New method for rearing Spodoptera frugiperda in laboratory shows that larval cannibalism is not obligatory. Here we show, for the first time, that larvae of the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), can be successfully reared in a cohort-based manner with virtually no cannibalism. FAW larvae were reared since the second instar to pupation in rectangular plastic containers containing 40 individuals with a surprisingly ca. 90% larval survivorship. Adult females from the cohort-based method showed fecundity similar to that already reported on literature for larvae reared individually, and fertility higher than 99%, with the advantage of combining economy of time, space and material resources. These findings suggest that the factors affecting cannibalism of FAW larvae in laboratory rearings need to be reevaluated, whilst the new technique also show potential to increase the efficiency of both small and mass FAW rearings.

Foi avaliada a atratividade de Tagetes patula L. (cravo-de-defunto) sobre tripes (Thysanoptera) em cultivo protegido de melão. Foram estudadas a abundância, dominância, frequência e constância de espécies de tripes, utilizando-se análise faunística, análise de agrupamento (AA) e análise de componentes principais (ACP). Nas extremidades das estufas com cultivo de melão foram plantadas faixas de cravo-de-defunto. Os insetos foram amostrados batendo-se três ponteiros das plantas de melão e todas as plantas inteiras de cravo-de-defunto (1 m²) em bandejas brancas. Os pontos de coleta foram: T. patula, melão consorciado com cravo-de-defunto e melão nas distâncias de 6 m, 12 m, 18 m e 24 m do cravo-de-defunto. Foram encontradas 11 espécies de tripes nas plantas de melão e cravo-de-defunto: Neohydatothrips sp., Frankliniella sp. 1, Frankliniella sp. 2, Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom), Scirtothrips sp., Caliothrips sp., Microcephalothrips sp., Franklinothrips vespiformis (Crawford), Arorathrips sp., Ceratothripoides sp. e Haplothrips sp. As espécies Neohydatothrips sp., Frankliniella sp. 1, F. schultzei e Caliothrips sp. foram dominantes. Estas foram utilizadas para determinar a atratividade do cravo-de-defunto. As análises demonstraram a existência de três grupos diferenciados: (1) cravo-de-defunto; (2) melão consorciado com T. patula e (3) melão nas distâncias de 6 m, 12 m, 18 m e 24 m do cravo-de-defunto. Por meio das AA e ACP foi possível verificar diferenças na abundância entre os pontos de coleta, mostrando a atratividade de T. patula sobre os tripes. Concluiu-se que o cravo-de-defunto pode ser utilizado como planta atrativa na cultura de melão para várias espécies de tripes.

The attractiveness of Tagetes patula L. (marigold) to thrips (Thysanoptera) in greenhoused melon was evaluated. Abundance, dominance, frequency, and constancy of thrips species were studied by using faunistic analysis, cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Marigold was planted only at the edge of the greenhouses. Insect sampling on melon plants was taken by shaking three vine growing ends on a white tray whereas similar procedure was used for sampling marigold but shaking all plants of 1 m². Samplings points where on T. patula edge, on melon planted along with marigold, and on melon planted at 6m, 12m, 18m, and 24m from marigold edge. Eleven thrips species were found on both melon and marigold plants: Neohydatothrips sp., Frankliniella sp. 1, Frankliniella sp. 2, Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom), Scirtothrips sp., Caliothrips sp., Microcephalothrips sp., Franklinothrips vespiformis (Crawford), Arorathrips sp., Ceratothripoides sp., and Haplothrips sp. The dominant species were: Neohydatothrips sp., Frankliniella sp. 1, F. schultzei, and Caliothrips sp. Analyses of the dominant species indicate three different groups according to abundance: (1) marigold, (2) melon along with T. patula, and (3) melon at 6m, 12m, 18m, and 24m from marigold. Significant differences among sampling sites were verified by using CA and PCA. Therefore, T. patula is attractive to thrips and may be used as trap crop in melon cultivation for several thrips species.