Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are an ecologically and economically important group of eucalypt pests, and outbreaks have increased in the recent years, mainly of species in the subfamily Molitinae (Garlet et al. 2011; Souza 2011; Cedeño & Flowers 2012; Sweeney et al. 2012; Mafia et al. 2013). Damage by Molitinae weevils in general includes defoliation and chewing holes and pruning the apical sprout and lateral branches, which affects tree growth and wood quality.

The Brazilian eucalypt pruner, Chalcodermus bicolor Fiedler (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), causes high levels of damage to the Brazilian eucalypt plantations (Souza et al. 2011). After the female has cut through main and lateral tree sprouts, further damage is caused when the female oviposits in the branch tips.

Chemical insecticide treatment is required to control this species, but pesticides cannot be used by eucalypt producers because many forest enterprises are certified by international forest regulations (e.g., Forest Stewardship Council), which restrict pesticide use. The aim of this work was to find natural enemies affecting C. bicolor immature stages.

This study was carried out in Mucuri County, in the southern region of Bahia State, Brazil. To survey for natural enemies of the eucalypt pruner, we collected 440 tips from hybrid Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis (Myrtaceae) trees that had been pruned by the weevils. Samples from the approximately 1 ha site were collected in 2011 on 24 Feb, 4 Mar, and 19 Mar. In the laboratory, branch tips were stored in 18 cm Petri dishes until parasitoids emerged, which were collected daily and stored in 70% ethanol. Specimens were identified by V. A. Costa. Photos were taken using a Leica M165C stereomicroscope equipped with a Leica DFC420 camera and the Leica Application Suite software.

Figs. 1–3.

Hymenoptera natural enemies of Chalcodermus bicolor. 1 and 2: Euderus spp. (Eulophidae), scale bars = 1.33 mm; and 3: Eurydinoteloides sp. (Pteromalidae), scale bar = 1.40 mm.

We obtained 257 adult parasitoids from the collected tips. Among these insects, we could identify 3 morphospecies in the genus Euderus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) (Figs. 1 and 2); these morphospecies represented 98.4% (n = 253) of all parasitoids that emerged. Four specimens were identified as Eurydinoteloides sp. Girault (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) (Fig. 3). Specimens were deposited in the Biological Institute Museum, São Paulo County, São Paulo State, Brazil. Percentage of adult parasitoid emergence from the sampled branch tips were: 63.2% (n = 120; 24 Feb), 57.0 % (n = 87; 4 Mar), and 50.0% (n = 50; 19 Mar), which suggests an estimate of the natural parasitism level in C. bicolor populations of 56.7%, mainly caused by the 3 Euderus species.

Previous reports of Euderus parasitism of Curculionidae species include Cylindrocopturus eatoni Buchanan and Ceutorhynchus rapae (Gyllenhal) (Yoshimoto 1971); Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham) (Dosdall et al. 2009; Mason et al. 2011); Cylas formicarius (F.) (Jansson & Lecrone 1991), and Gonipterus scutellatus Gyllenhal (Loch 2008). Similarly, Eurydinoteloides species attack various Curculionidae species, including Eutinobothrus brasiliensis (Hambleton) (Hambleton & Sauer 1938; Monte 1944; Sauer 1946), species of Chalcodermus Schönherr, and 10 additional genera (Noyes 2015).

In summary, we report for the first time that 3 Euderus species and 1 species in the genus Eurydinoteloides are acting as natural enemies of C. bicolor in Brazilian eucalypt plantations. We suggest that Euderus species should be studied further as candidates for biological control programs against the eucalypt pruner. Mass rearing and inundative release of adults of Euderus may be a useful strategy against this important weevil in the Brazilian eucalypt plantations.

We thank Suzano Papel e Celulose for allowing access to eucalypt plantations to carry out this study.