ABSTRACT Piper aduncum found naturally in the Amazon and southeastern Brazil, is known for its secondary metabolites that have activity on insects. Anticarsia gemmatalis and Spodoptera frugiperda are among the major insect pests associated with agricultural production. This research evaluated the biological activity of hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts of P. aduncum leaves on mortality and duration of larval and pupal periods, as well as weight, width, and length of A. gemmatalis and S. frugiperda pupae. The mortality of A. gemmatalis larvae in trials with P. aduncum extracts were 93.3% (hexane) and 90% (ethyl acetate), estimating LC50 of 6.35 and 5.79 mg/mL, respectively. Mortality in S. frugiperda submitted to the hexane extract ranged from 3.33% to 96.66% (LC50 of 8.22 mg/mL). The ethanol extract induced low mortality (3.33% to 23.33%). The P. aduncum extracts did not affect the development of S. frugiperda pupae. In A. gemmatalis differences in weight and length occurred. The chemical characterization was by GC-MS, which revealed that the major constituent in the hexane extract of P. aduncum was apiol (90.7%). P. aduncum extracts are important and promising components to manage A. gemmatalis and S. frugiperda, which cause extensive production losses.

ABSTRACT The biotic potential and reproductive parameters of Spodoptera dolichos (Fabricius, 1794) were evaluated under controlled conditions (25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% RH and 14 hour photophase). The longevity, pre-, post- and oviposition periods, fecundity, and fertility of 25 couples were evaluated. The longevity of females (12.9 days) was not significantly different than that of males (12.4 days). The mean durations of the pre-, post- and oviposition periods were 3.0, 0.4 and 10.4 days, respectively. The mean fecundity was 4,086.0 eggs per female and mean fertility was 3,557.8 larvae per female. On average, a female copulated 1.4 times. The biotic potential of S. dolichos was estimated at 7.138 x 1018 individuals/female/year. The net reproductive rate (Ro) was 1,711.98 times per generation and the mean generation time (T) was 56.19 days. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was 0.133, with a finite rate of increase (l) of 1.142 per day. These results are compared with other species from Spodoptera and their relevance for management strategies of S. dolichos.

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o potencial biótico e parâmetros da tabela de vida e fertilidade de Spodoptera albula (Walker, 1857) em condições controladas (25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% UR e fotofase de 14 horas). Avaliou-se a longevidade, períodos de pré, pós e oviposição, fecundidade e fertilidade de 13 casais. A longevidade das fêmeas (13,500 dias) foi significativamente maior que a dos machos (11,154 dias). A duração dos períodos médios de pré, pós e oviposição foram de 2,615, 1,769 e 9,385 dias, respectivamente. A fecundidade média foi de 1.417,69 ovos e a fertilidade 1.340,401 larvas por fêmea. Em média, as fêmeas copularam 1,231 vezes. Observou-se forte correlação positiva entre número de cópulas e a fecundidade (r = 0,847, p < 0,001) e, forte correlação negativa, entre o número de cópulas e a duração do período de pré-oviposição (r = -0,762, p = 0,002), e a longevidade (r = -0,788, p = 0,001). O potencial biótico de S. albula foi estimado em 8,768 x 1022 indivíduos/fêmea/ano. A taxa líquida de reprodução (Ro) foi de 353.904 vezes por geração e o tempo médio de uma geração (T) foi de 37,187 dias. A taxa intrínseca de aumento (rm) foi de 1,105, com uma razão finita de aumento (λ) de 3,019.

This study aimed to evaluate the biotic potential, life table parameters and fertility of Spodoptera albula (Walker, 1857) under controlled conditions (25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% RH and 14 hour photo phase). The longevity, pre, post and oviposition periods, fecundity and fertility of 13 couples were evaluated. The longevity of females (13.500 days) was significantly higher than those of males (11.154 days). The mean durations of the pre, post and oviposition periods were 2.615, 1.769 and 9.385 days, respectively. The mean fecundity was 1.417.69 eggs and mean fertility was 1.340.401 larvae, per female. On average, females copulated 1, 231 times. A strong positive correlation was observed between the number of copulations and fecundity (r = 0.847, p <0.001), as well as a strong negative correlation between the number of copulations and the duration of the pre-oviposition period (r = -0.762, p = 0.002), and longevity (r = -0.788, p = 0.001). The biotic potential of S. albula was estimated at 8.768 x 1022 individuals / female / year. The net reproductive rate (Ro) was 353,904 times per generation and the mean generation time (T) was 37.187 days. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was 1,105, with a finite rate of increase (λ) of 3,019.

