Preferência de oviposição e alimentar de Ascia Monuste Orseis (Latreille, 1819) (Lepidoptera: pieridae) entre espécie exótica e nativa da ordem Brassicales, sob condições de campo e de laboratório

Abstract

Among the most popular vegetables in the country, collard greens, Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala, stand out for their versatility in consumption and nutritional value. Among the primary pests affecting collard greens, the cabbage butterfly, Ascia monuste orseis (Latrielle, 1819) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) is regarded as a key pest in the neotropical region. Although the most common method for reducing populations of this pest insect involves the periodic application of synthetic chemical insecticides, such approaches yield deleterious effects, such as environmental contamination and risks to human health. An alternative is the implementation of behavioral control through the use of trap plants. In light of this, the objective of this study was to assess the oviposition and feeding preferences of the cabbage butterfly on collard greens, Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala, and mussambê, Tarenaya spinosa (Jacq.) Raf.. Preference evaluations for oviposition were conducted every three days on collard greens and mussambê plants planted in pairs in masonry beds, exposed to natural infestation conditions. As a result, adult female cabbage butterflies exhibited a significant preference for oviposition on mussambê plants. For the assessment of feeding preference, 1- and 10-day-old caterpillars were utilized in choice tests conducted in arenas under laboratory conditions. After evaluation at different choice intervals, it was observed that, in general, the caterpillars displayed a feeding preference for mussambê leaves compared to collard greens. Thus, this research indicates the biotechnological potential of mussambê to be employed as a trap plant in the behavioral control of the cabbage butterfly, A. monuste orseis, in collard greens cultivation.