Biologia, tabela de vida de Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) em diferentes plantas hospedeiras e controle químico de suas lagartas em condições de laboratório

Abstract

Helicoverpa armigera is a pest of economic importance that attacks several cultures, causing losses that are often irreversible. Thus, this research aimed to study the biology and life table of H. armigera when fed with different hosts, as well as the use of some chemicals and a biological product (flubendiamide, chloranthraniliprole + lambdacyhalothrin, chlorfenapyr, espinetoran, indoxacarb, emamectin benzoate, metomil and Bacillus thuringiensis) in the control of their caterpillars. The experiments were carried out at Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste (Dourados-MS), in the Entomology laboratory. The first trial involved the planting of eight crops (sunflower, sorghum, beans, canola, chickpeas, forage turnip, millet and crotalaria) for the production of vegetative and reproductive structures that have been offered as food to H. armigera caterpillars since the second larval instar and kept in plastic containers with a capacity of 100 mL under laboratory conditions (Temperature: 22 ± 1 ° C; RH: 70 ± 10%; Photophase: 12 hours). The adults were individualized in PVC cages covered with tulle, which also served as a substrate for moth oviposition. The results showed that the chickpea, bean and artificial diet provided greater viability of the immature phases of H. armigera, as well as greater survival of female adults in the reproductive period and higher fertility compared to other cultures. In the second test the efficiency of eight insecticides was evaluated, seven chemicals and one biological, aiming to control second and fourth instar caterpillars of H. armigera. It was found that all chemical and biological treatments tested caused significant mortality of small and large caterpillars of H. armigera, reaching a 100% control percentage at 7 days after treatment, showing the possibility of using insecticides to control the pest in field conditions.