Manejo de Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) em tomateiro no agreste do estado de Pernambuco: estudos comportamentais, uso de iscas tóxicas, inseticidas botânicos e sintéticos

Abstract

The tomato fruit borer, Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), stands out as a key pest of tomato, the main vegetable cultivated in Brazil. Its control is accomplished through the use of synthetic chemical insecticides, commonly used improperly. Thus, researches that aim at proper use of these insecticides associated with other control techniques are of the utmost importance for the integrated management of this pest. In this study, it was evaluated the efficiency of the wax formulation (SPLAT), with and without the insecticide cypermethrin in the sexual disruption of N. elegantalis, and its effect in reducing injuries on tomato fruits. The effects of the insecticides used in the "Agreste" region of Pernambuco and neem based insecticides (Natuneem and Azamax) on eggs, pre-pupae and pupae of N. elegantalis were also evaluated. In the tests of repellent effect on oviposition it was used the insecticides methomyl, chlorpyrifos, lambda-cyhalothrin, beta-cypermethrin, deltamethrin, ethofenprox, chlorantraniliprole and Natuneem and Azamax. As toxic baits it was used lufenuron, deltamethrin and indoxocarb associated with sucrose at 2.5% as attractive for adults, applied over tomato plants. The SPLAT treatments significantly reduced the number of eggs and the injuries in tomato fruits. However, applications before and after flowering were more efficient for N. elegantalis sexual disruption. The insecticides methomyl and ethofenprox had the highest inviability of eggs, reduced larval survival and the number of entry and exit holes on the fruits. Ethofenprox had the highest average mortality, causing 50% mortality in pupae and 38% in pre-pupae. As for repellency, all insecticides tested except for Natuneem and chlorantraniliprole reduced significantly the number of eggs compared with control. Lufenuron and deltamethrin showed great potential for use in toxic bait, since reduced the number of eggs, while the indoxocarb stimulated oviposition, being not recommended for this purpose.