LIFE TABLE STUDIES OF RACHIPLUSIA NU (GUENÉE) AND CHRYSODEIXIS (= PSEUDOPLUSIA) INCLUDENS (WALKER) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) ON ARTIFICIAL DIET

BARRIONUEVO, M. JOSÉ; MURÚA, M. GABRIELA; GOANE, LUCÍA; MEAGHER ROBERT L.; NAVARRO, FERNANDO

FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGIST

FLORIDA ENTOMOLOGICAL SOC

Lugar: Nueva York; Año: 2012 vol. 95 p. 944 - 950

0015-4040

Rachiplusia nu (Guenée) and Chrysodeixis (= Pseudoplusia) includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are two economically important species in soybean in northern Argentina. Life cycle, reproductive and population parameters of R. nu and C. includens reared on artificial diet were determined under controlled environmental conditions. Fecundity increased from day two to three with values of 67.6 eggs per female for R. nu and 75.7 eggs for C. includens. An average of 79.9% (R. nu) and 74.4% (C. includens) of individuals reached the larval stage and 71.1% (R. nu) and 71.4% (C. includens) of individuals reached the adult stage. The life expectancy (ex) curve showed four and three periods of mortality.  The survivorship curves of the two species resembled the theoretical type I. Life table analysis determined that R. nu and C. includens have the potential to quickly increase their populations under controlled rearing conditions. These results provide important information that will be used to improve artificial rearing procedures contributing with biological studies towards to develop management programs of both species.