The life-history and biology of Dirphia araucariae Jones, 1908, including its life fertility table, are here described. Moths were reared in the laboratory under controlled conditions on their host plant, Araucaria angustifolia (Bertoloni) O. Kuntze - Araucariaceae. We describe several life-history traits of the species, namely: developmental period, survival rate, growth rate, fertility, fecundity, sex ratio, cephalic capsule width, and pupal weight. Mean duration of life stages were: egg = 26.78 days; larva = 61.78 days; prepupa = 6.85 days; pupa = 62.46 days; adult = 8.37 days. We found statistically significant differences between sexes for adult, larval and pupal stage duration; larval stage was longer in females while pupal stage was longer in males. The survival rate of each life stage was: egg = 96.18%; larva = 95.38%; prepupa = 83.87%; pupa = 100%. The larvae developed through six instars and the mean growth rate was 1.418. The width of male and female cephalic capsules were different in last three instars, even though the total mean width between sexes was not different. Pupal mean weight ranged from 2.40 g to 4.79 g, with females being heavier than males. Fertility ranged from 66.78% to 100%, and the total fecundity was 358.45 eggs/female, including both laid eggs and eggs held in the abdomen. The sex ratio was 0.50 ± 0.05. The estimated biotic potential was 48731.08 specimens/female/year. We found the following values for the fertility life table: (Ro) = 117.21 females; (T) = 162.75 days; (r m) = 0.21; (l) = 1.23. Considering the biological parameters evaluated in this study, we conclude that D. araucariae is not able to cause primary damage in A. angustifolia forests, although further studies are needed to understand the reasons for occasional population outbreaks.

The goal of this contribution was to study the biology and morphology of all developmental stages of Molippa cruenta (Walker, 1855), a member of Hemileucinae (Saturniidae), endemic to southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina. Daily observations were carried out on individuals reared under controlled temperature (25 ± 1ºC), relative humidity (70 ± 10%) and photophase (14 hours of light). The duration and viability of each developmental phase, as well as morphological and behavioral aspects of each stage, were evaluated. Under laboratory conditions, the life-cycle of M. cruenta was completed in 150 days, with mean periods for egg, larva, pupa and adult phases being 35, 71.95, 37.85, 19.17 and 4.81 days, respectively. The larval phase included six instars, with an average growth rate of 1.46. The study of the immature stages of M. cruenta revealed several morphological characteristics that are distinct from other species of the genus, highlighting the importance of these stages for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies.

The goal of this work was to describe aspects of the biology and morphology of Leucanella viridescens (Walker, 1855), a polyphytophagous species that is a pest to several crops of economical interest and whose larvae may cause erucism. Biological parameters were obtained under controlled conditions: temperature of 25 ± 1ºC, relative humidity of 70 ± 10%, and a 14 h photophase. Morphological and behavioral aspects were analyzed in each developmental phase. The larval stage had six instars, with an average growth rate of 1.396. A high degree of polyphytophagy was observed, including over 49 host plant species belonging to 25 families, especially Leguminosae, Solanaceae and Salicaceae. The considerable chromatic variability of the adults obtained from the same egg batch corroborates the need for a new taxonomic assessment of L. viridescens viridescens Walker, 1855 and L. viridescens viridior Lemaire, 1973.

Este estudo objetivou estudar a biologia e aspectos da morfologia dos estágios imaturos de Automeris naranja Schaus, 1898, um hemileucíneo polifitófago cujas lagartas podem provocar erucismo. Os parâmetros biológicos foram obtidos em condições controladas: temperatura, 25 ± 1ºC; Umidade Relativa, 70 ± 10% de UR e fotofase, 14 horas, com observações diárias. Foram avaliados, em cada fase de desenvolvimento, aspectos morfológicos e etológicos, duração e viabilidade. Para relacionar as plantas hospedeiras foram reunidos dados já referidos em bibliografia e de material coletado em campo. O ciclo de vida foi de 128 dias, cujos períodos médios das fases de ovo, lagarta, pupa e adulta foram de 14,89; 69,00; 35,19 e 7,61, respectivamente. As lagartas passaram por seis ínstares e tiveram uma razão média de crescimento de 1,46. Observou-se um alto grau de polifitofagia sendo relacionadas 61 plantas hospedeiras pertencentes a 26 famílias. O potencial biótico foi estimado em 1195606,994 indivíduos ao ano.

