XXI International Congress of Entomology

684 Pages·2000·63.9 MB·English

by  International Congress of Entomology (21st : 2000 : Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil)

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ENT XXI
INTERNATIONAL
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XVIII Brazilian Congress of Entomology

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BRAZILIAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC
President
FERNANDO HENRIQUE CARDOSO
Agriculture and Supply Minister
MARCUS VINICIUS PRATINI DE MORAES
Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation
President
ALBERTO DUQUE PORTUGAL
Directors
ELZA ANGELA BATTAGGIA BRITO DA CUNHA
JOSE ROBERTO RODRIGUES PERES
DANTE DANIEL GIACOMELLI SCOLARI
National Soybean Research Center
General Head
CAIO VIDOR
Head, Research and Development
JOSE RENATO BOUCAS FARIAS
Head, Administration
VANIA BEATRIZ RODRIGUES CASTIGLIONI
Head, Communication
PAULO ROBERTO GALERANI
To request this publication, please contact:
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Telefone: (43) 371-6000 Fax: [phone]
MAY 04 2018
Embrapa So/a. Documenios, 143 ISSN 1516-781X
Printing: 4500 issues
EDITOR
Decio Luiz Gazzoni
All rights reserved.
International Congress of Entomology (21. : 2000 : Foz do Iguassu)
Abstracts of International Congress of Entomology / -- Londrina :
Embrapa Soja, 2000. Vol. I p.664.
2 v. -- (Documentos / Embrapa Soja, ISSN 1516-78IX ; ri.143).
1. Entomology-Congress. 2. Agriculture-Congress. I. Trtulo. II. Serie.
632.7-CDD 21
.....
© Embrapa 2000
According to Federal Law 9610 - 19.02.98
I -
XXI INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ENTOMOLOGY
Iguassu Falls, Brazil, August 21-26, 2000
CONGRESS PRESIDENT
Decio Luiz Gazzoni
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Flavio Moscardi, Chairman
MEMBERS
Aldo Malavasi Ayres de Oliveira Menezes Lenita J. Oliveira
Alfredo Carvalho Beatriz S. Correa Ferreira Maurfcio Ursi Ventura
Amador Villacorta Clara Beatriz Campo Pedro Neves
Amarildo Pasini Daniel R. Sosa Gomez Roberto Antonio Zucchi
Ana Maria Meneguim Jos6 Lopez Rodolfo Bianco
Antonio Ricardo Panizzi Lauro Morales Suely Souza Martinez
CONVENORS/COUN TERPARTS
Convenor: Gary R. Mullen Convenor: Jules A. Hoffmann, France
Co-convenor: Gilberto de Moraes Counterpart: Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena, USA
Convenor: Michael E. Irwin, USA Convenor: Marcos Kogan, USA
Convenor: Myron P. Zalucki, Australia Co-convenor: Heikki Hokkanen, Finland
Convenor: Alberto Fereres, Spain Counterpart: Ivan Cruz, Brazil
Counterpart: Dirceu N. Gassen,, Brazil
Convenor: Thomas W. Scott, USA
Convenor: Ebbe Nielsen, Australia Counterpart: Paulo de Tarso R. Vilarinhos,
Counterpart: Thomas Lewinsohn, Brazil Brazil
Counterpart: Joao Luiz Horacio Faccini, Brazil
Convenor: Walter Leal, USA
Co-Convenor: William S. Bowers, USA Convenor: Guenther Pass, Austria
Counterpart: Jose R. Trigo, Brazil Co-Convenor: Ayodhya P. Gupta, USA
Counterpart: Elisa Gregorio, Brazil
Convenor: Ronald E. Stinner, USA
Counterpart: Luceli de Souza, Brazil Convenor: Lowell Nault, USA
Counterpart: Tatsuya Nagata, Brazil
Convenor: L. T. Wilson
Counterpart: Kleber del Claro, Brazil Convenor: Frantisek Sehnal, Czech Republic
Counterpart: Gilberto Albuquerque, Brazil
Convenor: Alan McCaffery, UK
Convenor: Ian Denholm, UK Convenor: Mauro Pinzauti, Italy
Counterpart: Celso Omoto, Brazil Counterpart: Lionel Gonsalves, Brazil
Convenor: Manes Wysoki, Israel Convenor: Francis G. Howartli, USA
Counterpart: Jose R. P. Parra, Brazil Counterpart: Pedro Gnaspini Neto, Brazil
Convenor: Y. S. Chow, Taiwan Convenor: Carl W. Schaefer, USA
Counterpart: Evaldo F. Vilela, Brazil Counterpart: Jocelia Grazia, Brazil
Convenor: Eric Bauce, Canada Convenor: Merle Shepard, USA
Counterpart: Jose Cola Zanuncio, Brazil Co-convenor: Manfred Kern, Germany
Counterpart: Sebastiao Barbosa, Chile
Convenor: Lawrence Lacey, USA
Counterpart: Bonifacio P. Magalhaes, Brazil Convenor: Christoph Reichmuth, Germany
Counterpart: Jamilton P. dos Santos, Brazil
Convenor: David Haymer, USA
