Population dynamics

The population density of Lepidoptera associated with M. calvescens was evaluated in the municipalities of Viçosa, Dionísio, and Guaraciaba in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The experimental area in Viçosa was located in a secondary forest fragment under an advanced stage of natural recovery. The area was located at an altitude of 700 m (20° 46′ 37″ S, 42° 50′ 36″ W). During the experimental period, the average temperature was 19.4 ^°C, and rainfall reached 1221 mm/yr.

In Dionísio, the experimental area was located in a riparian forest at the margins of the Rio Doce in an area belonging to a private company (CAF Santa Barbara Ltea.). The locality was at 344 m altitude and was located at 19° 50′ 34″ S, 42° 46′ 36″ W. During the experimental period, the average temperature was 23.2 °C, and rainfall reached 1003 mm/yr.

The experimental area in Guaraciaba was located in an abandoned pasture, under an initial natural recovery process, and was 1 km away from the Rio Piranga. This area was 580 m in altitude and located at 20° 34′ 36″ S, 43° 02′ 26″ W. During the evaluation period, the average temperature was 19.6° C, and rainfall reached 988.5 mm/yr. Miconia calvescens plants in this area were discovered at the beginning of 2005; therefore, evaluations at this site started only in that year.

Evaluations were performed during three different periods: the first period spanned June 2001 to June 2002; the second period was from February 2004 to February 2005; and the third period was from March 2005 to February 2006. During the first period, the plants were assessed every three weeks in Viçosa and Dionísio. During the second period, evaluations were carried out at 10-day intervals in Viçosa and monthly in Dionísio. In the third period, evaluations were made every two weeks in Viçosa and Guaraciaba.

Each evaluation involved the randomised sampling of ten M. calvescens plants, each one with a height of 1–7 m and a basal trunk diameter of 6–15 mm. For each plant, the number of Lepidoptera was counted in the main stem, six secondary branches, six inflorescences, and six infructescences. Leaves and buds from the secondary branches were examined. Six infrutescences were also brought to the laboratory to determinate whether Lepidoptera larvae were present inside the fruits. During the evaluations, the organ that each Lepidoptera attacked and the type and level of the damage caused by each species were recorded.

Representative samples of these species were deposited in the Museu Regional de Entomologia of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa.

Climate data from Viçosa were obtained from the climate station belonging to the Universidade Federal de Voçoa; data for Guaraciaba were obtained from the climate station at Ponte Nova (also belonging to the Universidade Federal de Viçosa); and data for Dionísio came from the Ponte Alta Climate Station (belonging to the private company CAF Santa Bárbara Ltda).

Population dynamics: Hawaiian biotype

In September 2005, 10 M. calvescens seedlings of Hawaiian biotype were transplanted into the ground at the experimental area in Guaraciaba. These seedlings were used because plants from Hawaii have a distinct appearance, with leaves slightly softer and different in color (purple in abbatial face; in Brazilian plants this part is green). Therefore, the objective of this study was observed whether the seedlings of Hawaiian biotype were naturally attacked by caterpillars.

Seeds were collected in Hawaii and germinated in a box with sand. When the seedlings were at a height of 30—40 cm, they were transplanted into the ground at Guaraciaba the experimental area next to M. calvescens plants that grew naturally. Seedlings were arranged in a row with 2 m spacing between the plants. From September 2005 to February 2006, the natural attacks on these seedlings by caterpillars were also assessed during the site visits. Evaluations were made until February 2006 because after this time, the seedlings did not establish in the field due to defoliation by ants (Atta spp.).

Effect of climatic parameters on caterpillar population dynamics

Canonical correlations and Pearson correlations were carried out to determinate the relationship between the population density of Lepidoptera and the climatic parameters (average, maximum, and minimum air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, photoperiod, and wind speed). Statistical analyses were performed using the SAS procedures PROC CANCOR and PROC COR. In these analyses, the related to Lepidoptera density of each evaluation and the averages of climatic parameters 15 days preceding the evaluations were applied, except for rainfall, for which the total rain in the 15 days before the evaluations was applied.

Parasitism

During the population peaks of Lepidoptera, 10 caterpillars of each species were collected in the field and brought to the laboratory to verify the emergence of parasitoids. These caterpillars were maintained in a rearing room with a light regime of 12:12 L:D, 26 ±2 °C air temperature, and 70 ±10% relative humidity. The defoliator caterpillars were placed in plastic bags (40 ×50 cm) with leaves of M calvescens. Fruit borer caterpillars were placed into transparent 2 L plastic pots (14 cm diameter, 14 cm height) with fruits inside. Flower feeding caterpillars were put inside wooden cage (0.5 ×1.0 ×1.2 m), enclosed in organza containing inflorescences of M. calvescens. The bags, pots, and cages that contained the caterpillars were maintained in a rearing room until the caterpillars pupated. The number of parasitized caterpillars and the number of emerged adult parasitoids of each Caterpillar were counted every day. The adult parasitoids were collected and forwarded to Dr. Maria Angélica Penteado-Dias for species identification.

