02177nas a2200217   4500008004100000245017300041210006900214300001200283490000700295520136200302653001501664653001001679653001501689653002301704653002701727653000901754653002001763100002401783700001901807856013301826       2007                        eng d00aEcology and impact of Allorhogas sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Apion sp. (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) on fruits of Miconia calvescens DC (Melastomataceae) in Brazil0 aEcology and impact of Allorhogas sp Hymenoptera Braconidae and A  a317-3220 v433 aTwo fruit-feeding insects, a gall wasp, Allorhogas sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), and a beetle, Apion sp. (Coleoptera: Curculionoi- dea), were evaluated in their native habitat in Brazil as potential biological control agents of Miconia calvescens DC (Melastomataceae). Allorhogas sp. occurred at two out of three field sites with native populations of M. calvescens, and Apion sp. occurred at all three sites. Both species exhibited aggregated distributions among M. calvescens trees sampled at each site. Allorhogas sp. infested 9.0% and 3.8% of fruits at each of two sites. The number of larvae and pupae of Allorhogas sp. and/or an unidentified parasitoid (Hymenopetera: Eulo- phidae: Tetrastichinae) ranged from one to five per infested fruit. Fruits infested with Allorhogas sp. were 20% larger and had 79% fewer seeds than healthy fruits. Although adults of Apion sp. were found on leaves and inflorescences of M. calvescens at all three sites, larvae and pupae were found in fruits at only one site, where a maximum of 1.4% of fruits were infested. Fruits infested by Apion sp. contained only one larva or pupa, and were 15% smaller and had 62% fewer seeds than healthy fruits. While a variety of apionids have been used for biological control in the past, this is the first time a braconid wasp has been considered for biological control of a weed.10aAllorhogas10aApion10afruit size10aMiconia calvescens10aphytophagous gall wasp10aseed10aweed management1 aBadenes-Perez, F.R.1 aJohnson, Tracy  uhttp://seag-insectes.com/en/content/ecology-and-impact-allorhogas-sp-hymenoptera-braconidae-and-apion-sp-coleoptera-curculionoid