Foraging and oviposition of Thyrinteina leucoceraea (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) on introduced and native hosts in Brazil sprayed with the protease inhibitor benzamidine

Authors

  • C L Oliveira Movimento de Educação Promocional do Espírito Santo, Associação da Escola Família Agrícola de Castelo, 29360-000, Castelo, Espírito Santo State, Brazil
  • A Pallini Filho Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
  • W de S Tavares Departamento de Fitotecnia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
  • M G de A Oliveira Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
  • J E Serrão Departamento de Biologia General, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
  • J C Zanuncio Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Keywords:

benzamidine, Eucalyptus grandis, geometrid moth, protease inhibitor, Psidium guajava

Abstract

The protease inhibitor (PI) benzamidine may be an option for protecting introduced Myrtaceae plants from insect pests. The foraging behavior of the larvae (number of larvae per plant) and oviposition (number of egg masses per plant and eggs per mass) of Thyrinteina leucoceraea (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) females were evaluated on an introduced Myrtaceae (Eucalyptus grandis) and a native one (Psidium guajava), both sprayed by the PI benzamidine in aqueous concentrations of 0.000, 0.125, 0.250, 0.375, and 0.500 mol. L–1 and with the adhesive spreader Triton X-100 at 0.01 % (mg. mL–1) in water as a control. The foraging preference by T. leucoceraea was similar between the different concentrations of the PI benzamidine on the treated host plants and the control. The numbers of egg masses per plant and eggs per mass of T. leucoceraea were similar between the treatments, but this insect showed slighter oviposition preference on non-sprayed E. grandis plants than on those of P. guajava sprayed with different concentrations of the inhibitor PI benzamidine. Similar foraging of larvae among treated plants and the lower reproduction of T. leucoceraea on treated E. grandis plants, show possibilities of using the PI benzamidine in the management programs of this herbivore, in this culture.

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Published

2014-11-25

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2014)

Section

Research Reports