FERNANDO L. CÔNSOLI
Postdoctoral Associate Research
 
Department of Entomology
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-2475
(979) 845-4772
f-consoli@tamu.edu
I am working on the development of in vitro rearing systems for parasites and parasitoids of the Imported Red Fire Ant. My research will be focused on a cell parasite, Thelohania spp., a microsporidian protozoan that infects the fat body and ovaries of the fire ant, and on 3 different parasitoids that are associate with this ant (Phoridae, Strepsiptera and Eucaridae). However, my first attempt is to analyse the composition of the hemolymph of the fire ant. This analyses will allow us to develop suitable insect cell media for the establishment of primary cultures of cells of the fire ants. These cell lines will support the in vitro development of Thelohania. Also, data on the composition of the IFA hemolymph will be used to formulate artificial diets for the development of the parasitoids. Currently, I am working on the development of primary cultures of different tissues of the IFA and on the development of artificial diets for one of the species of parasitoids, Pseudacteon tricuspis (Diptera: Phoridae) (in association with the University of Texas - Austin).

I am also working with a pupal parasitoid, Melittobia digitata Dahms (Hym., Eulophidae), studying some aspects of its biology, physiology, behavior and host interaction. Yet, I am trying to improve the artificial host previously developed for the in vitro rearing of this parasitoid.
 

Education

After been graduated as a B.S. Biology (1986 - 1989) from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP/SP - Brazil), I took both my M.S. (1992 -1993) and PhD. Entomology (1994 - 1997) in the Department of Entomology, Escola de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" (ESALQ/USP) where I worked on the in vitro rearing of two species of trichogrammatids egg parasitoids, Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and T. pretiosum Riley. During my PhD. program,  I developed an artificial diet and a suitable artificial host that allowed the full development of both species, from egg parasitization to adult eclosion, with the in vitro-reared adults being comparable to the in vivo-reared ones.
 

Publications

Cônsoli, F.L.; Parra, J.R.P. Development of an artificial host for in vitro egg laying of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and Trichogramma pretiosum Riley. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (accepted).

Cônsoli, F.L.; Parra, J.R.P.; Vinson, S.B. Estimating parasitoid immature mortality by comparing oviposition and pupal development by Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and T. pretiosum Riley. Revista Brasileira de Biologia (in review).

Cônsoli, F.L.; Kitajima, E.W.; Parra, J.R.P. Ultrastructure of the natural and factitious host eggs of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). International Journal of Insect Morphology and Embryology (in review).

Cônsoli, F.L.; Kitajima, E.W.; Parra, J.R.P. Sensilla on the antenna and ovipositor of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and T. pretiosum Riley (Hym., Trichogrammatidae). Microscopy Research Technique (in review).

Cônsoli, F.L.; Rossi, M.M.; Parra, J.R.P. Developmental time and characteristics of the immature stages of Trichogramma galloi and Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia (accepted).

Cônsoli, F.L.; Parra, J.R.P. Nutritional quality of artificial diets for Trichogramma as affected by the age of the host used as an insect derivative component. Anais da Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil (in review).

Cônsoli, F.L., Parra, J.R.P. Parasitization and development of different strains of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hym.: Trichogrammatidae) on artificial eggs. Annais da Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil (accepted).

Parra, J.R.P.; Milano, P.; Cônsoli, F.L.; Zério, N.G.; Haddad, M.L. Efeito da nutrição de adultos e da umidade na fecundidade de Diatraea saccharalis (Fabr.) (Lep., Pyralidae). Anais da Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil (accepted).

Cônsoli, F.L.; Parra, J.R.P. Side-effects of chemicals used in the control of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) - Exposure of the adult stage. Journal of Economic Entomology (in review).

Cônsoli, F.L.; Botelho, P.S.M.; Parra, J.R.P. Selectivity of insecticides to the egg parasitoid Trichogramma galloi Zucchi (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae). Journal of Applied Entomology (in review).

Cônsoli, F.L.; Parra, J.R.P.; Hassan, S.A. 1998. Side-effects of insecticides used in tomoto fields on the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hym., Trichogrammatidae), a natural enemy of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lep., Gelechiidae). Journal of Applied Entomology, 122: 43-47.

Cônsoli, F.L.; Parra, J.R.P. 1997. Development of an oligidic diet for "in vitro" rearing of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and T. pretiosum Riley. Biological Control, 8: 172-176.

