Comparison of biology between Helicoverpa zea and Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) reared on artificial diets
Keywords:
adaptation index, corn earworm, Old World bollworm, cotton earworm, bollworm, polyphagous caterpillarAbstract
The objective of this study was to compare growth and development of Helicoverpa zea Boddie and Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae that were feeding on an artificial diet. Neonate larvae of H. zea and H. armigera were collected in maize fields cultivated at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Maize & Sorghum, in Sete Lagoas (Minas Gerais) and in farmers’ cotton fields in Luís Eduardo Magalhães (Bahia), respectively. Bioassays were conducted in the laboratory using individual larvae in 50 mL plastic cups fed a white bean–based artificial diet and maintained at a temperature of 26 ± 2 °C and a relative humidity of 47 ± 10%. The following larval biological parameters were evaluated: number and duration of instars, survival of larval instars and pupae, larval biomass, larval head capsule size, and larval length. An adaptation index was computed for comparison of development of the 2 species. Significant differences were observed between the species for all variables except for the number of instars and pupal survival. Although H. armigera larvae developed faster and were smaller than H. zea larvae, the diet tested can be considered adequate for rearing both species in the laboratory.
Resumen
El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar el crecimiento y desarrollo de larvas de Helicoverpa zea Boddie y Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) que fueron alimentadas con una dieta artificial. Se recolectaron larvas recién nacidas de H. zea y H. armigera en campos de maíz cultivadas en la Cooperación Brasileña de Investigación Agropecuaria, Maíz y Sorgo de Embrapa, en Sete Lagoas (Minas Gerais), y en los campos de algodón de los agricultores en Luís Eduardo Magalhães (Bahia), respectivamente. Se realizaron los bioensayos en el laboratorio utilizando larvas individuales en tasas plásticas de 50 mL alimentadas con una dieta artificial a base de frijól blanco y se mantuvieron a una temperatura de 26 ± 2 °C y una humedad relativa de 47 ± 10%. Se evaluaron los siguientes parámetros biológicos larvales: número y duración de los estadios, la sobrevivencia del estadio de larva y de pupa, la biomasa, el tamaño de la cápsula de la cabeza y la longitud de las larvas. Se calculó el índice de adaptación para la comparación del desarrollo de las 2 especies. Se observaron diferencias significativas entre las especies para todas las variables excepto para el número de estadios y la sobrevivencia de la pupa. Aunque las larvas de H. armigera se desarrollaron más rápido y fueron más pequeñas que las larvas de H. zea, la dieta probada puede considerarse adecuada para la cría de las dos especies en el laboratorio.
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