No abstract

No abstract

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758), is one of the main pests of brassicas, and various insecticides, such as indoxacarb, are used to control it. However, frequent insecticide applications favor the selection of resistant individuals. Thus, the residual and sublethal effects of indoxacarb in two populations of P. xylostella, one collected in the field (FP) and one from the laboratory (LP), were evaluated and compared. The objective of this research was to investigate the toxicity of indoxacarb at residual and sublethal levels in a field population of P. xylostella from Brazil and a population from the laboratory. Leaf-dip bioassays showed high toxicity, with LC50 values after 48 h of 3.7 and 6.9 mg/liter for the LP and FP, respectively. Sublethal effects were indicated by significant reduction in the survival of larvae, pupae, and offspring. There was an increase in foliar consumption and a decrease in adult survival in the LP, and a decrease in fecundity in the FP. For the LP and FP population, the mean values for R0, rm, and λ for the control treatment were significantly higher than for the treatment groups (CL15 and CL25). Exposure of larvae to sublethal indoxacarb concentrations significantly reduced larval and pupal survival. Larval and pupal survival decreased as the indoxacarb concentration increased. Fecundity was significantly lower for the FP at LC15 (96.2 eggs per female) and LC25 (69.2 eggs per female) concentrations compared with the other treatments.

No abstract

Background: Boron (B) and silicon (Si) are fundamental for brassica nutrition, and in some cases, they have potential as an insecticide. Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), one of the most economically important agricultural pests, is difficult to control due to the resistance to insecticides and the absence of alternative control methods.Results: Cauliflower leaves sprayed with Si and B showed a higher concentration of the beneficial element and micronutrient, respectively. When evaluating the firmness of the cauliflower leaves, it was found that the plants with leaf sprayings of Si and B did not differ statistically from each other. However, they showed an increase in firmness, in relation to the plants of the control treatment. Leaf spraying of Si and B on cauliflower did not influence the number of eggs/female. The attractiveness index showed that both Si and B applications stimulated the presence of second instar larvae, being more stimulating in relation to the control treatment. However, the use of Si and B in isolation showed a positive result, since it caused high mortality in diamondback moth larvae compared to the control treatment. Conclusion:The application of both foliar fertilizers positively affects the attractiveness index of the larvae, being attractive; however, both Si and B caused high mortality (∼80%). The results showed that Si and B have the potential to control P. xylostella and serve as a basis for alternative pest management in brassica crops.