Control of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner: 1818) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) and Chrysodeixis includens (Walker: 1858) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Through Insecticides Applied to Soybean Seeds

Abstract

Brazil is the second largest producer of soybeans in the world, with the state of Mato Grosso having the highest production in the country. The soybean crop faces major phytosanitary difficulties throughout its cultivation, as is the case of pest incidence, especially the defoliating caterpillars that can cause intense defoliation of soybean and affect its productivity. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different insecticides when applied in soybean seed treatment, on leaf consumption and survival of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) and Chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) caterpillars. For this purpose, two trials were installed in the field, one in the Juscimeira Municipality/MT and the other in the Municipality of Itiquira/MT. The soybean seeds were treated with the insecticides (in g a.i./ha): chlorantraniliprole (62.5), imidacloprid + thiodicarb (75.0 + 25.0), fipronil (50.0), thiamethoxam (70.0) and cyantraniliprole + thiamethoxam (60.0 + 70.0) and a control treatment (without insecticide). Soybean leaflets were collected at different times after plant emergence and were offered to A. gemmatalis and C. includens caterpillars in the laboratory to evaluate leaf consumption and mortality. Cyantraniliprole + thiamethoxam (60.0 + 70.0) and chlorantraniliprole (62.5) treatments were found to reduce leaf consumption of A. gemmatalis and C. includens caterpillars. The highest mortality values of A. gemmatalis and C. includens were observed in the treatment cyantraniliprole + thiamethoxam (60.0 + 70.0), followed by chlorantraniliprole (62.5) when compared to the control treatment. The results showed that the treatment of soybean seeds with insecticides can protect the crop against defoliation and provide control of defoliating caterpillars, these effects being more pronounced in sandy soils than in clay soils.

Efficacy of Insecticides Applied to Soybean Seeds for Controlling Lepidoptera Caterpillars

“…Results similar to those obtained, but with A. gemmatalis in this study were demonstrated by Vieira et al (2019) which state that in a trial of controlling the track, the last evaluation of leaf consumption and mortality made with plants soybean (35 DAE), the treatment fipronil, had the highest foliar consumption and the lowest mortality of caterpillars, while the mixture of cyantraniliprole + thiamethoxam had the lowest leaf consumption.…”

Identification of Bacillus thuringiensis Strains for the Management of Lepidopteran Pests

“…Currently, several control methods, including synthetic insecticides, Bt crops, biological control and cultural practices have been adopted in the integrated pest management directed against the insect pests H. armigera, A. gemmatalis, S. cosmioides, C. includes, and D. saccharalis to achieve more effective crop protection (Bortolotto et al 2015;Blanco et al 2016;Mascarin et al 2018;Vieira et al 2019). The economic, environmental and social benefits offered by the insect-resistant Bt crops and Bt bioinsecticides have driven increasing adoption of these strategies for controlling a wide variety of insect pests (Lacey et al 2015;Dively et al 2018;Romeis et al 2019).…”

New Decision-Making Control System for Caterpillars on Soybean Fields

“…Among the most essential groups of pests that attack soybean crops are caterpillars (Lepidoptera larvae). These pests damage plants by defoliating and attacking stems, flowers, pods, and grains [7,13]. In the past, the most abundant Lepidoptera species in soybean crops in the Neotropics was Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner) (Noctuidae).…”