Revista Brasileira de Entomologia (2002) 46, 251-254

Dirceu Pratissoli, José Cola Zanúncio, Reginaldo Barros and Harley Nonato de Oliveira (2002)
Leaf consumption and duration of instars of the cassava defoliator Erinnyis ello (L., 1758) (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae)
Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 46 (3), 251-254
Abstract: The objectives of this research were to evaluate leaf consumption and the developmental time of the larvae of Erynnyis ello (L., 1758) (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) reared on cassava, in order to obtain information for the integrated management of this pest. The larvae were reared on excised cassava leaves in Petri dishes and later in gerbox, and kept in chambers at 24 ± 2 ºC and 75 ± 10% RH. The total leaf area consumed by the larva to complete its development was 589.67 cm²; each of the five instars consumed, respectively: 1.89 cm²; 5.74 cm²; 17.48 cm²; 76.66 cm²; and 487.90 cm². The consumption by the first three instars was insignificant, and did not reach 5% altogether; the 4^th represented 13%; the 5^th presented a consumption significantly higher, about 82.7%. The total time for the larval development was 22.61 days, and the duration for each of the five larval instar was, respectively: 4.35; 3.19; 3.32; 4.52; and 4.94 days. The pre-pupal period lasted 2.29 days. Since the highest consumption is by the 5^th instar larva, the control should be applied before this age to avoid heavier damages to the cassava crop.
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Database assignments for author(s): Dirceu Pratissoli, José Cola Zanuncio

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
damage/losses/economics

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Erinnyis ello	Cassava (Manihot esculenta)