Ecologia química de Stiphra spp. (orthoptera: proscopiidae) em Eucalyptus spp.

Abstract

Eucalyptus is a genus belonging to the Myrtaceae family, comprising approximately 700 species native to Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. Some of these species have gained significant market share in Brazil due to their high adaptability to the environment, rapid growth, and broad range of wood uses. However, eucalyptus monocultures have become susceptible to biotic agents that cause damage and negatively impact the forestry economy. Among these agents, taquarinhas, Stiphra spp. (Orthoptera: Proscopiidae), stand out. Although considered secondary pests, recent reports—especially in the states of Bahia and Alagoas indicate frequent population outbreaks, highlighting the need for effective management strategies. Chemical ecology, which studies the interactions between organisms and their environment through chemical signals(semiochemicals), offers promising toolsfor pest control. These chemical substances play essential roles in insect behavior, such as communication for mating, alarm, and aggregation, and can be used in traps for pest monitoring and management. This study aimed to identify possible semiochemical compounds emitted by male and female Stiphra spp., as well as those present in their feces. The work was conducted at the natural resources research laboratory. For the analysis, headspace aeration was carried out on males and females, separately, with and without food, in addition to their feces, to obtain hexane extracts. The extracts were analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID), and the Kovats Retention Index (RI) was calculated for preliminary compound identification. The GC-FID analysis revealed a total of 335 possible compounds, based on comparison with a retention index table corresponding to the NST 05 column. Among the volatile compounds detected in more than one extract, 2-phenylacetonitrile stands out, found in all extracts and previously identified as an aggregation pheromone in Orthoptera.