Ecologia química da broca-das-sementes de andiroba, Hypsipyla ferrealis (Hampson, 1929) (Lepidoptera: Phycitidae) e das pragas da cana-de-açúcar: broca-peluda, Hyponeuma taltula (Schs., 1904) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) e broca-gigante, Telchin licus (Drury, 1773) (Lepidoptera: Castniidae)

Abstract

The understanding of the chemical communication of pest insects has allowed developing alternative methodologies for monitoring and their control. Lures with compounds such as sex pheromones are an integrated pest management tool widely utilized in recent years. Furthermore, the identification of pheromones in Lepidoptera has allowed raising questions about the reproductive isolation, sexual selection, evolution, and etc. The first chapter of this thesis contributes to the understanding of chemical communication in the giant sugarcane borer, Telchin licus (Drury, 1773) (Lepidoptera: Castniidae). Few moths in the Castniidae have been studied and some are considered important agricultural pests. In this species, we report the morphology of its olfactory system and study the chemical composition of adult body extracts. The T. licus antennae have six morphological types of sensilla: trichoic, basiconic, chaetic, squamiform, choeloconic and auricillica. The ovipositor shows no evidence of a sexual gland, and no female-specific compound was identified from it. On the other hand, males release (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadienol and (Z,E)-2,13-octadecadienol. These compounds are known as female sex pheromones in the Sesiidae and male pheromones in Castniidae. Thus, we suggest that they serve as short-range pheromones in T. licus. The second chapter highlghts the composition of the sex pheromone of sugarcane hairy borer, Hyponeuma taltula (Schaus, 1904) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), which is composed of type II pheromones. The pheromone blend consists of (9S, 10R)-epoxy-(Z,Z)-3,6-heneicosatriene as the major component and the (Z,Z,Z)-3,6,9-nonadecatriene as a minor component, in a 3:1 ratio, respectively. The third chapter covers the study of chemical communication in Hypsipyla ferrealis Hampson, 1929 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), pest of andiroba seeds Carapa guianensis Aub. (Meliaceae). The damage caused by larvae of this species affects the regeneration of C. guianensis and the potential of oil production, which is an economic activity of the local communities. The male antennae of H. ferrealis have a larger olfactory area and show sexual dimorphism in the morphology of the trichoic, chaetic, styloconic, choeloconic and auricillica sensilla. On the other hand, the female sexual gland is located dorsolaterally on the intersegmental membrane between the eighth and ninth abdominal segment , being responsible for the release of the putative sex pheromone of H. ferrealis, (Z,E)-9,12-teradecadienol and (E)-12-tetradecenol.