Avaliação de inseticidas sobre a biologia e embriologia de Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) e o efeito em Trichogramma pretiosum riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), parasitóide de ovos.

Abstract

In search for efficient and low environmental impact alternatives for control of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), major corn insect pest, the use of botanical insecticides and insect growth regulators combined or not with biological control have been standing out. Therefore, this study tested different concentrations of the insecticides lufenuron (Match®), methoxyfenozide (Intrepid®), azadirachtin (AzaMax®), spinosad (Tracer®) and deltamethrin (Decis®), in order to evaluate the effects on S. frugiperda biology and embryology and on the egg parasitoid, Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). All insecticides were promising for controlling S. frugiperda. Since, in general, caused mortality; reduction in larval period, pupal period, pupal weight, longevity, fecundity and fertility. In addition, S. frugiperda larvaes have presented deformities and morphological abnormalities, such as retention of larval morphological characters and constrictions of abdominal segments. Azadirachtin, lufenuron and deltamethrin, even at low concentrations, showed effect on embryo development of S. frugiperda and on egg parasitoid T. pretiosum. They have reduced the number of S. frugiperda parasited eggs, parasitism percentage and parasitoid emergence and longevity. But, the period of development from egg to adult and sex ratio of T. pretiosum were not affected. The light and scanning electron microscopy evaluation showed S. frugiperda eggs spherically shaped, slightly flattened at the poles, with chorion, yolk, vitelline membrane and embryo formation. Nevertheless, in both the microscopic analysis, after treatment with azadirachtin, lufenurom and deltamethrin, the eggs showed up deformed and unviable, preventing embryo formation. Azadirachtin, lufenuron, methoxyfenozide and spinosad at concentrations below the recommeded may be alternative to the use of pyrethroids in the control of S. frugiperda. However, azadirachtin and lufenuron are not selective to the parasitoid T. pretiosum.