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Attack and defense movements involved in the interaction of Spodoptera frugiperda and Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

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Abstract

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) and the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) are among the main pests of maize. Both species exhibit cannibalistic behavior and quite often share the same feeding guild in maize (maize ears), which can result in several interspecific and intraspecific interactions. Paired interaction scenarios of intraspecific and interspecific larvae were assessed in arenas in the presence and absence of food to characterize movements resulting from interactions of these insects. There was a difference in the frequency of behavioral movements in all the interactions, except for S. frugiperda in the presence of food. Head touching and recoiling were the predominant movements in most of the interaction scenarios. Spodoptera frugiperda exhibited a predominance of defensive movements when competing against H. zea in the same instars. Cannibalism and predation occurred frequently in interactions involving 6th instar of H. zea against opponents in 4th instar. Larvae of H. zea show a higher aggressive movement than S. frugiperda. The larvae of S. frugiperda take advantage during the interactions, although they present more defensive movements compared to H. zea. This study provides relevant information regarding the interaction of these species and intraguild interaction, which might influence the population dynamics and the competitive displacement of pest species that share the same ecological niche.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Ana Maria Velez and James Kalisch (University of Nebraska) for the technical support.

Funding

Funding for research was provided by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (99999.002564/2014-09).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Protection, College of Agronomic Sciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, 18610-307, Brazil

    José P. F. Bentivenha & Edson L. L. Baldin

  2. ENREC Haskell Agricultural Laboratory, Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Concord, NE, 68728, USA

    Thomas E. Hunt

  3. Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA

    Débora G. Montezano

  4. Embrapa Cerrados, BR 020 km 18, Planaltina, Distrito Federal, 73310-970, Brazil

    Silvana V. Paula-Moraes

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  1. José P. F. Bentivenha
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  2. Edson L. L. Baldin
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Correspondence to José P. F. Bentivenha.

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Communicated by A. R. Horowitz.

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Bentivenha, J.P.F., Baldin, E.L.L., Montezano, D.G. et al. Attack and defense movements involved in the interaction of Spodoptera frugiperda and Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J Pest Sci 90, 433–445 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-016-0802-3

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