Host specificity: field conditions

During the evaluations, all vegetation in the 2 m radius of M. calvescens sampled during the population dynamics experiment was also observed to check whether the Lepidoptera species had attacked other plant species. Among the species found close to M. calvescens, other Melastomataceae were found. The most common were as follows: Clidemia capitellata (Bonpl.) D. Don., Clidemia hirta (L.) Don, Leandra lacunosa Cogn, Miconia albicans (Sw.) Triana, M. mendoncaei Cogn., Miconia ibaguensis (Bonpl.), and Ossala confertiflora (DC). Organs of these species were carried to the laboratory to determinate whether Lepidoptera larvae were present inside.

Host specificity tests: Salbia lotanalis

Host specificity tests of S. lotanalis were carried out in glasshouses. These tests were conducted with the following Melastomataceae species: C. capitellata, C. hirta, M. mendoncaei, M. albicans, M. ibaguensis, L. lacunosa, O. confertiflora, Tibouchina granulosa (Desr.) Cogn., and T. moricandiana (DC.) Baill. The Hawaiian biotype of M. calvescens was also included in the tests.

The seeds of the Melastomataceae species were extracted from fresh fruits of trees located in the field where the evaluations were performed. The seeds of the Hawaiian biotype of M. calvescens were collected in Hawaii. The seeds were germinated in a box with sand. After about three months, when seedlings were 10–20 cm tall, they were transplanted to 5 L pots with soil. When the seedlings were 70–100 cm tall, four seedlings of each Melastomataceae species were put in a wooden cage (0.5 ×1.0 ×1.2 m), enclosed in organza and infested with five S. lotanalis caterpillars of the third instar. The caterpillars were reared in rooms similar to that described above. The instar of the caterpillars, their survival and the damage they caused to the seedlings were recorded daily.

Mass—rearing

Salbia lotanalis, D. inscita, A. leucocyma, C. cardinata, and P. rudimentaria were reared in rearing rooms similar to the room described above. Caterpillars of S. lotanalis, D. inscita, and A. leucocyma were collected and placed into transparent plastic bags (40 ×50 cm) with leaves of M. calvescens. Five M. calvescens leaves were placed in each bag along with five caterpillars of similar size. These bags were maintained in a rearing room until the caterpillars pupated. The pupae were separated by sex according to characters described by Butt and Cantu (1962) and placed into plastic pots with wet vermiculite to avoid desiccation.

Emerged adults were transferred to a wooden cage (0.5 ×1.0 ×1.2 m) and enclosed in organza with a young M. calvescens plant (0.8–1.0 m high). 10 pairs were placed inside each cage and fed with a 10% honey solution. After the eggs hatched, the caterpillars were transferred with a fine brush to leaves of M. calvescens, which were put inside plastic bags (40 ×50 cm) and maintained in a rearing room, following the same procedures mentioned above.

Miconia calvescens fruits attacked by C. cardinata were collected in the field and put in into transparent 2 L plastic pots (14 cm diameter, 14 cm height). Each pot received about 80 g of fruit. The pots were capped with organza and their bottoms were covered with paper for absorbing the dampness of the fruits. When the fruits began to rot, the caterpillars were removed and transferred to pots containing fresh fruits. As caterpillars attained the pupa stage outside the fruits, the pupae could be seen and removed from the pots. The pupae were separated by sex according to characters described by Butt and Cantu (1962) and placed into plastic pots with wet vermiculite. The emerged adults were transferred to pots containing mature fruits of M. calvescens. 10 pairs of C. cardinata were put in each pot, and they were fed with a 10% honey solution. Emerged caterpillars from these pots were reared as mentioned above.

Caterpillars of P. rudimentaria were reared in wooden cages (0.5 ×0.5 ×0.5 m) and enclosed in organza with M. calvescens inflorescences. The inflorescences were collected in the field and maintained with their peduncle immersed in glass bottles containing 100 mL of water. 20 caterpillars of the same instar and four inflorescences were put in each cage. The inflorescences were changed every five days. Pupae were separated by sex according to characters described by Butt and Cantu (1962) and placed into plastic pots with wet vermiculite. The emerged adults were transferred to wooden cages (same characters described above) with four M. calvescens inflorescences. 10 pairs of P. rudimentaria were placed in each cage, and they were fed with a 10% honey solution. After the eggs hatched, caterpillars were transferred to new M. calvescens inflorescences and reared as mentioned above.

