Ritmos circadianos por busca de alimento de lagartas de Pseudoplusia includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

An understanding of behavior patterns that are fundamental to the biology of pest insects is arequisite for implementation of control strategies. This study aims to evaluate the circadian rhythms ofPseudoplusia includens larvae in four different natural diets. The study was conducted in laboratoryfor 48 hours hourly. The experimental design was randomized with four treatments (leaf discs) and tenreaplications with free choice. The treatments were: leaves of Rumex obtusifolius, Trifolium repens,Plantago lanceolata and Malus domestica. The caterpillars visited more leaves of T. repens and R.obtusifolius than the leaves of M. domestica and P. lanceolata. The searching activity lasted for the48 hours of the observation during the 24 hours and the increase in the searching activity occurredbetween 16 to 21 hours.A compreensão de padrões de comportamento que são fundamentais para a biologia de insetos-praga é um requisito para a implantação de estratégias de controle. Este trabalho objetivou estudar os ritmos circadianos por busca do alimento de lagartas de primeiro ínstar de Pseudoplusia includens em quatro dietas naturais. O estudo foi realizado em laboratório por 48h ininterruptas, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos (discos de folhas) e dez repetições, com chance de escolha. Os tratamentos foram: folhas de Rumex obtusifolius; Trifolium repens; Plantago lanceolata e Malus domestica. As lagartas visitaram significativamente mais folhas de T. repens e R. obtusifolius do que as de M. domestica e P. lanceolata. A atividade de busca do alimento se estendeu durante as 24horas do dia, com maior intensidade entre 16:00 e 21:00 horas. Circadian rhythms and food preference search of Pseudoplusia includenscaterpillars (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)AbstractAn understanding of behavior patterns that are fundamental to the biology of pest insects is arequisite for implementation of control strategies. This study aims to evaluate the circadian rhythms ofPseudoplusia includens larvae in four different natural diets. The study was conducted in laboratoryfor 48 hours hourly. The experimental design was randomized with four treatments (leaf discs) and tenreaplications with free choice. The treatments were: leaves of Rumex obtusifolius, Trifolium repens,Plantago lanceolata and Malus domestica. The caterpillars visited more leaves of T. repens and R.obtusifolius than the leaves of M. domestica and P. lanceolata. The searching activity lasted for the48 hours of the observation during the 24 hours and the increase in the searching activity occurredbetween 16 to 21 hours