Cônsoli, F.L.; Parra, J.R.P.  1997. Parasitism behavior of Trichogramma galloi on natural and factitious hosts withg an ultrastructural study of the host eggs. In: International Conference on Pests in Agriculture, 4., 6-8 January, Montpellier (France), p. 717-724. Annales.

Cônsoli, F.L.; Parra, J.R.P. 1997. Produção in vitro de parasitóides: criação de Trichogramma galloi Zucchi e T. pretiosum Riley, no Brasil, pp. 259-302. In: Parra, J.R.P.; Zucchi, R.A. ed. Trichogramma e o Controle Biológico Aplicado. Piracicaba: FEALQ/USP.

Parra, J.R.P.; Cônsoli, F.L.; Hassan, S.A.  1997. Effects of the factitious hosts, Ephestia kuehniella and Sitotroga cerealella, on the quality of Trichogramma pretiosum. In: International Conference on Pests in Agriculture, 4., 6-8 January, Montpellier (France), p. 735-740. Annales.

Cônsoli, F.L.; Parra, J.R.P. 1996. Comparison of hemolymph and holotissues of different species of insects as diet components for in vitro rearing of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and T. pretiosum Riley. Biological Control, 6: 401-406.

Cônsoli, F.L.; Parra, J.R.P. 1996. Biology and parasitism of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and T. pretiosum Riley reared "in vitro" and "in vivo". Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 89: 828-834.

Parra, J.R.P.; Vinson, S.B.; Gomes, S.M.; Cônsoli, F.L. 1996.  Flight response of Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in a wind tunnel to volatiles associated with infestations of  Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Biological Control, 6: 143-150.

Cônsoli, F.L.; Zucchi, R.A.; Lopes, J.R.S. 1996. Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, 1856 (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae: Phyllocnistinae) - A lagarta minadora dos citros. Piracicaba: FEALQ. 39p.

Cônsoli, F.L.; Parra, J.R.P. 1995. Parasitism capacity of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi and T. pretiosum Riley reared in vitro and in vivo. Les Colloques de l'INRA, 73: 149-154.

Cônsoli, F.L.; Amaral Filho, B.F. 1995. Biology of Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv.) reared on five corn genotypes.  Journal of Stored Products Research,  31: 139-143.

Cônsoli, F.L.; Parra, J.R.P. 1995. Effects of constant and alternating temperatures on Trichogramma galloi Zucchi biology. II. Parasitism capacity and Longevity.  Journal of applied Entomology, 119: 667-670.

Cônsoli, F.L.; Parra, J.R.P. 1995. Effects of constant and alternating temperatures on Trichogramma galloi Zucchi biology. I. Development and Thermal requirements.  Journal of applied Entomology, 119: 415-418.

Cônsoli, F.L.; Parra, J.R.P. 1994. Efeito do Fotoperíodo na Biologia de Trichogramma galloi Zucchi.  Anais da Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil, 23: 467-472.

Amaral Filho, B.F.; Gióia, I.; Waib, C.M.; Mendeleck, E.; Cônsoli, F.L.  1994. Observações sobre a biologia de Apiomerus lanipes (Fabricius) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae). Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 11(2): 283-288.

Parra, J.R.P.; Cônsoli, F.L. 1992. In vitro rearing of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, 1879. Ciência e Cultura, 44(6): 407-9.

Cônsoli, F.L.; Amaral Filho, B.F. 1992. Ciclo biológico de Montina confusa (Stäl, 1859) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) alimentado com diferentes presas. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 36(3): 697-702.

Amaral Filho, B.F.; Silva, C.K.; Lima, C.C.; Cônsoli, F.L. 1992. Influência da temperatura no ciclo de Thyanta perditor (Fabricius, 1794) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Anais da Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil, 21(1): 15-20.

Silva, C.K.; Amaral Filho, B.F.; Lima, C.C.; Cônsoli, F.L. 1991. Observações do estágio de ovo e adulto de Mormidea notulifera (Stäl, 1860) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Bioikos, 4(1): 7-12.

Amaral Filho, B.F.; Cônsoli, F.L. 1989. Biologia de Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv., 1819) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) em condições de laboratório. Revista de Agricultura, 64(3): 287-300.

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