Journal of Economic Entomology (2021) 114, 1631-1637

Marinalva Martins dos Santos, Marcus Alvarenga Soares, Isabel Moreira da Silva, Zaira Vieira Caldeira, Caique Menezes de Abreu, Michael Willian Rocha de Souza, Antônio Alberto da Silva, José Cola Zanuncio and Bárbara Monteiro de Castro e Castro (2021)
Life history of Bedellia somnulentella (Lepidoptera: Bedelliidae) feeding on Ipomoea batatas (Solanales: Convolvulaceae) leaves and survey of parasitoids in Brazil
Journal of Economic Entomology 114 (4), 1631-1637
Abstract: The microlepidoptera, Bedellia somnulentella (Zeller), is an important pest of sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. Damage by B. somnulentella occurs in the larval stage and when consuming the foliar mesophyll of I. batatas make the leaves brown, wrinkled, and reducing the photosynthetic area and the yield. The detection and management of this pest depends on knowing its biological cycle and identifying its natural enemies. The objectives of this study were to determine the life history of B. somnulentella feeding on I. batatas leaves and to survey parasitoids of this pest in the field. The duration and viability of B. somnulentella egg, larva, prepupa, pupa, and adult stages were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Cephalic capsule width was measured to determine the number of B. somnulentella instars, based on the Dyar rule and analyzed by the Akaike statistical model (AIC). The developmental period of B. somnulentella was 32.5 ± 0. 21 d with a viability of 75, 84, 100, and 84% for the egg, larva, prepupa, and pupa stages, respectively. The identification of this pest on the plants is possible from the third instar and in the pupal and adult stages. The parasitoid Conura sp. (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) was identified parasitizing pupae of B. somnulentella and could be considered a potential natural enemy for the integrated management of this pest.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Marcus Alvarenga Soares, José Cola Zanuncio

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bedellia somnulentella	Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)	Brazil (south)