This work aimed to study the biology and the morphology of immature stages of Automeris naranja Schaus, 1898, which is a polyphytophagous hemileucinae and their caterpillars might cause erucism. The biological parameters were obtained under laboratory conditions with temperature: 25 ± 1ºC; UR 70 ± 10%; photofase of 14 hours, and daily observations. On each developmental phase, morphological and ethologic aspects, as well as duration and viability, were evaluated. In order to link the host plants to the insect it were added data of collected material on field and referred in the bibliography. The life cycle was of approximately 128 days, whose average periods of eggs, caterpillars, pupae and adult phases were 14.89, 69.00, 35.19 and 7.61 days, respectively. The caterpillars passed by six instars with a growth average rate of 1.46. It was observed a high degree of polyphytophagy over 61 host plants belonging in 26 families. The biotic potential was estimated on 1,195,606.994 individuals in the year.

Objetivou-se estudar a biologia de Automeris illustris (Walker, 1855), um hemileucíneo polifitófago considerado praga secundária da eucaliptocultura e cujas lagartas podem provocar erucismo. Os parâmetros biológicos foram obtidos em condições controladas de temperatura: 25 ± 1ºC, UR 70 ± 10% e fotofase de 14 horas, com observações diárias. Foram avaliados, em cada fase de desenvolvimento, aspectos morfológicos e etológicos, duração e viabilidade. Para relacionar as plantas hospedeiras foram reunidos dados de material coletado em campo e já referidos em bibliografia. Nas condições de laboratório observou-se que o ciclo de vida necessitou de aproximadamente 121 dias, cujos períodos médios das fases de ovo, lagarta, pré-pupa, pupa e adulta foram de 10,60; 80,56; 3,58; 19,17 e 7,83 dias, respectivamente. As lagartas passaram por seis ínstares e tiveram uma razão média de crescimento de 1,47. Observou-se um alto grau de polifitofagia sendo relacionadas 51 plantas hospedeiras pertencentes a 28 famílias. O potencial biótico foi estimado em 8.719.556 indivíduos ao ano.

This work aimed to study the biology of Automeris illustris (Walker, 1855) which is a polyphytophagous, considered secondary pest of eucalypts culture in wich their caterpillars might cause erucism. The biological parameters were obtained in controlled conditions of temperature: 25 ± 1ºC, UR 70 ± 10% and photofase of 14 hours, with daily observations. On each developmental phase, morphological and ethologic aspects, as well as duration and viability, were evaluated. In order to link the host plants to the insect it were added data of collected material on field and referred in the bibliography. Under laboratory conditions it was observed that the life cycle needed of about 121 days whose mean periods of eggs, caterpillars, pre-pupae, pupae and adult phases were 10.60, 80.56, 3.58, 19.17 and 7.83 days, respectively. The caterpillars passed by six instars with a growth average rate of 1.47. It was observed a high degree of polyphytophagy over 51 host plants belonging in 28 families. The biotic potential was estimated on 8.719.556 individuals in the weak.

Biologia de Hylesia nigricans (Berg) (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae, Hemileucinae). As espécies de Hylesia Hübner, [1820] destacam-se entre os demais lepidópteros por apresentarem ação urticante tanto durante a fase larval (erucismo) quanto na fase adulta (lepidopterismo). Hylesia nigricans (Berg, 1875) cuja ocorrência é registrada do sudeste do Brasil até Argentina e Uruguai vem sendo relacionada como praga de diversas frutíferas cultivadas e essências florestais, também têm sido relacionada com diversos episódios de lepidopterismo desde o início do século passado. Tendo em vista a sua importância, este estudo objetivou detalhar os principais aspectos biológicos da espécie com observações na natureza e em laboratório, também foram relacionados aspectos comportamentais e plantas hospedeiras observadas no campo e referidas em bibliografia.

The species of Hylesia Hübner, [1820] detach from other lepidopterous due to its urticant spines in larval (erucism) and adult (lepidopterism) stages. Hylesia nigricans (Berg, 1875) occurs from southeast of Brazil to Argentina and Uruguay, the species has been related to plague of many fruit crops and forest essences and they have also been associated with several lepidopterism cases since the beginning of last century. Due to its importance, this study aimed to detail the main biological aspects of this species with observations in the nature and in laboratory, they were also related behavioral aspects and host plants observed in field and referred in bibliography.