Feeding in the Immature Phase Affects the Reproductive Performance of Diaphaniahyalinata L. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Abstract

Diphaniahyalinata L. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an insect of agricultural importance, considered pest-key family Cucurbitaceae. Knowledge of reproductive parameters of this insect can enable a better understanding of its biology, assisting in integrated pest management programs pests. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of different food substrates consumed in the immature stage of D. hyalinata on reproductive parameters of their respective adult. Four foods were tested: pumpkin cultivar "Jacaré", cucumber cultivar "Japanese", zucchini cultivar "Caserta" and artificial diet. After the emergence of adults were evaluated reproductive parameters of insects and made fertility life tables. The highest average production of eggs per female was observed for adults from the food substrates cucumber (175.7 eggs/female) and artificial diet (173.0 eggs/female). The zucchini substrate showed the lower values of population growth and greater range of values between generations and doubling time. Thus, it is concluded that food substrate zucchini was unfavorable to the reproductive performance of D. hylinata.