Biologia e controle de Stomoxys Calcitrans (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Muscidae) em áreas destinadas à produção de cana-de-açúcar

Abstract

Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae) is a hematophagous fly of livestock worldwide and can cause significant damage, its control depends on preventive measures, such as the elimination of the foci of its proliferation. However, due to the growing demand from the livestock and sugar and alcohol sectors in the country, it becomes difficult to apply only preventive measures against this species, which is due to the large-scale provision of environments for immature proliferation by these sectors, generating common outbreaks in Brazil. The objective of this study was to test some IGRs (Insect Growth Regulators) and biological larvicides in larvae of S. calcitrans. Furthermore, the studies aimed to determine the thermal requirements (Tb and K) and estimate the number of generations of S. calcitrans. The experiments were carried out in the Entomology Laboratory of the company Legado Pesquisa e Consultoria Agronômica, Dourados, MS, Brazil. The results showed that the IGRs triflumuron, pyriproxyfen and diflubenzuron significantly reduced survival of S. calcitrans larvae by 60%, 44% and 68%, respectively. Regarding cumulative mortality (larval + pupal mortality) it was 82%, 88% and 92% respectively. Larval mortality with the biological Bacillus thuringiensis israelenses variety and Beauveria bassiana was 24% and 72%, respectively, while cumulative mortality was 46% and 86%, respectively. The development time of all immature stages of S. calcitrans decreased with increasing temperature. The egg-adult period ranged from 31.1 to 7.2 days at temperatures of 17 and 33°C, respectively. Survival of the egg-adult at extreme temperatures (17 and 33°C) was 20%, while at 25°C it was 84%. Based on the thermal requirements for S. calcitrans and the average temperatures of three municipalities in the midwest of Brazil, it was estimated that S. calcitrans is capable of completing at least 22 generations annually. The lower thermal limit of development (Tb) and the thermal constant (K) for the egg-adult S. calcitrans was 14.1°C and 153.4 GD, respectively. The result of this study helps in estimating the number of generations of S. calcitrans depending on climatic conditions, as well as larvicide options with different active principles.