses reaching 87%. The kno...

The phloem-limited bacteria, “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus” and “Ca. L. americanus”, are the causal pathogens responsible for Huanglongbing (HLB). The Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is the principal vector of these “Ca. Liberibacter” species. Though Tamarixia radiata Waterston (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) has...

Among the most common and serious tomato plant pests, leafminer flies (Liriomyza sativae) are considered one of the major tomato-plant-damaging pests worldwide. Detecting the infestation and quantifying the severity of these pests are essential for reducing their outbreaks through effective management and ensuring successful tomato production. Trad...

Sampling plans are an essential part of integrated pest management programs. Sequential sampling plans enable rapid and low-cost assessment of pest densities. Thrips are emerging pests in soybean crops, and the main method used in pest control is chemical. In soybean crops, insecticides are applied mainly using tractors or airplanes. Thus, this wor...

We evaluated the efficacy and residual toxicity of nine commercial insecticides on Plutella xylostella and their selectivity to the predator ant Solenopsis saevissima under laboratory and field conditions. First, to test the insecticides' effectiveness and selectivity, we conducted concentration-response bioassays on both species, and the mortaliti...

The impact of invasive alien pests on agriculture, food security, and biodiversity conservation has been worsened by climate change caused by the rising earth’s atmospheric greenhouse gases. The African citrus triozid, Trioza erytreae (Del Guercio; Hemiptera: Triozidae), is an invasive pest of all citrus species. It vectors the phloem-limited bacte...

The relationship between herbivorous insects and plants is an example of an ‘evolutionary arms race’. Understanding the relationship between insects and their host plants makes it possible to determine critical points in the bioecology of these herbivores. In this relationship, insects and plants use strategies to overcome, avoid and mitigate the a...

Detritivorous arthropods are essential because they participate in recycling organic matter, decomposing pesticides, improving soil properties, conserving water, and reducing problems with plant diseases. Practices such as no-till and straw on soils can affect soil properties and populations of detritivorous arthropods. Brazil is the largest produc...

The African citrus triozid (ACT) Trioza erytreae (Del Guercio) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), is a principal vector of “Candidatus Liberibacter species”, the pathogens implicated in citrus greening disease, infecting millions of citrus trees annually. Unfortunately, present control measures are insufficient, necessitating the development of novel climate-...

BACKGROUND The application of synthetic insecticides is the main strategy used to reduce the damage caused by the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella in commercial Brassica crops. However, incorrect insecticide use can cause biological and ecological disturbances in agroecosystems. Cycloneda sanguinea is a generalist voracious predator and is dist...

Soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, is the most cultivated crop worldwide. Recently, thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) has caused of up to 17% production losses to this crop. To improve its management, economic injury levels (EIL) are key tools in supporting decision-making systems in integrated pest management (IPM) programs. The EIL depend on the t...

The global search for eco-friendly and human-safe pesticides has intensified, and research on essential oils (EOs) has expanded due to their remarkable insecticidal activities and apparent human-safe. Despite this, most of the literature focuses on short-term and simplified efforts to understand lethal effects, with only a few comprehensive studies...

BACKGROUND The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is a destructive, invasive species that poses a serious threat to the citrus industry wherever it occurs. The psyllid vectors the phloem‐limited bacteria ‘Candidatus Liberibacter americanus’ and ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’, causal agents of the incurable citrus greenin...

The aim of this study was to develop a simple and efficient laboratory rearing method for Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guen., 1854) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). To this end, seven bioassays were performed to evaluate the survival and reproductive characteristics of N. elegantalis for rearing populations in the laboratory with artificial and natural frui...

BACKGROUND Since the last decade, Dalbulus maidis has become the primary pest in cornfields, particularly due to its ability to transmit plant pathogens. Dalbulus maidis is the main vector of the corn stunt spiroplasma and maize bushy stunt phytoplasma. However, there is little information available on this pest. Understanding its spatial dynamics...

Insects' ethology is an important factor when it is desired to carry out pest management. This knowledge makes it possible to manipulate behavioral activities, repel, or attract insects according to needs and interests. The maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais (Mots., 1855) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), one of the main stored grain pests, has been the ta...

The impact of invasive alien pests on agriculture, food security, and biodiversity conservation has been worsened by climate change caused by the rising earth’s atmospheric greenhouse gases. The African citrus triozid, Trioza erytreae (Del Guercio; Hemiptera: Triozidae), is an invasive alien pest of all citrus species. It vectors the phloem-limited...

1. Fertilization input is required to improve productivity and attend the market demand for tomatoes. However, providing crops with nutrients can affect plant–insect interactions via bottom‐up effects. The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a main pest of tomato crops worldwide but little is known...

The cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is a fruit tree grown in tropical regions producing the nut most consumed worldwide. The brown moth Anacampsis phytomiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is the primary pest that attacks cashew nuts in the Neotropical region. Sampling plans are essential components of integrated pest management (IPM) programs. These...

The cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni Hübner (Lep.: Noctuidae), is a destructive pest of Brassica crops. Their larvae defoliate plants, leading to reduced crop yield. Understanding and modeling pest seasonal dynamics is central to management programs because it allows one to set up sampling and control efforts. This study aimed to train, with field-c...

The correspondent and first author, Abraao Almeida Santos, would like to remove ‘Coordination for theImprovement of Higher Education Personnel [grant number 88881.189618/2018-01]’ from the research funding and acknowledgement sections in the above-mentioned paper. The study was conducted with funding provided to the first author by the agency ‘Co...