Salbia lotanalis

Salbia lotanalis is a leaf roller. Its caterpillars roll leaves longitudinally, forming tubes where they feed and eventually pupate. One caterpillar is able to destroy an entire leaf, causing its abscission. Adults are small brown moths with yellowish patterns on the wings and caterpillars are green with black patterns on the body (Figure 1A—C).

The density of S. lotanalis was higher in Dionísio and Guaraciaba than Viçosa. In Dionísio, population peaks occurred from January to April 2002 and from May to October 2004. In Guaraciaba, S. lotanalis caterpillars were found throughout the whole evaluation period, with population peaks from June to September 2005. In Viçosa, S. lotanalis caterpillars were found occasionally and at a low density (Figure 2A). During population peaks, the damage caused by these caterpillars to M. calvescens plants was high, amounting to 50% defoliation. In these periods, some M. calvescens seedlings (Brazilian biotype) died due the high levels of defoliation by this leaf roller.

Salbia lotanalis and one species of Limacodidae were observed attacking sentinel plants (Hawaiian biotype) at Guaraciaba (Table 1). Two weeks after the sentinel plants were taken to the field S. lotanalis caterpillars were already found on these plants. The highest intensity of attack occurred from September to December 2006 (Figure 2A). In this period, all seedlings were attacked by at least one caterpillar. Furthermore, in December, one seedling died due to the damage caused by this caterpillar species. Only four Limacodidae caterpillars were found defoliating the seedlings in October.

Table 1.

Host range of Salbia lotanalis as revealed by attack (+) or non—attack (-) on Melastomataceae species in field evaluations and in host specificity tests.

Nearly 10% of S. lotanalis caterpillars brought from the field were parasitized. Three parasitoid species were found: two Hymenoptera [Apanteles sp. (Braconidae) and Pediobius sp. (Eulophidae)] and a Diptera (Tachinidae). Apanteles sp. larvae emerged from the last instar of S. lotanalis and pupated outside the caterpillars. The pupae of this braconid are white, and about 20–30 larvae emerged from each caterpillar. Pupae of Tachinidae were also found in the last instar of S. lotanalis. The pupae of this Diptera are brown, and about 6–10 pupae emerged in each caterpillar. Three S. lotanalis pupae were also parasitized by Conura sp. (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) in October 2004.

In the field, S. lotanalis caterpillars were not found on other plants species, including the other Melastomataceae assessed (Table 1). However, a similar species, Ategumia matutinalis Guenée, was observed attacking C. hirta. Ategumia matutinalis caterpillars are very similar to S. lotanalis, with similar wing color patterns as adults (Figure 1D). In host specificity tests, S. lotanalis caterpillars were able to develop through to pupation on both C. hirta and the Hawaiian biotype of M. calvescens. In other Melastomataceae, no damage by caterpillars was verified, and they died of starvation (Table 1).

Druentia inscita

Druentia inscita caterpillars are also leaf rollers. They feed mostly on apical foliage, which they can completely destroy. The caterpillars are yellow with brown stripes and the adults are brown with two darker stripes on the wings (Figure 1E—F). Similarly to S. lotanalis, D. inscita caterpillars are found singly inside the leaf tubes. This species was also more abundant in Dionísio, with population peaks from May to June 2002 and from February to June 2004. In Viçosa, this caterpillar species was found occasionally and at low density. In Guaraciaba, it was found only in March 2005 (Figure 2B).

No parasitism was verified in D. inscita. No caterpillars of this lepidopteran were found in other plant species during the field evaluations, including the other Melastomataceae that were assessed (Table 1).

Antiblemma leucocyma

Antiblemma leucocyma caterpillars are defoliators that make irregular holes in leaves. They are green and have a distinctive looping walk (Figure 1E—F), and were found in all three places (Figure 2C). Caterpillars of this species were found during the evaluation period in Dionísio. In Viçosa, their population peaks occurred from April 2005 to February 2006, while in Guaraciaba, they occurred only from May to July 2005 (Figure 2C).

About 30% of the A. leucocyma caterpillars brought from the field were parasitized by Hymenoptera (Apanteles sp. (Braconidae)). Many A. leucocyma caterpillars found in the field had dark coloration, indicating that they were parasitized. Caterpillars of this Lepidoptera were not found in the other plant species assessed (Table 1).

Limacodidae

Three species of Limacodidae caterpillars were found occasionally in Viçosa, Dionísio, and Guaraciaba, causing defoliation of M. calvescens plants. These caterpillars were also found on the other sampled plant species neighboring M. calvescens, including plants belonging to the Melastomataceae family.

