Population fluctuation of Scolytidae (Coleoptera) in areas planted with Eucalyptus grandis (Myrtaceae) in Minas Gerais, Brazil

The size of a population and its variations through time and space are impo rtant variables that can be used to determine insect community structure in the field. For this reason ethanolic traps were used to study population f luctuation of Scolytidae species in plantations of Eucalyptus grandis. This study was developed during two years in Antonio Dias, State of Minas Gerai s, Brazil where these insects were collected and analyzed in function of te mperature and rainfall. Out of 16 Scolytidae species collected those with h igher number of individuals were Xyleborus paraguayensis, Xyleborus affinis and Xyleborus ferrugineus (96.27 % of individuals). Temperature and rainfa ll affected numbers of these insects collected with ethanolic traps. The fi rst two species presented larger populations during periods of low rainfall while X. ferrugineus presented the opposite pattern.