BACKGROUND The corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), spreads maize stunt pathogens and requires timely and effective crop protection. We determined the interaction between maize phenology and the vector feeding/infection period by stunt pathogens with the residual efficacy of neonicotinoid insecticidal seed treatments. Greenho...

The global search for eco-friendly and human-safe pesticides has intensified, and research on essential oils (EOs) has expanded due to their remarkable insecticidal activities and apparent human-safe. Despite this, most of the literature focuses on short-term and simplified efforts to understand lethal effects, with only a few comprehensive studies...

In the paper by Santos et al. (2019), the correspondent and first author, Abraão Almeida Santos, would like to remove ‘Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Financial Code nº 001’ and ‘CAPES-PDSE nº 47/2017 (Grant number 88881.189618/2018-01)’ from the research funding and acknowledgements sections in the above...

BACKGROUND The highly polyphagous and invasive fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda) can feed on different plant parts of host crops, damaging whorls and stalks in early maize growth stages. Systemic insecticide seed treatment (IST) could minimize this damage, although the residual efficacy may vary with the plant tissue damaged. Using damage...

The Neotropical brown stink bug (Euschistu sheros) was a minor pest in soybean fields until the 1970s. However, since the producing areas have expanded from the Southern to the Central areas in Brazil, this pest has changed its status. It is currently considered the main soybean pest in this country. The damage caused by E. heros results from its f...

• Thrips are considered a secondary pest of soybean in Brazil, but high densities have been noticed since the last harvests (2017/18 and 2018/19), yet no study has provided an initial hypothesis regarding the causes of such events. • We aimed to identify some of the factors related to Frankliniella schultzei Trybom (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) tempora...

The genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae) is widespread in Australia and contains several species that are of increasing interest to produce bioactive honey. Here, we used the Maxent algorithm to investigate bioclimatic, climatic, and soil variables as predictors for potential distributions of seven Leptospermum species that have been identified as useful...

Soybean is one of the most cultivated and important legumes in the world. Given its importance, understanding the shifts of climate suitability for this crop under climate change is essential. One way to map these potential changes in soybean distribution is through species distribution models (SDMs). In this study, we conducted a SDM for soybeans,...

O percevejo marrom (Euschistus heros) é considerado a principal espécie praga da soja no Brasil, com ampla distribuição geográfica predominando nas regiões Centro-Oeste e norte do Paraná. Além disso, esta praga apresenta tolerância aos inseticidas químicos utilizados para o seu controle. Deste modo, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o tempo let...

Soybean (Glycine max) is the world's most cultivated legume. In recent years, the thrips Caliothrips phaseoli and Frankliniella schultzei (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) have caused >15% yield reduction in soybean crops. Conventional sampling plans serve as the starting point for the establishment of decision-making systems for integrated pest management...

Chrysodeixis includens is a polyphagous pest restricted to the American continent. The occurrence of C. includens is allied, among other factors, by favorable conditions such as temperature, humidity, presence of hosts, and migratory behavior. In this work, we built spatiotemporal species distribution models at continental and global levels for the...

Sampling plans are essential components to establish decision-making systems for integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Thus, this study was aimed to develop a conventional sampling plan of Tetranychus mexicanus (McGregor) (Tetranychidae) on the yellow passion fruit Passiflora edulis. The work was conducted in nine passion fruit fields with pla...

The green peach aphid Myzus persicae is one of the most important pests in bell pepper crops. Conventional sampling plans are the starting point for the generation of pest control decision-making systems. However, sampling plans have not yet been determined for this pest in bell pepper crops. Thus, the objective of this work was to determine conven...

BACKGROUND A variety of abiotic and biotic factors promoting seasonal variation in the population of insect pests. Knowledge of the timing and magnitude of these factors is important for the study of population dynamics and the development of efficient pest management programs. Currently, there are few studies regarding Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lepid...

Biological control methods may provide efficient and environmentally sustainable methods for curbing invasive weeds. Miconia calvescens DC (Melastomataceae) is an invasive weed of forest ecosystems on oceanic islands and one of the most invasive alien species. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify and assess the population dynamics of herb...

The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lep.: Plutellidae), is an important pest of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck). Few studies have focused on the real DBM impact on broccoli yield. We performed greenhouse studies to assess the effect of DBM densities and infestation timing (at pre-heading, heading, or during the...

Complaints of severe damage by whiteflies in soybean fields containing genetically engineered (GE) varieties led us to investigate the role of transgenic soybean varieties expressing resistance to some insects (Cry1Ac Bt toxin) and to herbicide (glyphosate) on the population growth and feeding behavior of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) MEAM1 (Hemiptera...

The mealybug Dysmicoccus brevipes (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is an important pest of several agricultural crops and can transmit viruses, and reduce growth and production, and lead to plant mortality. Macauba palm is an oleaginous plant whose oil can be used in the production of biodiesel, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and in human food. In this cont...

Predatory ants are crucial biological control agents in agroecosystems, but such activity may vary during dry and wet seasons. In this study, we investigated whether the mortality caused by predatory ants to the larvae of Ascia monuste orseis (Godart) varies due to the effects of dry and wet seasons. We performed a field experiment repeated eight t...

Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a challenging pest to manage in tomato crops and can lead up to 90% in yield losses. Decision-making systems are an essential tool to manage N. elegantalis in integrated pest management (IPM) programs, which include economic injury levels (EIL) and sampling plans. In this study, we dete...

The optimal defense theory stipulates that a plant prioritizes the defense of young tissue against herbivory, which may affect the spatial distribution of the attacking insect and its impact on plant performance. In this study, we evaluated the feeding and oviposition site preferences of the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso, 1813) (Hemipte...