Counterpart: Louis B. Klaczko, Brazil
PRESIDENT OF THE SUPPORTING COMMITEE
Placido Jose de Oliveira
TREASURER
Joao Armelin
SECRETARY
Suzette Prado
FINANCIAL BOARD
Jose Maia de Andrade
Margal Zuppi da Conceigao
Magao Tadano
PROGRAM AND ABSTRACTS
Deivis Ceslei Maggi
Emerson Durski Machado de Oliveira
Maria Clarice Nunes
Monica Frediani
Patricia Beatriz Naves Rodriguez
Paula Cavalcanti Francovig
BOOK DESIGN
Carlos Roberto de Oliveira
Celso Cessetti
Jose Roberto Kfouri
Patricia Andrea Martins
Patrick de Carlo Maggi
INSECT EXPO
Zuleide Alves Ramiro
INSECT PHOTO CONTEST
Norman Neumaier
EDITORIAL NOTES
This book contains the complete texts of the Plenary Lectures and the abstracts of the oral and
poster communications presented at the XXI International Congress of Entomology.
Although all abstracts were revised by the Scientific Committee, in order to fulfill the abstracts
rules, their contents are printed as received and are exclusive responsibility of the authors.
Presidential Address Decio Gazzoni
Dear Authorities
Dear Members of the International Council
Dear Directors of Entomological Societies
Dear Entomologists
Ladies and Gentlemen
Four years after die Florence Congress we have the chance to meet again to establish the state of the art on the
entomological science. Nowadays, four years represents more than four centuries of the ancient Aristotele era, or four decades of a
century ago. Some definitive scientific trues of last congress will be history at me end of this Congress. By force of my position as
president of the XXI International Congress of Entomology, I had the chance to view each one of the abstracts, and read almost all
of them. So, I realized that better than trying to make my own point, was using the findings and words of the lecturers to make an
overview of the Congress, so I will use some of the presentations to anticipate how much we have advanced.
In about one hour we will have the unique chance to hear Dr. John Lawton’s lecture. Entomologists preserving
biodiversity was the challenge put to the session convenors, symposia coordinators and to all of you, to make an insight reflection
of die importance of our science for die next generations. We know we have more species on die Order Lepidotera dian birds in
die world. Dr. Lawton will use diis comparison to call die attention to die importance of insects for die biodiversity. Were die
world to be almost destroyed by a catastrophe, if only a dozen species were to survive, diey would surely be insects. They are
present along all complex food chains, and are part of die ecosystems. Not only beneficials but even pests have a role on the
natural systems, and more dian philosophy diis is somediing we should take into account on our daily tasks.
My country, Brazil, had die unique chance of lidding die Rio de Janeiro Convention on Biological Diversity, a milestone
for sustainable conservation of die eardi's genedc resources. The preservation of biodiversity is an essential prerequisite for the
future development of the eardi as a viable habitat. New insights into processes and structures, and genes of animals and plants,
will also help us to find new ways of combating disease, safeguarding die food supply of die world's growing population and
protecting the environment. The preservadon and sustainable utilization of die diversity of species is of vital importance for die
interests of all mankind, for die countries diat supply diese resources and, last but not least, for die healdi and food industries.
We should consider insect diversity conservation beyond single species or endangered taxa, because of its importance on
die natural systems, its stability and continuity. We can eidier diink diat “small is beautiful”, by having diis goal in mind every
day, on die lab, on die field, on die university, on die institutes. But we have also to consider our role on die global society,
helping planning, building or composing network mentality for conservation, taking part of concrete acdons for preserving
biodiversity. That will be our contribution for sustainability, a major claim of die contemporary society.