Carposina cardinata

Carposina cardinata is a fruit borer of M. calvescens and is found only in Guaraciaba. Its caterpillars are beige and in the last instar they measure about 3 mm long. Adults are micro moths, bright gray, and measure about 5 mm (Figure 1H—I). They live inside fruits and feed on the flesh and seeds, causing severe damage. One to five caterpillars were found in each M. calvescens fruit. Carposina cardinata caterpillars were found in Guaraciaba in 2005, from March to September, which corresponded to the period of M. calvescens fruit production (Figure 3A). No parasitized caterpillars were found. During this period, the following Melastomataceae were also in their fruiting periods: C. capitellata, C. hirta, L. lacunosa, M. albicans, M. mendoncaie, M. ibaguenscens, and O. confertiflora. However, no C. cardinata was found in the fruits of any of these species (Table 1).

Pleuroprucha rudimentaria

Pleuroprucha rudimentaria caterpillars feed on flowers. These caterpillars are brown, with white stripes and a distinctive looping walk (Figure 1J—L). This species was found only in Viçosa and Guaraciaba. In Viçosa, caterpillars attacked M. calvescens from April to June 2005 and in December 2005. In Guaraciaba, they were present from May to September 2005 (Figure 3B). During these population peaks, about 40% of inflorescences were completely stripped by this caterpillar species, and the fruit production of the M. calvescens plants was extremely low. No P. rudimentaria caterpillars brought to the laboratory were parasitized. This caterpillar was not found in other plant species, including the other Melastomataceae assessed (Table 1).

Table 2.

Canonical correlations and canonical pairs between the abundance of Lepidoptera associated with Miconia calvescens and climatic parameters in Viçosa, Dionísio and Guaraciaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Effect of climatic parameters on caterpillar population dynamics

There was a significant canonical correlation between the density of each Lepidopteran associated with M. calvescens and climatic parameters (Wilks' Lambda = 0.35, F = 2.72, df _num/den= 35/335, p < 0.01). Five canonical axes were generated, out of which only the first two were significant at 5% probability and explained 86% of the correlation. According to the first canonical axis, among the Lepidoptera, S. lotanalis was the most influenced by the climatic parameters (r = -0.89), and according to the second axis, D. inscita (r = 0.86) was the most influenced by the climatic parameters. The climatic parameters that most affected the Lepidoptera density were the maximum (r = 0.75) and average (r = 0.79) air temperature according to the first axis, and the minimum air temperature (0.57) according to the second axis (Table 2).

There was a positive Pearson correlation among the minimum, maximum, and average air temperatures and the population density of D. inscita (r = 034,p < 0.01, r = 0.25,p < 0.01 and r = 0.28, p< 0.01, respectively). In fact, highest densities of D. inscita were observed Dionísio, where air temperatures were higher (28.6, 19.6, 23.2 °C maximum, average, and minimum air temperatures, respectively) than Viçosa (27.2, 15.1, 20.1 °C maximum, average, and minimum air temperatures, respectively) and Guaraciaba (22.9, 16.3, 16.3 °C maximum, average, and minimum air temperatures, respectively) (Figure 4). There was a negative Pearson correlation among the maximum and average air temperatures and the population density of S. lotanalis (r = -0.38, p < 0.01 and r = -0.39, p < 0. 01, respectively). On the other hand, S. lotanalis was more frequent in Guaraciaba, where the temperatures were lowest. In addition the population peaks of this caterpillar occurred in colder months (Figure 4).

Mass—rearing

Salbia lotanalis, D. inscita, and A. leucocyma can be reared throughout the year under laboratory conditions. As M. calvescens trees maintain a large number of leaves throughout the year, the caterpillars of these species have plenty of food throughout the year. Furthermore, M. calvescens leaves stayed in good condition for a week when they were kept in the plastic bags. Salbia lotanalis was the easiest to rear in the laboratory because of its shorter life cycle (about 70–100 days), high reproductive rate (∼90 eggs/female), and low mortality rate (more than 70% of individuals reached the adult stage). The life cycles of D. inscita and of A. leucocyma are longer, lasting 150–200 and 100–120 days, respectively. The reproductive rate of both these species is smaller (about 30 eggs/female).

Carposina cardinata and P. rudimentaria can be reared in the laboratory only during the flowering and fruiting periods of M. calvescens. Only two generations of these Lepidoptera were reared in the laboratory because afterwards there were no fruits or flowers in the field for feeding the caterpillars or for egg—laying by the adults. Carposina cardinata caterpillars survived and fed on fruits maintained in plastic pots. Their adults also laid eggs in M. calvescens fruits inside the pots. Pleuroprucha rudimentaria caterpillars fed on the inflorescences brought from the field, and adults laid their eggs in these inflorescences.