THE EFFECTS OF VOLCANIC ASH FROM PUYEHUE-CAULLE RANGE ERUPTION ON THE SURVIVAL OF DICHROPLUS VITTIGERUM (ORTHOPTERA: ACRIDIDAE)

FERNANDEZ-ARHEX VALERIA; BUTELER, MICAELA; PIETRANTUONO ANA LAURA; STADLER, T.; BECKER G; BRUZZONE O

FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST

FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGICAL SOC

Lugar: Nueva York; Año: 2013 vol. 96 p. 286 - 288

0015-4040

The aim of this work was to evaluate the toxicity of volcanic ash from the volcanic complex Puyehue-Caulle Range (erupted in Chile on June 4th, 2011) on the grasshopper, Dichroplus vittigerum, and compare the results with the effect of diatomaceous earth, natural agent commonly used as pesticide. To test this, we conducted an acute toxicity test by exposing adults of D. vittigerum to volcanic ash or diatomaceous earth, and we also studied the survival time of the adult stage after exposure to these two types of dust, simulating with fans the wind gusts that occur naturally in the influence area of the volcano. The laboratory data show that constant exposure to volcanic ash and diatomaceous earth induces mortality in adult grasshoppers. These results suggest that the onset of the volcanic eruption with the consequent suspension of the piroclastic material in the air may have had a negative impact on D. vittigerum population through the mortality of individual adults. The results suggest that the progression of the eruption with the precipitation and wind relocation of the fine particles might have affectedsurvival of D. vittigerum adultsin a larger area. In summary, both volcanic ash and diatomaceous earth have a similar an insecticidal effect s on adults of D. vittigerum.