We have to consider die limitadons of insect propagation to new geographic locations, due to climatic restriedons. Right
now we are located at die edge of one of die Brazilian National Parks, essentially a tropical forest. In die tropical area live die
majority of die insect species. The climatic change, or die global wanning is one of die direats our society is facing and discussing
right now. We know diat warmer climates offer better possibilities of wintering and lead to a higher density of population, earlier
presence of insects and an increased risk of invasion by migratory insects. Higher atmospheric C02 concentrations increase die
carbon assimiladon of plants and modify die carbon distribution pattern, and die secondary plant ingredients. The increase in
bound carbon in a plant causes a reduedon of die nitrogen concentradon. The result is diat nitrogen may become more and more a
limidng factor for die development of insects. In economically important species, diis will finally lead to an increased uptake of
biomass.
Insect-dependent plant pollination will also change as a result of climatic changes and dius also die productivity of plants.
Climatic changes do not only have effects on local and regional food chains, but even on complete food systems. Such changes
will affect die biodiversity of some regions. We must also consider die insect services, under a new category diat could be called
natural services. I am talking about die services diat are provided for free by Mother Nature, like die cleaning of air or water, or
die natural pest control. In diis sense, it is very important diat all of us, diat have die privilege of being on die entomology science,
to understand diat insects can survive very well widiout us, but we - like most odier terrestrial organisms - would have no chance
widiout diem.
Sustainability should be a permanent challenge to us, scienusts, aiming to leave a better world to future generadons.
Those of us dealing widi all branches of entomology but focusing on agricultural improvement should understand how different is
die concept of sustainability to rich societies and to poor countries. To ones diat have food in die table every odier day, and diose
diat are exploidng resources far distant from die necessary care diat would lead to sustainability, including biodiversity protection.
Away from die widely accepted concept of sustainability which says diat “ die process over die long term diat enhances
environmental quality and die resource base on which agriculture depends; provides for basic human food and fiber needs; is
economically viable; and enhances die quality of life of fanners and society as a whole”. Dr. Marcos Kogan, one of our
ABSTRACT BOOK I - XXI-Inteniadonal Congress of Entomology, Brazil, August 20-26, 2000
Presidential Address
Decio Gazzoni
distinguished plenary lecturers will drive your attention to die Holly Bible of sustainability, by stating that a sustainable
agriculture system
a. is based on the prudent use of renewable and/or recyclable resources;
b. protects the integrity of natural systems so that natural resources are continually regenerated;
c. improves the quality of life of individuals and communities;
d. is profitable;
e. is guided by a land ethic that considers the long-term good of all members of the land community
Integrated Pest Management is largely based on sustainability, which is an empty concept if not linked to biodiversity
preservation. Much ol the complexity of an ecosystem resides in its biodiversity, and it is precisely this biodiversity that is most
negatively affected by input-driven agriculture. We have to resist to the temptation of minimizing or making the issue linear, by
just opposing two major points of view: die first defending diat ’’agricultural intensification is necessary because die worldwide
area of higlily-productive arable land is limited and diminishing, and only by increasing yields per unit area we will be able to
meet die demands of a growing world population.” The argument from die 'high-input' side, however, assumes diat diis
agricultural intensification is necessarily tied to high-inputs and mechanization. On die odier side, die extreme situation is die
claiming of new processes like organic agriculture being a final goal, and not a means to produce food and fiber. We will have die
pleasure to listen to Dr. Settles experience on Soudiem Asia IPM Programmes implementation, addressing all diese questions.
I beg your full attention now: In die next diirty years die world will have to produce more food dian over die whole of die
last 10,000 years According to widely accepted statistics, die real problem is:
a. The world has 800 million people diat are food insecure;
b. Out of diem, 180 million are preschool children;
c. In 20 years, die Asian population will increase 1 billion people;
d. During die same period, Sub-Saharan population will increase 80%;
e. Setteris paribus, die food production will have to increase 60%;
f. Increasing world wealdi will demand 200% increase on meat production;
The dimension of die challenge will call for all our intelligence, creativity and cleverness, to design system approaches
diat will feed die people from one side and leave a better world for our sons on die odier side.