This study describes the life cycle of Agrotis malefida Guenée, 1852 (Noctuidae: Noctuinae) under laboratory conditions. The insects were reared in a controlled environment (25 ± 1ºC, 70 ± 10% RH and 14 hours photo phase) and observed daily. The larvae were fed Greene's artificial diet and adults were offered a 10% sucrose solution. The viability and duration of immature stages were assessed. The experiment initiated with 2,410 eggs. Larvae were isolated shortly after hatching. Longevity, pre-, post- and oviposition, fecundity and fertility of 13 adult couples were also evaluated. The viability of eggs, larvae, pupae and pre-pupae was 96.72, 91.25, 78.37 and 95.26%, respectively. The average duration of egg, larva, pre-pupa, pupa and adult was 7.93, 54.26, 61.61, 37.43 and 12.85 days, respectively. The immature stage of A. malefida lasted an average of 161.29 days, ranging from 102 to 227 days. The life cycle of A. malefida is much longer than that of congeners. The mean fecundity was 1,696.77 eggs and fertility 1,641.15 larvae per female. Under the conditions in which the study was conducted, the biotic potential of A. malefida was of 606,666.59 individuals/female/year. The results also indicated that this species goes through larval (pre-pupae) and pupal diapause.

Este estudo objetivou detalhar parâmetros biológicos dos estágios imaturos de Spodoptera albula (Walker 1857) em condições controladas (25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% UR e fotofase de 14 horas) e reunir informações sobre as plantas hospedeiras de suas larvas. Para tanto foram empregadas e validadas novas metodologias de criação e dieta artificial. A viabilidade das fases de ovo, larva, pré-pupa e pupa foi de 94,54; 97,33; 93,84 e 92,34%, respectivamente. A duração média das fases de ovo, larva, pré-pupa e pupa foi de 4,14; 16,37; 1,69; e 9,34 dias, respectivamente. Na fase de larva observou-se que 80,85% das fêmeas e 93,99% dos machos passaram por seis instares e os demais por sete, com protandria larval significativa. As larvas que passaram por seis e sete instares apresentaram razão média de crescimento de 1,58 e 1,48, respectivamente. Foram relacionadas 55 plantas pertencentes a 29 famílias botânicas. As pupas femininas foram significativamente maiores, observando-se protoginia. Tanto a metodologia de criação quanto a dieta larval mostraram-se adequadas, pois permitiram sobrevivência total de praticamente 80% e um detalhamento muito maior das observações relacionadas ao ciclo biológico, especialmente do estágio larval.

This study aimed to detail the temporal and morphological parameters of the immature stages of Spodoptera albula (Walker 1857) under controlled conditions (25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% RH and 14 hour photophase) and to gather information about their larval host plants. For this purpose, a new rearing method and artificial diet was employed and validated. The viability of the egg, larval, pupal and pre-pupal stages was 94.54, 97.33, 93.84 and 92.34%, respectively. The average duration of the egg, larval, pupal and pre-pupal stages was 4.14, 16.37, 1.69, and 9.34 days, respectively. During the larval stage, 80.85% of females and 93.99% of males passed through six and remaining through seven instars, with significant larval protandry. The larvae that developed through six and seven instars exhibited a mean growth rate of 1.58 and 1.48, respectively. Fifty five host plant species belonging to 29 families are listed. The female pupae were significantly larger, exhibiting protogyny. Both the rearing methods as well as the larval diet proved adequate, providing more detailled observations of the biological cycle, especially the larval stage, and resulting in an overall survival of almost 80%.