DISTRIBUIÇÃO ESPAÇO-TEMPORAL DE Spodoptera frugiperda EM MILHO DOCE PARA PROCESSAMENTO INDUSTRIAL ATRAVÉS DA CAPTURA DE ADULTOS

Abstract

Spodoptera frugiperda is one of the main pests in corn crops, with the chemical control method still predominant in Brazil. Natural chemical compounds that modify insect behavior are a viable alternative for integrated pest management (IPM) programs for that noctuid. However, the use of semiochemicals requires technical knowledge to maintain the efficiency of this type of control. Given these possible technical obstacles involved with the use of traps for mass capture of Spodoptera frugiperda moths, on sweet corn plants, containing the food attractant chamariz® (AgBitech Brasil), this study aimed to: (1) evaluate the influence of wind in capturing S. frugiperda moths through that food attractant through a spatial analysis and (2) comparing the efficiency in capturing S. frugiperda moths in different phenological stages (V and R) of sweet corn involving a temporal analysis. A completely randomized design with three replications and six treatments representing different spatial positions from which funnel ball traps associated with the food attractant were installed. These positions (treatments) were called north, south, east, west, upper center and lower center. For each trap, 20 ml of food attractant was used and replaced every seven days. Moth collections for each treatment occurred weekly at 13, 20, 27, 34, 41, 48, 55, 62, 69 and 76 DAP of sweet corn. And this was equivalent to our temporal distribution analysis. 84.88% of the moths captured were from traps installed in the north, east, west and upper center positions. In these positions, the average wind speed was equivalent to 2.31 times that in the south and lower center positions. A phenology-dependent relationship for the quantity of moths captured by food attractant traps in sweet corn was demonstrated. On average, 1402 moths (76.02%) were collected in the vegetative period, while 442 (23.98%) in the reproductive period. The percentage of defoliated sweet corn plants presented means without significant differences when the trap installation positions were compared. The average percentage of defoliation, among all treatments evaluated, was 52.17%. Representing a level of defoliation 2.60 times higher than that recommended as the control level. We therefore suggest that funnel ball traps associated with food-type attractants have the potential to help, above all, in monitoring populations of Spodoptera frugiperda moths in sweet corn.