Pests in general, insects in particular, represent serious tiireat to die full expression of die productivity and quality
potential of all major crops. Some insect pests are so widespread, have a diversity of hosts and potential of damage diat are
considered key agricultural pests. Among diem we have fruit flies and white flies. They deserve special space during diis
Congress. The organizing committee was especially wise on inviting Dr. Dan Gerling to revisit die white flies world. But why
have whiteflies been chosen as die group to be revisited? The increased fitness, die ability to leave larger progeny relative to die
abilities of odier individuals or populations, has led to die emergence of new and better-adapted forms of life. Once detected, it is
of special interest to learn in what way such forms stand out and how dieir traits contribute to greater fitness. Whiteflies have been
known and studied for over 250 years. The research conducted reflects die changes in dieir economic status and advances in
biological dieory and scientific metiiodology. During die last 100 years, whitefly species, differed from odier economic species in
defying attempts at classical biological control and have become economic pests of worldwide proportions. During die past 15
years, whiteflies has caused damages sometimes reaching $500 million or more per year. Concomitantly, Bemisia. tabaci races and
biotypes were found. The most prominent one, biotype ‘B\ showed increased fitness in relation to die former ‘A’ biotype. It
eventually replaced it in extensive regions, and has been described as a separate species: Bemisia argentifolii.
You are all invited to carefully listen and discuss Dr. Gerling opinions regarding severe and widespread outbreaks of
white flies. Will die growers be able to handle die problem, or should we think on national or regional programs? It is critical diat
management, including employment of natural enemies, be implemented as soon as viable. This is especially important since die
chances for resistance build-up already at die “invasive stage outbreaks” are substantial, and die resistant populations will be
carried over to die “stable stage outbreaks” hampering IPM attempts in die future. And he will also claim your attention to die fact
diat die mere discovery and description of new biotypes has little value unless die relationship to functional traits is elucidated as a
lever for better biological, ecological and agricultural understanding, leading to better management.
The challenge will also arise a series of new questions. Dr. Gatehouse is provoking us asking “Transgenic Plants; an
Environmentally-Friendly Mediod of Pest Control?”. This question would be ridiculous if placed during die XXIV International
Congress of Entomology, but die world society is asking to us to present a convincing answer right now, not in twelve years. Is die
biotech, or die high tech world better dian die present system? Do we have die same treats, risks, and hazards? Is die food safe, our
health protected, die environment not endangered? Going to specific points, do we agree diat die price for meeting die food
demands can be too high, widi irreversible depletion or destruction of die natural environment?
ABSTRACT BOOK I - XXI-Intemational Congress of Entomology, Brazil, August 20-26, 2000
Presidential Address Decio Gazzoni
Whilst pesticides are very effective in combating the immediate problem of insect attack on crops, and have been
responsible for dramatic yield increases in crops subject to serious pest problems, non-specific pesticides are harmful to beneficial
organisms including predators and parasitoids of those target pest species. In response to public concerns, the agrochemical
industry has introduced a number of less harmful mid less persistent pesticides. But, the real question is: what is the most
convenient scenario for the world society, the biotechnological or the pesticide paradigm, both or none of them. How will the IPM
programmes be conformed under the new concepts coming out of our laboratories.
Fortunately, transgenic plants are not the only breakthrough on the opening of the new millennium. Scientists
participating in this Congress are responsible for continuous advancing of science, and new approaches on how to manage insects
come out all the tune. I carefully read Dr. Bernays review on Plant - Insect Interactions. Year after year we learn more and more
on insect relations, including tritrophic interactions. Dr. Bernays will conclude that the details of behavior and physiology,
especially neurophysiology, have suggested an approach to the study of insect-plant interactions, namely the constraints on neural
processing and die diverse effects of these constraints in ecology and evolution. This approach will allow us to understand more
about all aspects of the insect-plant interaction in a way that has been difficult in recent decades.
Dr. Hassell is responsible to elucidate the latest advances on insect - parasitoid interactions. Insect ecologists have always
asked what determines the abundance and patterns of fluctuation of insect populations. Parasitoids play a major role on insect
regulation, mid are amongst the most abundant of all animals, comprising some 10% or more of all metazoan species. They have
been popular subjects for ecological study for a variety of reasons. First, their importance in biological pest control programmes
has stimulated a large amount of work seeking to identify and quantify the attributes that enhance the effectiveness of parasitoids
as pest control agents. Second, Uie study of hosl-parasitoid population dynamics has greatly benefited from die way that
parasitoids make ideal subjects for the development of relatively simple population models.
