Toxicity of Insecticides in Duponchelia fovealis Zeller (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a New Strawberry Pest in Brazil under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

The strawberry caterpillar, Duponchelia fovealis Zeller (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) was recently found in Brazil causing significant losses for this crop. Because it is a recent pest in the country, still, there is no record of insecticides for its control. Thus, this work evaluated the toxicity of different commercial insecticides on D. fovealis second instar caterpillars. The insecticides tested were: acetamiprid, cyromazine, thiamethoxam + lambda-cyhalothrin, milbemectin, chlorantraniliprole, lambda-cyhalothrin, thiamethoxam, fenpropathrin, alpha-cypermethrin, chlorfenapyr, indoxacarb, and lambda-cyhalothrin + chlorantraniliprole. The application was carried out by spraying the caterpillars in a Potter tower. Insecticides indoxacarb, lambda-cyhalothrin + chlorantraniliprole and chlorfenapyr provided mortality data of D. fovealis caterpillars from 70.9 to 100%, and could be considered as promising for the management of this pest, once duly registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA).