Transovarian action of lufenuron on adults of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its effect on the parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

The transovarian action of insect growth regulator lufenuron in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its effects on the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), were evaluated. Pest couples were isolated in PVC's cages and provided with 10% honey solution as control. In the others treatments, the honey solution was mixed with the insect growth regulator Match (R) CE using the following concentrations of 12.5; 15.0 and 17.5 g i.a./l. For verification of the transovarian action, the eggs were collected daily, with the number of the hatched larvae being subsequently counted. Forty eggs from each treatment were fixed in paper cards and exposed to parasitism, inside clean vials of 1.0 x 3.5 cm, containing one female of the parasitoid. Cards with forty host eggs were dipped in lufenuron solutions with the same concentrations of the previous experiment, and these exposed to parasitism. Lufenuron affected considerably the viability of the host eggs. The results, regarding to the parasitoid, showed the selectivity of this insecticide and the possibility of its utilization in programs of Integrated Pest Management, with T. pretiosum.