On studying plant-insect mid insect insect-interactions, one major issue that comes to our minds is taxonomy (either plant
or insect classification). The organizing committee understood to be important reviewing the impact of Hennig's 'phylogenetic
systematics' on contemporary entomology, inviting Dr. Andersen to discuss Hennig’s contribution with us. Phylogenetic
systematics comprises the principles mid methods by which we reconstruct the evolutionary histor of organisms mid transform this
reconstruction into a biological classification of these organisms. Whereas the contingency between classifications of organisms
mid their evolutionary history had been known since Darwin, it was not until the middle of the last century that real progress was
made in designing the tools for phylogenetic reconstruction. This important progress was in part initiated by the Germmi
entomologist Willi Hennig, who clarified or redefined the goals of phylogenetic systematics in his today’s classic book published
in 1950.
The potential of practical use of insect interactions mid insect communication is tremendous. Dr. Leal, from the
University of California, have the mission to lead the discussion on chemical ecology, during the Congress. We know that
chemical communication involves the production mid release of specific chemicals by the emitter, mid the detection mid olfactory
processing of these signals leading to appropriate behavioral responses in the receiver. Chemical attraction is the major means of
sexual recruitment in scarab beetles. Females are normally the emitters mid males the receivers, mid in this case, the
semiochemicals are referred to as sex pheromones. Male-released aggregation pheromones have also been reported for a few
Dynastinae. Largely, the present research projects are aimed at the development of attractmits (pheromones or food-type lure
compounds) for possible applications in management programs. On the one hand, scientists have focused on the chemistry of the
emitters (identification mid synthesis of pheromones) mid studied the biology, biosynthesis mid physiology of pheromone
production. On the other hand, investigation has been conducted to identify the molecular mechanisms of the olfactory processing
in the receivers.
But are we exclusively talking about plants mid insects? Not at all, animals mid insect interaction are also a major interest
during this Congress, mid Dr. Nuttal will approach the tick-parasite interactions at the host interface. To survive, the ticks must
attach mid remain feeding on a host for several days, even weeks. The physical mid chemical processes of feeding, mid long
duration of attachment provoke host haemostatic, inflammatory and immune responses. Ticks counterattack with anti-haemostatic,
anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory substmices secreted in their saliva. Included in this armory are proteins that bind
immunoglobulins, histamine, mid serotonin, mid various cytokine regulators that affect die production or activity of several
cytokines, including interferon. As a result of the pharmacological activities of this rich cocktail of bioactive saliva molecules, the
feeding pool within the skin becomes mi immunologically privileged site. Any pathogens (viruses, bacteria, protozoa) transmitted
by infected ticks into the feeding pool, or that are acquired by feeding ticks from infected hosts, will benefit from a supportive
ecological niche created by Uie tick. Such a phenomenon, often referred to as ‘saliva-activated transmission,’ has been reported for
several tick-borne pathogens. Then, the challenge is determining whether this immunologically privileged feeding site can be
destroyed, mid pathogen transmission prevented.
Some of the miswers we are looking for are somewhat lost in the time, mid that’s why we have asked Dr. David Grimaldi
to tell us something about the Mesozoic radiations of the insects mid origins of the modem fauna. We know that insects are among
ABSTRACT BOOK I - XXI-Intemational Congress of Entomology, Brazil, August 20-26, 2000
Presidential Address Decio Gazzoni
the earliest terrestrial organisms, with a fossil record extending to the Devonian, pterygotes appearing in the Carboniferous, and
some modern orders in the Paleozoic. In the 400 million years since the earliest hexapods, they have proliferated into the most
diverse group of organisms in the entire Phanerozoic. Extensive radiations of modem faunas, however, did not occur until the
Cretaceous, based on diversification of species of ecological keystone groups: Isoptera, cimicomorphan and pentatomorphan bugs,
phytophagan beetles, aculeate wasps, cyclorrhaphan flies, and glossatan moths. These groups alone today represent well over half
of all insect species, and their diversification can be related directly or indirectly to die angiosperm radiations in the mid
Cretaceous.
