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Biology and host selection stage of Symmetrischema dulce Povolny (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in chili pepper

  • Ecology, Behavior and Bionomics
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Abstract

The pepper-fruit-borer Symmetrischema dulce Povolny (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is an important chili pepper pest causing significant yield losses. However, chili pepper has insufficient crop protection support and primary information about S. dulce is scarce. In the present study, we aimed to study the biology and ecology of S. dulce in pepper plants (Capsicum frutescens L.) focusing to support integrated pest management programs. In the field, we sampled ripe and unripe chili pepper fruits in three different plant strata. In the laboratory, we established colonies of the S. dulce and we recorded the duration, viability, morphology of each life stage, and number of larval instars. We conducted experiments to evaluate insect reproduction, whereby we registered the pre-oviposition and oviposition period, daily oviposition rate, and sex ratio. From these results, we estimated the reproductive success of S. dulce through the intrinsic population growth rate. The higher occurrence of S. dulce was in unripe fruits with no difference between plant strata. Egg stage lasted 4 days with 94% viability, and larval phase lasted on average 10.72 days and presented four instars with viability of 66.6%. Pupal stage lasted 9.61 days with viability of 94.73%. The adult stage lasted 24.14 days with a pre-oviposition period of 3 days and oviposition period of 13.85 days. The intrinsic growth rate (rm) recorded was 0.0035. Our results suggest that the biology of S. dulce has similarities with other Lepidoptera, but its peculiarities in reproductive parameters are essential for future programs of pest management.

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Acknowledgments

The information reported in this paper is part of a project of the Agriculture and Livestock Research Enterprise of Minas Gerais (EPAMIG). The Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Agency (EMATER – Minas Gerais State) is thanked for supporting the choice of chili pepper farms.

Funding

This research was supported by grants and fellowships to AL Perez, EF Martins, and M Venzon from the Minas Gerais State Foundation for Research Aid (FAPEMIG), Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Level Personnel (Capes), and National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Entomology, Univ Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil

    A. L. Perez & E. F. Martins

  2. Agriculture and Livestock Research Enterprise of Minas Gerais (EPAMIG), Viçosa, MG, Brasil

    M. Venzon

Authors
  1. A. L. Perez
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  2. E. F. Martins
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  3. M. Venzon
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Contributions

AL Perez, EF Martins, and M Venzon carried out the field experiments and the laboratory assays. AL Perez analyzed the data and performed the interpretation of the results. AL Perez and M Venzon wrote the manuscript. M Venzon supervised the project.

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Correspondence to M. Venzon.

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Edited by Rafael M Pitta – Embrapa

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Perez, A.L., Martins, E.F. & Venzon, M. Biology and host selection stage of Symmetrischema dulce Povolny (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in chili pepper. Neotrop Entomol 48, 772–778 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-019-00695-4

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