And we also widely recognize the overall importance of the advances obtained on basic entomology for the benefit of the
World Society. I happen to know Dr. Karel Slama on the European Congress of Entomology, and during the two and a half hours
drive between Prague and Ceske Budejovice he spoke nothing but insect hormones and insect respiration. I felt all of you would
love to hear the enthusiasm Dr. Slama put when speaking on a new look into insect breathing. As an entomology student, I was
told that terrestrial arthropods either were able to ventilate actively the tracheal system in response to hypoxia or accumulation of
C02, or that a simple passive diffusion of 02 or C02 through the air-filled tracheal system could account sufficiently well for all
respiratory requirements, without a need for active ventilation. Most insect physiologists accepted this “diffusional theory” as a
model of insect respiration for the whole 20lh century. But Dr. Slama discovered the presence of special, periodically repeated
pulsations in mechanical pressure of the haemocoelic body cavity. These extracardiac pulsations were produced by simultaneous
contractions of abdominal somatic muscles, which caused positive pressure peaks in the haemocoele. The movements of body
segments, associated with this "abdominal pressure pump", were rather small and invisible by a naked eye, but still they were large
enough to cause a bulk flow of gas through some spiracles that were just open. He also observed that spiracular valves pulsated
selectively in synchrony with the upward or downward strokes of the pressure pulse, producing an actively regulated
unidirectional stream of air. This type of active insect breathing was achieved by means of an autonomic cholinergic,
neuromuscular system (coelopulse), driven by a nervous center in tire thoracic ganglia of the ventral nerve cord. I am absolutely
sure you all will benefit of Dr. Slama’s lessons as I did.
I must also recommend that you all bookmark Dr. Tolbert speech on neural development during embryonic and
metamorphic development in insects. Why study the development of insect nervous systems? Beyond satisfying sheer curiosity,
knowledge of insect neural development holds the hope of revealing novel and specific paths for biologically sensitive
intervention, to protect or to control specific populations of insects. Furthermore, for developmental biologists, insects offer a rich
source of material. The development of the nervous system in insects follows different paths, depending on the life history of the
species, yet many of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neural development appear to be common across disparate
insect species, and even common between insects and mammals. Individual species variations confer particular experimental
advantages to the investigator using insects. For all of these reasons, recent years have seen a huge research effort to understand
neural development in insects. Insect nervous systems develop along widely differing timetables, depending on the life stages of
the species. Dr. Tolbert will provide background on embryonic development and metamorphosis of the nervous system, but will
focus mostly on intercellular interactions that play key roles no matter what the timetable, no matter what the extent of post
embryonic reorganization, of the developing nervous system.
Basic science can contribute much more. Dr. Eberhardt accepted to tell us why is it that male genitalia tend to evolve
rapidly and divergently in so many animal groups. He will summarize data and ideas from insects and arachnids that have
appeared in the last 15 years that relate to various hypotheses (species isolation by mechanical lock and key; pleiotropy; male-
female conflict of interests; cryptic female choice) that have been proposed to answer this question. Dr. Eberhardt will also
present:
a. demonstrations that multiple genitalic contacts and copulations by the female, a prerequisite for die male female
conflict and cryptic female choice hypotheses, is more common than previously thought, even in groups previously
thought to be monandrous;
b. realization that there are many female processes that can affect the chances that a given copulation will result in
fertilization of a female’s eggs;
c. documentation from literature reviews and a survey study that courtship during and following copulation is extremely
widespread among insects and spiders, and also though apparently to a lesser extent, among scorpions;
d. and the realization that the well-documented evolutionary trend for male seminal products to stimulate several female
reproductive processes that benefit the male’s reproduction is probably a result of either male-female conflict or sexual
selection by cryptic female choice.
We come to this congress to hear about insect genitalia, but also the role of the insect gut microbiota, which is the subject
of Dr. Dillon’s lecture. It is a premise that the success of the Class Insecta in our world is beyond dispute. What is less known is
the extent to which microorganisms contribute to this success. The intestinal tract of many insects has been shown to harbor a
large diverse microbial community. Although we are now aware of mutualistic associations between a number of insect species
and their extra cellular gut microbiota, many species are known to contain a substantial microbiota whose impact on insect
survival is unknown. There are still relatively few studies on the role of the normal microbiota of insects compared to their
ABSTRACT BOOK I - XXI-Intemational Congress of Entomology, Brazil, August 20-26, 2000